The latest addition to the Xbox family is the Xbox X. It’s one of the most powerful gaming devices on the market and if you’re looking to get the most out of your gaming experience, you will have to use an external speaker system.
We found that one of the most asked questions on the internet today is how to connect speakers to Xbox. While there are numerous ways you can connect a set of speakers to your Xbox, not every method works for everyone. So we thought it would be best if we cover every possible way you can connect speakers to your Xbox.
We found that the easiest way to connect speakers to your Xbox is by connecting them to your TV while you’re gaming. But if you’re looking for a way to connect your speakers to the Xbox so they work only while the Xbox is running, then you would need a different solution.
Today, I’m going to take you through the various ways you can connect your Xbox to a speaker system. We’ll cover how you can do this using both wireless and wired speakers and leave you with a couple of tips on how you can get a truly immersive gaming experience.
Let’s Begin!
Recommended Read: How to Connect Speakers to a PS4
Table of Contents
How to Connect Speakers to Xbox
Connect Bluetooth Speakers to your Xbox
If you own one of the newer models of the Xbox, then chances are that you would not be able to connect the console to your Bluetooth speakers at home. This is because the console only supports Bluetooth connectivity only to the controller and no other device.
There are workarounds that you can follow if you seriously want to connect the console only to a Bluetooth speaker and that would be by using a Bluetooth transmitter.
These rather small and compact devices allow you to connect to any Bluetooth speaker system and the only thing you need is an optical cable (S/PDIF) and you’re good to go.
I’m going to take you through how you can connect a set of Bluetooth speakers to your Xbox.
- Start by purchasing a Bluetooth transmitter on Amazon. These gadgets let you connect a non-Bluetooth device to wireless speakers with the help of an optical cable.
- We took the Avantree connector as an example here. It comes with a USB power cable and an optical audio cable straight out of the box so you wouldn’t have to buy any other components for this method to work.
- Start by connecting the optical audio cable to the Xbox and the Bluetooth transmitter.
- Plugin the USB power cable and let the device power on.
- Once the transmitter has powered on, an LED indicator will blink rapidly notifying you that the device is ready to pair.
- Now, switch on your Bluetooth speaker and turn on Pairing Mode.
- Ensure the transmitter and speaker are near each other and they will pair automatically.
The Avantree transmitter allows you to connect more than one speaker or Bluetooth device to your Xbox at a time. So you can maybe have two speakers positioned around your room
What’s great about using this device is that it connects automatically when you turn the system and speakers on. Also, if your speakers do not support aptX codec, then it would by default run on SBC which is still great and you might notice a 0.2 second lag in the sound while playing any game.
Connect your Xbox to Speakers via your TV
One of the easiest ways to connect your Xbox to a set of speakers is via your TV. This setup can be achieved in any household and you wouldn’t need any additional fittings or components for it to work.
Here are the steps you need to follow in order to connect your Xbox to speakers via your TV.
- Connect your Xbox to the TV with the help of your HDMI cable. Make sure the cable is plugged in correctly.
- Now proceed to connect your speaker system to the TV either via RCA or via the optical cable slot.
- Turn on your Xbox, TV and Speaker system and then change the TV sound output mode to either Component or optical depending on what connection you chose.
- You will now be able to play games on your Xbox and the sound will be relayed to the speakers via the TV.
This is by far one of the most straightforward methods to follow and is truly one of the easiest.
Connect to your Home Theater via the S/PDIF Cable
Another way to go would be to connect the S/PDIF cable from your Xbox directly to your home theater system. It’s quite similar to the set up with a TV but here you wouldn’t be connecting your TV to the home theater, rather it’s going to be the Xbox with a direct connection to the speakers.
Here’s how you can get this done.
- The first thing you need to do is make sure that your speaker system supports optical-in.
- If yes, then you can proceed to plug in the optical cable to the Xbox and the other end directly into the speaker system or home theater.
- Turn on the Xbox and the speaker will turn on automatically. However, if you’re using a home theater then you may have to turn on the system manually and then select the appropriate input mode.
This setup allows you to use the speakers only when your Xbox is running and the speaker wouldn’t be able to run standalone unless you have another device connected to it via either HDMI or Bluetooth. Then simply change the settings and input mode to achieve playback on the home theater .
