If you’re bringing home a soundbar to pair up with your TCL Roku TV, you must know the different ways to build a seamless audio and video connection. But no matter how simple it is, newbie home theater owners often get confused with the configuration process and end up plugging in the wrong cables.
Fortunately for you, our team listed all possible setups to elevate your sound and visual experience.
Connecting a Soundbar to a TCL Roku TV
HDMI Cable
Like any other modern equipment, hooking your soundbar and TCL Roku TV with HDMI cables remains the best option out there. Many audiovisual experts like us seek this type of connection because it supports high-definition formats like Dolby Atmos.
If you already have a TCL Roku TV, chances are there’s an HDMI cable that came with it as a package, so there’s no need to buy one. If not, our resident audiophiles recommend buying it at your nearest tech store, as it will come in very handy for different audiovisual equipment and setups.
First, locate the HDMI® ARC port behind your TCL Roku TV. With this connection, additional wires aren’t required to keep the transmission going back and forth. You can check the connection status through the TV’s main screen. Just click the Home button from the remote, and go to the Settings section.
From there, you’d see the System menu where you can click on the Control other devices (CEC). Scroll to search for available devices and select your soundbar among those on the list. In the same section, you’ll see the HDMI ARC. Don’t forget to toggle it on as well.
Without HDMI
Optical Cable
Now, there are instances when your soundbar doesn’t have the port to accommodate an HDMI connection. For this dilemma, our experts suggest the next best thing: the optical cable. Compared to other signal transmissions, it produces better sound and video quality.
Fortunately, TCL televisions include an optical digital audio output in their features. You’ll find an Optical Out port at the back of the TV, and that’s where you can insert the connector.
AV Adapter
Most TCL Roku TVs come with an AV adapter which you can plug into the AV input on the back of your TV. Following this, connect the composite RCA connectors to your soundbar to establish the connection.
How To Connect
Once all the connections have been secured and double-checked, you can then test the sound. Turn on the TV, play your favorite movie, and wait for the impressive sound to come out of your soundbar.
Since most televisions nowadays are smart TVs, the setup and settings should be quite straightforward. To make things easier, we have condensed the process into a few simple steps:
- Connect the soundbar to the TCL Roku TV.
- Turn both devices on.
- Turn on “Settings” on your TV.
- Click on “control other devices.”
- Enable the connection of your choice.
- Pull up the system audio control on the main menu.
- Enable the connection you chose.
- Return to Home.
After following these steps, the soundbar should be working now. However, if you want to connect your soundbar to a receiver first, there are additional considerations you must know.
How to Connect a Samsung Soundbar
One of the surefire ways to connect your Samsung Soundbar to a TCL Roku TV is through HDMI-ARC or a wireless connection like Bluetooth or WiFi. Given how advanced Samsung audio technologies are, recent models from the brand will surely have these features.
How to Connect a Vizio Soundbar
To connect Vizio soundbars to TCL Roku TVs, ensure that the audio device at question has HDMI-ARC support. If not, you can opt for an optical cable connection. But keep in mind that this integration doesn’t support the latest audio formats like Dolby.
How to Connect External Speakers
If you want an extra punch of sound to elevate your viewing experience in your TCL TV, you can either connect via wired or wireless connection. For more stable signal transmission, we urge you to use HDMI-ARC connectors.
Setting For The Ideal Performance
If your soundbar is equipped with Dolby technology, you can set it to enable surround sound audio. Simply set the device to Dolby D+ or DTS mode and you’ll get the best sound setting your device can offer.
If you’re unsure whether your soundbar offers high-quality surround sound audio or not, here the most popular audio technologies around are Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, and DTS technology [1]. These are the ones that grace home systems and mimic the way a theater sound system works. You can check if your soundbar has it by looking at any labels in the box or doing a quick online search.
If your soundbar is capable of decoding this type of audio (just like these cheap Dolby Atmos soundbars), follow these steps to enable this capability:
- Go to “Settings” on your TCL Roku TV.
- Choose “Audio.”
- Set the HDMI option or your chosen connection to one of the above surround sound technologies.
- Then do the same in “Audio Mode.”
- Return to your home screen and enjoy surround sound!
Once you connect your soundbar to the Roku TV, it will improve the sound produced by the TV speakers. This is an essential upgrade to users’ viewing experience today, since surround sound is now the standard for entertainment.
With the right soundbar connection and settings in place, you’ll be able to experience sound in a more realistic manner. Of course, connecting your soundbar to a receiver from either Denon or Yamaha brand can amplify the overall sound quality. So the next time you’re watching a movie, you’ll feel as though you’re part of the action instead of just watching from the outside.
FAQ
What soundbars work with TCL Roku TV?
Soundbars that work with the TCL Roku TV include the Sonos Beam, Bose soundbars, Polk soundbars, Yamaha YAS-207 and of course, the soundbar of the same brand, the TCL Alto. Generally, most soundbars are compatible with the Roku TV, so it’s not hard to find one.
Why won't my soundbar work with my TCL TV?
Your soundbar won’t work with your TCL TV because you’re not using the right configuration or the cables aren’t wired securely. You should also check if the volume levels are high enough to produce an audible sound. In some instances, you just have to adjust the sync options on your TV screens.
Can I connect a Bluetooth soundbar to my TCL Roku TV?
Many people are trying to understand how to connect a Bluetooth soundbar to a TCL Roku TV, but unfortunately, it is impossible to do so. You cannot connect a Bluetooth device to the TV itself. You can only pair Bluetooth devices if you use the TCL Roku wireless speakers or the smart soundbar. To connect to the TCL Roku TV, you would still need a wired connection.
How to Connect/Set Up a TCL Soundbar With a TV?
Option #1: HDMI ARC
Typically, an HDMI cable is available upon purchasing the latest TCL soundbars in the market. So all you need to do at this point is to ensure that your TV supports HDMI-ARC features.
Once the ends of the cable are connected to each device, go to the Audio settings of your TV. From there, enable the auto-detect option under S/PDIF and ARC menu.
Option #2: Optical Cable
If an HDMI setup doesn’t apply to your TV, TCL soundbars can also work with optical cables [1]. Don’t forget to remove the protective caps if you’re using new wires before pressing them inside the optical output of the television. A yellow LED light will be flashing if the system detects a ‘no sound’ issue during the configuration.
Option #3: Analog Connection
Some TCL soundbar packages include a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable that you can use as well. For this kind of analog connection, just put the cable to the AUX input ports. Our resident audiophiles only recommend this setup if you have no other choice, as other connectors offer a more seamless transmission.
Option #4: IR Pass-Through
If your TV’s IR receiver keeps getting blocked by the TCL soundbar, you can opt for the IR pass-through cable provided in your purchase. Through this, the signal will be received from the television’s remote.
FAQ
How do I connect my TCL soundbar to my Samsung TV?
You can connect your TCL soundbar to a Samsung TV via Bluetooth or an HDMI-ARC cable. Given the advanced technologies integrated with Samsung TVs, going for HDMI and wireless setup has a higher chance of suiting their audio and visual specifications. Ensure to check sync settings as well for a better viewing experience.
Conclusion
Now that you’re well-versed on how to connect a soundbar to a TCL Roku TV as well as TCL soundbars, the next step you should do is try it yourself. If you have some doubts about which cable to use, our technical team highly recommends consulting the user manual provided upon purchase. After all, these configurations may vary depending on the make and model of the said equipment.
Sometimes, the sound quality coming out of your device depends on its position. Get help on how to mount your soundbar for optimum experience, next!
