You bought a powerful home theater 5.1, but the sound from the TV continues to come through the built-in speakers? The problem is familiar to many: even premium Samsung QLED or LG OLED often do not know how to automatically redirect the audio stream to external systems. In this article we will analyze all possible connection methods - from standard HDMI ARC to exotic solutions for older models, and we will also tell you how to avoid common mistakes when setting up.

The main difficulty is that modern TVs support different audio formats (from stereo to Dolby Atmos), and the receivers are different transmission protocols. For example, Optical TOSLINK doesn't transmit DTS:X, and HDMI eARC Requires compatible ports. We have compiled unique format and cable compatibility table, which will help you choose the optimal method specifically for your technique.

1. Connection methods: which one to choose?

Before you tackle cables, determine what connectors your TV and receiver have. Here are the key options:

  • 🔌 HDMI ARC/eARC — the best choice for modern devices (supports Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio).
  • 💡 Optical (TOSLINK) - universal, but limited in formats (maximum Dolby Digital 5.1).
  • 📶 Bluetooth — for wireless soundbars (sound delay ~50–100 ms).
  • 🎧 3.5mm AUX - stereo only, suitable for older systems.
  • 🖥️ Coaxial (RCA) - rare, but transmits PCM 5.1.

If your TV was released after 2018, it most likely has HDMI ARC (or eARC in 2020+ models). Check the port label - it must be signed. For old people Sony Bravia or Philips (until 2015) may be needed optical cable or even analog output.

📊 What brand is your home theater?
  • Yamaha
  • Denon
  • Onkyo
  • Pioneer
  • Sony
  • Samsung HW-Q
  • Other

2. Connecting via HDMI ARC/eARC: step-by-step instructions

This is the most reliable way to withdraw multi-channel audio without loss of quality. Here's what you'll need:

  • 🔗 HDMI 2.1 cable (for eARC) or HDMI 1.4 (for ARC).
  • 📺 TV and receiver with support ARC/eARC (check the specifications!).
  • ⚡ The signal source (set-top box, media player) must be connected to receiver, and not to the TV!

Sequence of actions:

  1. Connect HDMI OUT (ARC) on TV to HDMI IN (ARC) on the receiver.
  2. In the TV menu (Settings → Sound → HDMI Output) select ARC or eARC.
  3. On the receiver, activate the mode HDMI Control or CEC (y Denon this is HDMI Standby Through).
  4. In sound sources (for example, Netflix) select format Dolby Digital Plus or DTS.

The correct HDMI port is connected (labeled ARC)

CEC mode is enabled on both devices

The TV recognizes the receiver as an audio device

The ARC indicator on the receiver is lit (if available) -->

⚠️ Attention: If the sound comes only from the built-in speakers, check if the HDMI Audio Out in the service menu. On some LG this menu opens by holding the button Settings on the remote control for 5 seconds.

Sound format HDMI ARC HDMI eARC Optical (TOSLINK)
Dolby Digital 5.1 ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Dolby TrueHD ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ No
DTS:X ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ No
PCM 2.0 ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
LPCM 5.1 ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ❌ No

If your TV or receiver does not support ARC, the optical output will be a salvation. He transmits Dolby Digital 5.1 no compression, but has limitations:

  • 🚫 Does not support DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, Atmos.
  • 🔄 Maximum sampling rate - 48 kHz (against 192 kHz at HDMI).
  • 💡 Requires manual selection of the sound source on the receiver (Optical In).

How to connect:

  1. Connect port Optical Out on TV with Optical In on the receiver.
  2. In the TV menu (Settings → Sound → Digital output) select PCM or Dolby Digital.
  3. On the receiver, set the mode Auto Detect or manually select Optical.
💡

If the sound is interrupted or distorted, try replacing the optical cable with fiberglass - it is less susceptible to interference than plastic.

⚠️ Attention: On some TVs Samsung (series Q60T and below) optical output turns off automatically, if HDMI is connected. To avoid this, go to Settings → General → External Devices → HDMI Audio Format and select PCM.

4. Wireless solutions: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

If laying cables is inconvenient, you can use wireless technologies. However, consider their features:

  • 📶 Bluetooth:
    • ✅ Suitable for soundbars (Samsung HW-Q900C, Sonos Beam).
    • ❌ Audio delay (~100 ms), no support 5.1 (stereo only).
    • 🔋 Battery consumption on the remote control (if a Bluetooth transmitter is used).
  • 🌐 Wi-Fi (AirPlay, Chromecast):
    • ✅ Supports Dolby Digital Plus (on Apple TV 4K).
    • ❌ Requires a stable 5 GHz network.
    • 📱 Control via application (Sonos App, Denon AVR).

To connect via Bluetooth:

  1. Turn on pairing mode on the soundbar (usually the Pair or Bluetooth).
  2. On your TV, go to Settings → Sound → Bluetooth Output and select your device.
  3. If your TV does not support Bluetooth, use transmitter (For example, 1Mii B06 Plus), connected to Optical Out.
How to reduce Bluetooth audio latency?

Use codec aptX Low Latency (maintained on Sony STR-DN1080 and soundbars JBL Bar 9.1).

Turn off audio processing on your TV (Settings → Sound → Effects → Off).

Reduce the distance between devices to 3 meters.

Use Bluetooth 5.0 (latency ~40 ms versus ~100 ms for Bluetooth 4.2).

