To connect a soundbar with an optical cable, run the cable from the TV’s Digital Audio Out (Optical) port to the soundbar’s Optical In port, select the soundbar’s optical input, and choose Optical or Digital Audio Out in the TV sound menu. This is a practical option when HDMI ARC is not available or is not the connection you want to use.

Optical is a digital audio connection. It carries audio only—not video—and its audio-format support depends on the TV and soundbar. It also normally does not provide HDMI-CEC volume control through the TV remote.

A Toslink optical cable connecting a TV optical-output port to a soundbar optical-input port.
An optical connection must run from the TV’s output to the soundbar’s input.

What you need before you start

  • A TV with a port labeled Digital Audio Out (Optical), Optical Out, or similar.
  • A soundbar with a port labeled Optical In, Digital In, or similar.
  • A Toslink optical audio cable with connectors that match both ports.
  • Access to the TV and soundbar remotes.

Do not force the plug. Toslink connectors are keyed and should slide in only in the correct orientation. A faint red light may be visible from an active TV optical-output port; do not stare into the light or look into the port.



How to connect the optical cable

  1. Turn off the TV and soundbar. This avoids changing inputs while you are tracing the connection.
  2. Find the two correct ports. On the TV, locate the optical output. On the soundbar, locate the optical input. Do not connect input to input.
  3. Remove the protective caps. New optical cables may have small caps on both ends.
  4. Connect TV OUT to soundbar IN. Align the connector carefully and press only until it seats normally. Do not bend or force the cable.
  5. Turn the equipment on. Select Optical, D.IN, Digital In, TV Audio, or the equivalent source on the soundbar.
  6. Change the TV audio output. In the TV settings, look under Sound, Audio, Speakers, or Audio Output for Optical, Digital Audio Out, or External Speaker. Menu wording differs by brand and model.
  7. Test with a built-in TV app or known working channel. Raise the soundbar volume with its own remote first.

Samsung’s current setup guide uses this same direction: soundbar Digital Audio In/Optical first, TV Digital Audio Out/Optical second, followed by selecting Optical in the TV sound-output menu. Read Samsung’s optical setup steps.

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains paid affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, All About Home Electronics may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

If the equipment has matching optical ports and you need a cable, explore this Toslink optical audio cable on Amazon (paid link). Verify that both devices use standard optical/Toslink ports; an optical cable does not replace HDMI ARC/eARC where HDMI control or higher-format support is required.

If the soundbar has no sound through optical

  1. Confirm direction: TV optical OUT must connect to soundbar optical IN.
  2. Confirm the soundbar input: It must be on Optical, D.IN, Digital In, or its model’s equivalent—not Bluetooth, HDMI, or AUX.
  3. Confirm the TV output: Select Optical/Digital Audio Out or External Speaker in the TV sound menu.
  4. Reseat both ends gently: A connector that is almost inserted may not pass audio.
  5. Try a compatible format setting: If the TV has a Digital Audio Output option, PCM is a useful temporary compatibility test when the connected soundbar does not support the program’s current format. Check the manuals before deciding on a permanent setting.
  6. Test another source: Try a built-in app and a different channel. One app or source can send a format the soundbar does not support.
  7. Power-cycle in a controlled order: Turn off both devices, disconnect power briefly, reconnect the optical cable, then power on the TV followed by the soundbar.

Sony’s ARC/eARC troubleshooting guidance also identifies the TV speaker selection and PCM as useful checks when an external audio system has no sound. The menu names are model-specific, so use the TV and soundbar manuals whenever a setting is unclear. See Sony’s current external-audio troubleshooting guidance.



What an optical connection does—and does not—do

  • It does: Send digital TV audio to a compatible soundbar.
  • It does not: Send video between the TV and soundbar.
  • It usually does not: Carry HDMI-CEC control, so TV-remote volume control may require separate setup or may not be available.
  • It may limit: Audio formats compared with a fully compatible HDMI eARC connection. Supported formats depend on both devices and the content source.

If your TV and soundbar both support it, HDMI ARC or eARC may be the better long-term choice for TV-app audio and one-remote convenience. Begin with How to Connect a Soundbar to a TV: HDMI ARC, Optical, Bluetooth, and More, which will be inserted during the same publishing pass.

When optical is the right choice

Choose optical when the matching ports are present and you want a direct digital-audio path without relying on ARC. It is especially useful for older televisions and soundbars that do not share HDMI ARC support. It can also be a practical fallback when a model-specific ARC setup is unavailable. Do not assume it fixes every sound problem; first make sure the TV is actually set to send audio through the optical output.



Need more help?

If the connection is correct but the TV and soundbar menus still do not produce sound, start with All About Home Electronics’ Soundbar & Audio Setup Help and select Soundbar. For a model-specific reset, firmware update, or compatibility question, use the manufacturer’s official support information.

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