Connecting Samsung Soundbar to Your LG TV: Different Methods
The Samsung Soundbar is one of the most popular home audio systems on the market, known for its high-quality sound and sleek design. If you’re a proud owner of an LG TV and are considering adding a soundbar to enhance your viewing experience, you might be wondering how to connect the two devices.
Fortunately, there are multiple methods available for connecting Samsung soundbars to LG TVs, each with its benefits and features. In this guide, we’ll discuss the different methods you can use to connect your Samsung soundbar to your LG TV and help you determine which one is best for your specific setup.
Possible Methods To connect your soundbar to your LG TV
There are four main methods that you can use to connect your Samsung soundbar to LG TV. These include using:
Connecting Using an HDMI Cable
If both your Samsung soundbar and LG TV have HDMI ports, this method is recommended as it provides the best video and audio quality. To connect using an HDMI cable, follow these steps:
- Turn off both your soundbar and TV.
- Plug in one side of the HDMI cable into the HDMI OUT port on your soundbar.
- Plug the opposite end of the HDMI cable into any vacant HDMI IN port on your television.
- To begin, switch on both LG TV devices.
- Then, navigate to the Settings menu and choose the Audio or Sound settings.
- Go to the “Sound Out” option and select “HDMI ARC” or “Use Wired Speaker” based on the operating system used by your LG Smart TV.
- Lastly, test the connection by playing audio or video on your LG TV and Samsung soundbar.
Connecting Using an Optical Cable
If your soundbar and TV don’t have HDMI ports, you can use an optical audio cable instead. This method also provides high-quality audio but doesn’t support video transmission. To connect using an optical cable, follow these steps:
- Turn off both your soundbar and TV.
- Connect one end of the optical audio cable to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (OPTICAL) port on your TV.
- Connect the other end of the optical cable to the OPTICAL IN port on your soundbar.
- Turn on both devices and then navigate to the Settings menu on your LG TV.
- Go to Audio or Sound settings, then find Sound Out. Choose either Audio Out/Optical/HDMI ARC or Use a Wired Speaker based on your operating system.
- Choose “Optical” as the audio output format and test the connection by playing audio or video on your TV.
Note: If you don’t have a Digital optical audio cable right now you can check out our review on it for a better selection according to your requirements.
Connecting via Bluetooth
Most Samsung soundbars come with built-in Bluetooth capabilities that allow you to connect them wirelessly to your LG TV. This method is convenient and eliminates the need for any cables. To connect the soundbar to your TV via Bluetooth, follow these steps:
- Turn on both your soundbar and TV.
- Press the Source button on your remote control until “BT” appears on the soundbar’s display panel.
- On your LG TV, go to Settings > Sound tab> Sound Out.
- Choose “Use Wireless Speaker” as the sound output option.
- Select the Bluetooth option to bring your Samsung Soundbar in paring mode for seamless connectivity.
- Select your Samsung soundbar from the list of available Bluetooth devices and then test the connection by adjusting the volume, and playing audio or video on your TV.
Note: To establish a Bluetooth connection, both the TV and the soundbar must have this capability. Ensure that your LG TV has a webOS version of 3.5 or later, if you want to connect it to a Bluetooth-supported Samsung Soundbar. If not, please update the firmware of your LG TV to the latest version.
Connecting via Wi-Fi
While connecting a Samsung soundbar’s to an LG TV directly using Wi-Fi isn’t the standard method, there’s a workaround using the Samsung SmartThings app. Here’s how:
Before you begin:
- Make sure both your soundbar and LG TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and on the same frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
- Download the SmartThings app on your smartphone or tablet.
On your Soundbar
- Use the Source button on the soundbar remote or the soundbar itself to cycle through input options until you see “Wi-Fi.”
- For some 2016-2018 Samsung soundbar models, selecting Wi-Fi mode while the TV is on might trigger an automatic connection prompt on the TV screen. Follow those instructions if they appear.
On your mobile device:
- Open the SmartThings app and tap the “+” icon to add a new device.
- Select “Device” and then “AV.”
- Choose the brand of your soundbar (Samsung or Samsung Harman Kardon) and then “Soundbar.”
- Tap “Start” and select the location and room for your soundbar.
- The app will search for your soundbar and attempt to connect. Follow any on-screen instructions.
On your LG TV:
- Once the soundbar is connected to the SmartThings app, open the TV’s sound settings menu.
- Look for an option named “Sound Output,” “Digital Out,” or something similar.
- Select the Wi-Fi connection of your soundbar from the available options. This might be listed as “SmartThings” or with the soundbar’s model name.
- The TV will create a temporary Wi-Fi access point, and your soundbar will connect to it directly.
This method uses Wi-Fi Direct to directly connect the soundbar and TV, bypassing the home Wi-Fi router. The steps and menu options may vary based on your specific soundbar and LG TV models. Please refer to the device manuals for detailed instructions. If you experience any issues, try restarting both the soundbar and TV and make sure they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Conclusion
Connecting Samsung soundbar to LG TV is not a complicated process, and the method you choose will depend on the capabilities of your devices. Whether you prefer a wired or wireless connection, there are various options available that can provide high-quality audio for your entertainment setup. With these methods in mind, you can easily connect your soundbar and enjoy an immersive audio experience while watching your favorite shows and movies on your LG TV.
F.A.Q
What is the purpose of the red and white audio cables?
The red and white audio cables, also known as RCA cables, are used to transmit analog audio signals between devices. They have a left/right channel designation, with the red cable carrying the right audio signal and the white cable carrying the left audio signal. These cables are often used for connecting older devices that do not have HDMI or optical ports.
Why isn’t the Samsung Soundbar connecting to Bluetooth?
There could be several reasons why your Samsung soundbar is not connecting to Bluetooth. It could be due to a weak or unstable Bluetooth signal, incompatibility with your LG TV’s operating system, or outdated firmware on either device. Make sure both devices have the latest firmware updates and are within close range of a strong Bluetooth connection.
Can I connect my Samsung soundbar to an LG TV?
Yes, you can connect a Samsung soundbar to an LG TV using various methods such as HDMI, optical cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. Choose the method that is most convenient for you and ensure that both devices have compatible connections.
