Back to the JBL Blog overview

JBL Blogs

Lifestyle

How To Connect JBL Soundbar To TV

Have you recently bought a JBL Soundbar, and are looking to set it up at home?

You’ve come to the right place.

Here we offer quick guides on how to set up a JBL Soundbar with HDMI, optical cables, and Bluetooth, depending on your television set and preference. Whether you have a JBL 5.0 MultiBeam, a JBL Bar 5.1 Surround model, or a different model, these instructions will work for any JBL soundbar system. If you can’t find your answer here, please refer to the user manual that came with the soundbar, or get in touch with the friendly team where you bought it.

Connecting JBL Soundbar to TV with HDMI

HDMI is the best option to connect your JBL Soundbar to your television. For TVs that support HMDI ARC (Audio Return Channel), you will only need a single High-Speed HDMI cable – there is no need for additional audio or optical cables in this scenario.

Simply connect your HDMI cable to the Soundbar (look for the HDMI OUT (ARC) slot on the bar) to the HDMI slot on your television.

You will also need to double-check that the HDMI CEC function on your television is switched on.

Note: You will need to use this HDMI connection if you intend to connect other video devices to your soundbar inputs to display on your TV.

Connecting JBL Soundbar to TV with Optical Cable

An optical cable is another good option for connecting your JBL Soundbar to your TV and is usually best when all of your video devices are connected straight to your television (rather than through the soundbar HDMI inputs).
To make this connection, you’ll need an optical cable – this has a square input at each end. Look for the square ‘optical in’ plug roughly in the middle of the back of your soundbar, and on your TV.

You may also need to ensure that your television audio settings are set to support external speakers. This will disable your built-in television speakers and ensure that sound comes through the soundbar instead.

Connecting JBL Soundbar to TV with Bluetooth

JBL Soundbars all have Bluetooth connectivity, making it easy to set up a wireless sound system for your TV at home.

To set up your JBL Soundbar to your TV with Bluetooth, use the soundbar remote control and press the Bluetooth button (usually on the top left). Then in your television settings, enter your Bluetooth settings and select the ‘JBL’ device. The device will depend on which model you have. This should establish a connection between the soundbar and your television.

If the sound is still coming out of your television's in-built speakers, you may need to enter your TV settings and ensure that sound output is set to ‘External speaker’.

If you are still having issues, it may be that the soundbar is already connected to another Bluetooth device. Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the remote control to disconnect it, then try again. Another possibility is that the connection is poor because the soundbar is too far away from the television – try moving it closer together to establish and maintain a good connection.

Extra tip: If you’d like to pair your soundbar with another device such as your mobile phone, press and hold the Bluetooth button on your remote for three seconds to complete this process again.

More from JBL

How To Clean Your Wireless Headphones And Earpads For music lovers, headphones are more than just an accessory; they're an essential part of daily life, providing a private sanctuary of sound. However, with this frequent use comes a downside The Best Portable Speaker For Your Lifestyle A portable speaker is one of those items that, once you have one, you’ll never know how you managed without it.

JBL Guide: How to Clean Your Wireless Headphones and Earpads For music lovers, headphones are more than just an accessory; they're an essential part of daily life, providing a private sanctuary of sound. However, with this frequent use comes a downside: dirt can accumulate over time in your wireless Bluetooth headphones The Best Soundbar For Your TV & Home Audio The Best Soundbar For Your TV & Home Audio Soundbars have become commonplace in many homes and offices thanks to their premium sound quality, ease of use, and sheer aesthetic appeal. JBL Soundbar: How to Fix an HDMI ARC That’s Not Working We're all aware of the pivotal role an HDMI ARC plays in facilitating a seamless connection for our audio-visual devices. It may thus be puzzling when your audio fades off quickly, or the speaker remains silent after you’ve connected your sound bar to the TV. Choosing the best headphones for kids Choosing the best headphones for kids

Children have delicate ears, so it’s vital to find the right headphones to protect their hearing. Find how to choose the best headset for your child with JBL AU.

Tips on choosing the best gaming headset Tips on choosing the best gaming headset Whether it’s Call of Duty, Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption, or something more under the radar, choosing the right gaming headset can make all the difference to your performance.

How do noise-cancelling headphones work? How do noise-cancelling headphones work? Noise-cancelling headphones have changed the game when it comes to headphones. As well as playing your favourite music or podcast, they can diminish or erase the sounds around you. How To Choose The Best Headphones For Running Headphones can improve your performance and enjoyment on a run. Here’s what to look for in the best running headphones for you, from fit to water resistance. How To Connect JBL Soundbar To TV This quick guide will run you through how to connect a JBL Soundbar to TV with an HDMI cable, an optical cable, and with Bluetooth connectivity On-Ear vs Over-Ear Headphones: Specs, Performance, Use-Cases & More On-Ear vs Over-Ear Headphones: Specs, Performance, Use-Cases & More When it comes to audio fidelity, the debate often lands on one crucial choice: are on-ear or over-ear headphones better? All about wireless headphones All about wireless headphones Wireless headphones have been popular from the moment they were released, but now as more and more phone brands remove the headphone jack, wireless is becoming a necessity as well. All about wireless headphones All about wireless headphones Wireless headphones have been popular from the moment they were released, but now as more and more phone brands remove the headphone jack, wireless is becoming a necessity as well. Amidst a world cluttered with noise, what if you could create your own sound sanctuary? Amidst a world cluttered with noise, what if you could create your own sound sanctuary? Here, you command the auditory elements, shaping them to resonate in harmony with your mood, your thoughts, and your very being. 5 tips to make the most of your time at home 5 tips to make the most
of your time at home
Right now a lot of us are suddenly sitting at home and cant go to the office to work. There are many advantages to working from home, such as not having to travel, working in your pajamas and setting your own time table.
The ultimate guide on how to clean earphones and headphones The ultimate guide on how to clean earphones and headphones Earphones and headphones need regular cleaning to keep them in good shape, and for your own health. Here’s how to clean headphones and earphones at home. The best outdoor speaker The best outdoor speaker

As soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, we all like to sit outside and enjoy the sun. With a drink in your hand, you can sit in your garden, in a park, on the beach or on a terrace.

Top Christmas gift ideas for music & tech lovers Christmas is just around the corner, which means now is the time to start thinking about Christmas gift ideas for friends and loved ones – and to get ahead of the last-minute rush. Listening to music via Wifi or Bluetooth? Listening to music via Wifi or Bluetooth?

Do you want the best music experience at home (or at work)? Then the way you stream music to your speakers is certainly important.

Ways to use a smart speaker in your home Ways to use a smart speaker in your home More and more Australians are incorporating smart devices into their homes, installing various items around the house that make life that much easier and simpler. Music in the shower? Go for Waterproof! Music in the shower? Go for Waterproof!

Would you like to have your music in the shower? Or do you want to listen to a podcast in the bath?

Help me choose Help me choose You want the best portable speaker for your unique situation. So does JBL! For every situation there is a JBL portable speaker. Want to bring your portable speaker to the beach? Or perhaps take the speaker to the park? No problem! JBL got you covered. Read more about the best portable devices for each situation. Headphones or earbuds? Headphones or earbuds? Listening to music can be better with headphones or earbuds? We will explain exactly what the advantages of both options are. All about DAB+ radio All about DAB+ radio DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting. So basically, it is just digitally transmitted sound.