5. Analog connections: 3.5mm and RCA

If your TV is older than 2010, it may not have digital outputs. In this case it will help:

  • 🎧 3.5mm AUX — transmits only stereo, but works with any systems.
  • 🔴⚪ RCA (tulips) - for connecting to old receivers (Yamaha RX-V473 and the like).
  • 🔊 Multichannel analog output (6 RCA) - for 5.1, but requires manual adjustment of levels.

Instructions for 3.5 mm:

  1. Connect the cable from the output Audio Out on the TV to the entrance AUX In on the receiver.
  2. On the receiver, select the source AUX or Analog.
  3. In the TV menu (Settings → Sound → Output) disable digital processing (select PCM).

⚠️ Attention: With analog connection there will be no real 5.1 - The TV converts multi-channel sound to stereo. For a complete environment you will need external decoder (For example, Topping D50s).

6. Solving problems: no sound or only 2.0

If, after connecting, the sound comes only through the TV or is played in the format 2.0, check the following:

  • 🔍 TV settings:
    • B Settings → Sound → HDMI Output must be selected Bitstream (not PCM).
    • Disable Volume Normalization (y LG this is AI Sound).
  • 🔧 Receiver settings:
    • Make sure the correct input is selected (HDMI ARC or Optical).
    • Check that the receiver supports the audio format (for example, Denon AVR-X2700H does not decode DTS:X without firmware update).
  • 📦 Cables and connectors:
    • The HDMI cable must be High Speed (for eARC — Ultra High Speed).
    • The optical cable must not be kinked (bending radius >5 cm).

If there is sound, but only 2.0, but there should be 5.1:

  1. Check the source of the content - not all streaming services provide multi-channel audio. For example, YouTube defaults to stereo.
  2. In the TV menu, turn on Pass Through for HDMI (on Sony X90J is Settings → Sound → HDMI → Audio System → AV Receiver).
  3. Update the receiver firmware - in Onkyo TX-NR696 before version 1.05 there was a bug with decoding Dolby Digital+.
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If the TV does not transmit sound to the receiver, but the cables are connected correctly, reset the sound settings to factory settings (Settings → Support → Reset sound).

7. Alternative solutions: if nothing else works

In rare cases, standard methods do not help. Then you can use:

  • 🖥️ External HDMI audio extractor (For example, OREI HDA-935) - pulls sound from HDMI and transmits it via Optical or Coaxial.
  • 📡 HDMI matrix — if you need to distribute the signal to several devices (for example, TV + projector + receiver).
  • 🎮 Game consoles as an intermediary — Xbox Series X or PS5 can transmit sound to the receiver via HDMI, and pictures to the TV.

To use HDMI audio extractor:

  1. Connect the source (set-top box, player) to the input HDMI In on the extractor.
  2. Exit HDMI Out connect to the TV, and Optical Out - with a receiver.
  3. In the extractor menu, select the audio format (Bitstream for 5.1).

⚠️ Attention: Cheap HDMI extractors (price < 3000 ₽) often do not support HDR10+ And Dolby Vision. For 4K content, choose models with a chip IT66331 (For example, Sharc eARC).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

My TV does not see the receiver via HDMI ARC. What to do?

Check:

  1. Cable HDMI 2.0 or higher (old cables do not support ARC).
  2. The mode is turned on on the receiver HDMI Control (y Yamaha this is SCENE).
  3. On TV in Settings → CEC (y Samsung — Anynet+) control of external devices is enabled.

If it doesn't help, try disconnect both devices from the network for 1 minute - this will reset the HDMI handshake.

Is it possible to output Dolby Atmos through an optical cable?

No. Optical TOSLINK does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X due to bandwidth limitations. For Atmos needed HDMI eARC or external decoder (For example, Apple TV 4K + Denon AVR-X3700H).

The exception is some soundbars (Samsung HW-Q990C) can emulate Atmos through the optical input, but it will not be real object sound, but virtual.

Why is there a delay in sound when connected via Bluetooth?

Delay (latency) occurs due to:

  • Using an outdated codec SBC (replacement with aptX LL reduces lag to 40 ms).
  • Sound processing on the TV (turn off Settings → Sound → Effects).
  • Low quality Bluetooth transmitter (for example, built into a TV TCL 55C715 has a lag of ~200 ms).

Solution: use wired connection or a specialized transmitter (Creative BT-W5 for aptX LL).

How can I check what audio format is being transmitted to the receiver?

On most receivers (Denon, Marantz, Onkyo) the current format is shown on the display. You can also:

  1. Press the button Info or Display on the receiver's remote control.
  2. Go to the receiver menu (Setup → Input Signal).
  3. Use a test file with a known format (for example, Dolby Digital 5.1 from Netflix).

If the display shows PCM 2.0, which means the TV converts the sound to stereo. Switch output to Bitstream.

Do I need to update my TV's firmware to work with 5.1?

Yes, if:

  • Your TV was released before 2018 (firmware often fixes bugs with HDMI ARC).
  • Are you using Dolby Atmos or DTS:X (for example, on LG CX did not work before the update 03.30.20 eARC).
  • The receiver is not recognized (the firmware adds support for new models, for example, Sony STR-DH790).

Check the firmware version in Settings → Support → About TV and compare with the latest one on the manufacturer’s website.