Connect speakers to your Xbox X or Xbox S
The latest models of Xbox do not support multiple connections like their older counterparts. Here you will have to rely only on the HDMI output and then connect the unit to your TV and then relay that connection to your speaker system.
The Xbox X and S do not come with Bluetooth functionality to connect wirelessly to a speaker setup nor does it offer an optical audio output.
You can connect wireless headphones to the device but unfortunately, you would not be able to pair speakers via Bluetooth. Even the Bluetooth transmitter won’t work since there’s no 3.5mm audio port or an optical port.
How to Connect Xbox X to a Soundbar?
The first thing you need to know about an Xbox X or S is that Microsoft decided to remove most of their ports in order to make the units look sleek. While the Xbox X and S do offer S/PDIF and HDMI, it’s not enough to stay connected to a wide range of devices.
In order to connect your Xbox X or S to a soundbar, you must first ensure that the TV and soundbar you have at home is equipped with a HDMI-ARC ports. Here’s how you can connect your Xbox X or S to a soundbar/TV.
Equipment required: 2xHDMI cables; Soundbar with HDMI + HDMI-ARC; TV with HDMI input; Optical cable
- Start by connecting your HDMI port from the Xbox X to one of the HDDMI input ports of your HDMI-ARC enabled soundbar.
- Now, take the second HDMI cable and connect your TV and soundbar using the eARC ports. If it’s not available, then connect the second HDMI cable to your TVs HDMI input.
- Finally, use the Optical cable and connect that to your soundbar and TV.
How to Enable Surround Sound on an Xbox?
By default, the Xbox will relay sound in Stereo mode, but if you have a complete home theater set up at home, you will want to experience your game play with surround sound. There’s an easy way to change this setting from within the Xbox settings.
Follow the below mentioned steps to get the best sounding audio.
- Start by pressing the Xbox button on the controller and then navigate to your Profile.
- Tap on Settings and head to General.
- Here you will need to locate TV & Display from the list of options and then tap on TV & OneGuide.
- Click on Audio & Video and then make changes to the audio options.
- Tap on Stereo and then click on Surround Sound to confirm the change.
Restart your Xbox for the changes to take effect and you will be able to experience surround sound from your speakers.
How to choose the appropriate audio output on the Xbox?
If you are connecting an Xbox to your TV you wouldn’t have to make any changes to the consoles settings as by default both audio and video will be relayed to the TV via a HDMI cable.
However, for those with an additional speaker setup you will need to select the right audio output option in order to be able to hear the audio on your speakers.
There are two modes to choose from, you can follow these steps to get this change implemented.
- Start by pressing the Xbox button on the controller and then navigate to your Profile.
- Tap on Settings and head to General.
- Locate and click on Volume and Audio Output.
- Proceed to click on Speaker audio and then choose between HDMI and Optical depending on your connection.
HDMI – When you select HDMI audio, ensure the default preset is Stereo uncompressed unless you have a system that can handle and process 5.1 or 7.1 uncompressed surround sound.
Optical Audio – This option allows you to have the audio played through your speakers only if they have been connected via the optical cable or S/PDIF cable.
FAQ’s
Do Xbox controllers have built-in speakers?
No, Xbox controllers are not equipped with built-in speakers and you can not hear any in-game sound from the controller.
Can you connect a soundbar to Xbox One?
Yes, you can connect a soundbar to your Xbox One via HDMI or S/PDIF. However, you will have to purchase the cables separately or use the one that comes with the soundbar.
Does the Xbox One have an AUX port?
Unfortunately the Xbox One, though it has a HDMI and S/PDIF port, it does not come with an AUX port and you will not be able to connect a 3.5mm audio jack.
How to enable Dolby Atmos on Xbox?
In order to enhance your experience with Dolby Atmos on Xbox, navigate to Settings, click on Volume and Audio Output and search for Speaker audio. Here, click on Bitstream out and select the format as Dolby Atmos for Home Threater
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I've been specializing in audio equipment and accessories for a while and have a little something in store for every kind of hi-fi enthusiast.
Based in California, I keep attending special launch events across the globe. This has helped me understand the products better, and with a unique hands-on experience I'm able to provide you with easy to understand reviews about the best in audio tech from around the world.
