How to Connect a Vizio Soundbar to a TV

A quick and easy guide to connect your Vizio soundbar for optimal sound on your TV

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 19, 2022

This wikiHow teaches you how to set up a Vizio sound bar, and connect it to a TV set. You can use a variety of cables including a digital optical cable, coaxial cable, or an RCA cable, but HDMI is usually recommended as the best option. Some sound bars may also have a Bluetooth pairing feature, and allow you to set up a wireless connection.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a SPDIF Cable

1
Unpack your Vizio soundbar. Take your sound bar out of its original packaging, and make sure you have all the cables, screws, mounts, and manuals in the package.
2
Remove the protective plastic cover on each end of your SPDIF cable. This will allow you to safely plug the cable into your TV and your soundbar.
- SPDIF cables are also called Toslink or fiber-optic cables. Make sure you have the right cable for your connection type here.
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3
Connect one end of the cable to the "OPTICAL" port on the back of your TV. There are usually plastic doors covering the optical port to keep the dust out. Make sure the cable snaps in firmly and connected.
4
Connect the other end of the cable to the "OPTICAL" port your soundbar. This should be the same port as the one on the back of your TV.
5
Make sure your soundbar is powered on. Connect your soundbar to a power outlet with the power cable, and press the Power button to turn it on.
6
Select the correct input method with your soundbar remote. Press the Input button on the soundbar remote, and use the arrow keys to select Optical, Toslink, or SPDIF.
7
Press the menu key on your soundbar remote. This will open the VIZIO menu on your TV screen.
8
Select Audio on the menu. This will open your soundbar's audio settings.
9
Toggle the TV Speakers setting to Off. Select the TV Speakers option with your remote, and use the arrow keys on the remote to toggle it off.
- This will prevent echo effect from multiple sound sources.
10
Change the Digital Audio Out setting to Bitstream or Dolby Digital. Select this option on the Audio menu, and use the arrow keys on the remote to switch it to a different setting.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using an RCA Cable

1
Unpack your Vizio soundbar. Take your sound bar out of its original packaging, and make sure you have all the cables, screws, mounts, and manuals in the package.
2
Find the red-and-white RCA audio cable. You can use this cable to set up an analog sound connection.
3
Find the "AUDIO OUT" port on the back of your TV. This port should feature two red and white connectors labeled Audio Out on your TV.
4
Connect the red and white cables to the respective ports on your TV. Make sure the red end of your RCA cable is plugged into the red port, and the white end into the white.
5
Connect the other end of the cable to the red-and-white "AUDIO IN" or "AUX" connection on your soundbar. This should establish an analog sound connection between your TV and your soundbar.
6
Make sure your soundbar is powered on. Connect your soundbar to a power outlet with the power cable, and press the Power button to turn it on.
7
Select "AUX" as your input method with your soundbar remote. Press the Input button on the soundbar remote, and use the arrow keys to select AUX.
8
Press the menu key on your soundbar remote. This will open the VIZIO menu on your TV screen.
9
Select Audio on the menu. This will open your soundbar's audio settings.
10
Toggle the TV Speakers setting to Off. Select the TV Speakers option with your remote, and use the arrow keys on the remote to toggle it off.
- This will prevent echo effect from multiple sound sources.
11
Change the Analog Audio Out setting to Fixed or Variable. You can switch between these two settings depending on your personal preference.
- If you select Variable, the volume on your soundbar will automatically go up and down when you adjust your TV volume.
- If you select Fixed, your soundbar volume will be controlled by your soundbar itself.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using HDMI ARC

1
Unpack your Vizio sound bar. Take your sound bar out of its original packaging, and make sure you have all the cables, screws, mounts, and manuals in the package.
2
Connect one end of an HDMI cable to the HDMI OUT (ARC) port on your sound bar. This will allow you to set up your sound connection via HDMI.
3
Connect the other end of the cable to the HDMI 1 (ARC) port on the back of your TV. This will allow your TV to send audio signals to the sound bar via the HDMI cable.
4
Connect your sound bar to power. Connect the power cable to the Power port on the back of your sound bar, and plug the cable into a power outlet.
5
Select "HDMI" as your input method with your soundbar remote. Press the Input button on the soundbar remote, and use the arrow keys to select HDMI.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Bluetooth

1
Unpack your Vizio sound bar. Take your sound bar out of its original packaging, and make sure you have all the cables, screws, mounts, and manuals in the package.
2
Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the side of your soundbar. This will put your soundbar in Bluetooth pairing mode.
- Alternatively, you can press the Bluetooth button on your remote.
- If you have the VIZIO remote with the LED screen, press MENU, and find the BT Pair option in your settings.
3
Make sure your TV's Bluetooth is turned on and discoverable. You will have to use your TV's Bluetooth menu to pair it with your soundbar.
4
Select your soundbar in your smart TV's Bluetooth pairing menu. The Bluetooth pairing menu may slightly vary between different TVs, but you will usually only need to select your soundbar on your TV's Bluetooth discovery list.

Warnings

If you're not sure about the ports on the back of your TV, make sure to check your TV's official manual or user guide before proceeding.

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