Fire TV Sound Settings for a Soundbar: Best Available or PCM?

On Fire TV, Best Available is normally the right sound setting for a soundbar. It lets Fire TV send the best format that your TV and soundbar can accept. PCM is mainly a compatibility and troubleshooting setting: it can restore sound when a Dolby handoff fails, but it can also limit a surround soundtrack to simpler audio.

Use Best Available first

Start at Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio, then look for the surround-sound or audio-format choice. The exact labels can vary by Fire TV model and software version, but choose Best Available when you see it. This gives the device permission to use a compatible Dolby format instead of forcing a basic output.

Best Available is the sensible everyday choice for a soundbar connected by HDMI ARC or eARC. It gives the Fire TV, TV, and soundbar a chance to agree on what the system can play. If your equipment supports Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, this setting is more likely to preserve it than PCM.

What PCM does—and when it helps

PCM is decoded audio. In many TV-and-soundbar setups, selecting it asks the source or TV to convert the soundtrack before it reaches the soundbar. That can be useful when you have no sound, harsh noise, dropouts, or an older TV that does not pass Dolby audio reliably. It is a good diagnostic test, not normally the preferred permanent setting.

If PCM restores sound, the cable and basic connection may be fine; the remaining issue is likely format compatibility or a TV audio-output setting. Switch back to Best Available after each change. If Best Available then works, leave it selected. If it does not, PCM is an acceptable fallback when dependable stereo matters more than surround sound.

Check the complete HDMI path

Fire TV’s choice is only one part of the path. When the Fire TV plugs into the TV, the TV must send audio back to the soundbar through its HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC. In the TV sound menu, select an output such as HDMI ARC/eARC, Receiver, or External Speakers. If available, use Pass-Through, Bitstream, or Auto rather than forcing the TV itself to PCM.

Use the HDMI cable connected to the ARC/eARC port on both devices, then set the soundbar input to HDMI, TV, or ARC. For help with the connection itself, see Soundbar eARC Not Working? Fix the Connection Step by Step. A certified high-speed HDMI cable can also eliminate an aging or unreliable cable from the diagnosis.

A quick test order that avoids unnecessary changes

1. Select Best Available on Fire TV and play a known movie or show with a Dolby soundtrack.
2. Confirm the TV audio output is ARC/eARC or external speakers, and use Auto, Bitstream, or Pass-Through if the TV offers it.
3. Restart the HDMI handshake. Turn off the TV, Fire TV, and soundbar. Unplug them for about a minute, reconnect the HDMI cable firmly, then power on the TV first.
4. Try PCM only as a test. If sound returns immediately, the fault is probably a format setting or an older TV limitation rather than the soundbar speakers.
5. Update the devices. Update Fire TV, the television, and the soundbar firmware before assuming hardware has failed.

Why the soundbar may show PCM

A PCM message on the soundbar display does not automatically mean anything is broken. It simply means the soundbar is receiving PCM at that moment. If you expect surround sound but keep seeing PCM, look upstream: the Fire TV may be set to PCM, the TV may be converting audio, or the app and program may only offer stereo.

To test the system properly, use a title that clearly lists Dolby Digital Plus or Atmos in its audio information. If Atmos is the goal, read Dolby Atmos Not Working on a Soundbar? Fix the Setup. You can also compare whether the source should go to the TV or soundbar in Should You Connect Devices to the TV or the Soundbar?.

When PCM is the better permanent choice

Leave PCM selected when it is the only setting that delivers stable sound after you have checked the TV’s output setting and the HDMI path. This is common with older ARC-only televisions or equipment that does not pass Dolby formats consistently. You are not damaging the system by using PCM; you are choosing a reliable compatibility mode. If you later replace the TV or upgrade the connection path, repeat the Best Available test.

If you are adding a Fire TV device to an older set, browse Fire TV streaming-device options carefully and check the TV’s HDMI and ARC capabilities first.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use Best Available or PCM for a Fire TV soundbar?

Use Best Available first. It is the better choice for most current soundbar setups because it can preserve a compatible Dolby format. Use PCM when Best Available produces no sound or unreliable audio after you have checked the TV and HDMI settings.

Why is there no surround sound from Fire TV?

Check the Fire TV setting, then check the TV output setting. The TV must be set to ARC/eARC or external speakers and should not be forcing PCM. Also confirm that the show you are testing actually includes a surround soundtrack.

Can I use PCM with a soundbar?

Yes. PCM is safe and can be very reliable, especially for stereo. Its tradeoff is that it may not preserve the surround or Atmos format you expected from the source.

AAHE may earn compensation as an Amazon Associate from qualifying purchases.