How To Connect Bose Soundbar To a TV 2022

The Bose Soundbar is a state-of-the-art home entertainment system that enhances the quality of sound and audio entertainment in your home. At present, there are two soundbars available in the market that really sound out among the rest: the Bose Soundbar 500 and The Bose Soundbar 700. 

It might be a little confusing as there are many ways to connect it to your home entertainment system, it all depends on you which suits you the best and also depending on what you are connecting it to.

To make things easier for you below I’ve explained all the different ways you can connect the Bose soundbar as well as the right type of connection to be done depending on your space and the source you are planning to use.

So let’s get started on how to connect the Bose Soundbar to TV.

Recommended Read: How to Connect Surround Sound Speakers to a TV]

How To Connect Bose Soundbar To a TV

The Bose soundbar is an amazing investment for your home entertainment. The soundbar was mainly designed to support your TV audio output as most televisions don’t have the right speaker installed to listen to music or watch HD movies. 

The Bose soundbar can be installed beneath your TV and can be connected using three main methods 

• HDMI
• Fiber Optical 
• Bluetooth

The most common method of connecting the soundbar is through HDMI, The best method of connection depends on the model of the soundbar and the type of TV you have. Mainly it’s the TV since Bose has been providing all three types of connection methods over the past 5 years. 

Bluetooth might be the least used method because most TVs do not support Bluetooth and I’m pretty sure Bose has given this option if there is a need for you to connect your phone or laptop to listen to music. 

The most priority connection given would be HDMI ARC as it delivers the highest quality of audio output for getting the best response from your Bose soundbar without any latency. 

Connecting Bose Soundbar to TV using HDMI ARC

First, you would have to check if both your TV and soundbar support the option for accepting HDMI ARC. This information is usually available in the instructions or the box the TV and Soundbar come in. 

Once you’ve confirmed that they support HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) , check where the HDMI ports are installed. If the device does not support ARC you will not be able to get any sound from the TV.

Behind your TV you should have a port called HDMI ARC which should be labeled if not you can find out by checking the manual for the TV. 

Here is how you connect the cables and sync the soundbar to your TV.

• First Turn your TV Off and the soundbar as well.

• You will need an HDMI cable, There is no special cable for ARC any standard HDMI will do. 

• Take one end of the HDMI cable and connect it to your TV and the other end connect it to the soundbar while both of them are off.

• Turn on the TV first and then the soundbar so the soundbar will be able to recognize the TV once you turn on the soundbar.

• Now open the TV settings and change the audio output to 

• Turn ON the TV and soundbar

• Change audio output from the settings of your TV speakers to the soundbar.

• Change the audio input on the soundbar to HDMI.

• You should be good to go. 

The above settings may have different methods to change it depending on the model of your TV and soundbar. But these settings can be changed only with the above sets; there is no other. 

You will be able to hear the audio from your TV the moment the connection is successful. If it doesn’t, try resetting the Bose soundbar and try again. There might be a chance it is not in the right input mode or there is a chance some other connection is preventing the TV audio from being played on your soundbar. 

Connecting Bose Soundbar to TV using Fiber Optic Cable

The second most convenient option to connect to your Bose soundbar if using an HDMI cable didn’t work out or your TV doesn’t support ARC, Is by using an Optic Fiber cable. This method has been there before Bluetooth and is known for providing excellent audio quality and signal. 

This is definitely the second-best method after HDMI ARC.

• First, you will need to check if both your TV and soundbar support optical fiber out from your TV to optical fiber input in your soundbar. Once you’ve confirmed it is supported follow the steps below to get the connection done.

• You will need an external optical cable which might not be given with your TV or soundbar. It is available online easily. 

• Once you’ve your cable, connect one end of the Bose soundbar and the other end behind the TV where it is labeled optical out.

• You should see a light passing through from the TV end to the soundbar to confirm it’s connected successfully.

• Turn on your TV and open the audio settings and switch the audio out to Optical Cable.

• Turn on your Bose soundbar and switch the audio source to Digital in. 

• You are set to go. 

The options to select the audio setting might be different from TV to TV but the process is the same for all. Also resetting your Bose soundbar before connecting has a better success rate.

Connecting Bose Soundbar to TV using Bluetooth

If both the above methods have failed don’t worry, Bluetooth is the last but reliable method but is mostly not installed in either the TV or soundbar. This feature is available only in the latest modern TVs with multimedia options available like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

So if your TV is more than three years old this option might not be available to you. But a quick alternate would be to purchase a wireless conversion kit that will connect to your HDMI and provide the soundbar a Bluetooth connection to connect to so the TV can send the signal for the soundbar to put out audio. 

The downside of using a Bluetooth connection or using a converter is that the audio quality is not as good as HDMI or Optical. The advantage is that no wires are required whatsoever. Making this a convenient option if you’re not into wired connections.

The below steps are to be done assuming that you have a Bluetooth connection on both TV and soundbar. If using a converter to connect to the soundbar, please check the instructions on the converter to help you with the connection. Once connected you can follow the set below. 

• Hold down on the Bluetooth button on your soundbar or remote if provided.

• Hold till the pairing mode is activated on the soundbar.

• Usually, the Bluetooth light will start to flicker showing the device is available to connect. But it’s best you have a look at the manual real quick to be sure how it will indicate pairing. 

• Once pairing is activated, go to your TV wireless setting to find the available Bluetooth devices.

• Once you find the Bose Soundbar, select and connect.

• Once successfully connected, check by playing something on the TV.

• Try again if not successful the first time, but the above steps should get it done. 

FAQ’s

Can I Screen Cast and Use My Bose Soundbar for the Audio?

Yes, this is very much possible, usually, the option to screen cast comes in modern TVs that support multimedia connections. So if you’ve connected the Bose soundbar to your TV through HDMI or Optical, start casting the screen from your phone using the wifi and change the audio out on the TV from the internal speakers to the Bose Soundbar.

Can I connect the soundbar wirelessly with my non-multimedia TV?

Well, this is a little tricky but definitely possible. On Amazon, you can find an HDMI to Bluetooth converter. You can connect this device to your older television into the HDMI connection which will make it possible for you to keep the soundbar away from the TV at your desired location and be able to receive the audio signal. Follow the Bluetooth connection sets above to help you connect.

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