The main thing to look out for when wanting to connect your TV to a soundbar or sound system is the output ports on your TV, and the input ports your soundbar/sound system accepts.
If there is a match between these, you will be able to connect the two.
Typically, this will be as simple as connecting the outputs to the respective input on the soundbar or sound system. Use a 3.5mm AUX cable for AUX or headphone input/output, and an optical cable for optical audio input/output, and a coaxial audio cable for coaxial audio input/output. These can be purchased from our website.
Some soundbars may accept HDMI input via HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel). This is not available on all TVs; check your TV manual to confirm if this is an option for you.
S/PDIF (Sony / Panasonic Digital Face)
S/PDIF connectors can either be a coaxial connector or more commonly a fibre optic connector.
Connect the cables between the TV and the sound system.
Adjust the volume on the sound system to the desired level. Some TV may still play audio out of their native speakers. Turn the volume on the TV down to zero so the sound system is the only audio output.
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI ARC uses an HDMI input on your TV to communicate back and forth to your sound system/soundbar. It has the advantage of smart controls which can allow you to control your sound system with your TV remote, simplifying your system.
Plug your HDMI cable into your sound system and into the HDMI port on your TV which has ARC capabilities. Refer to your TV specifications for this information. Most modern TV's use HDMI port 1 as the ARC capable port.
Note: When using HDMI ARC, external devices connected in other inputs (Blu-ray players, gaming console, etc.) must have their output audio set to Stereo or PCM, or the audio will not go through to the audio device. If the unit does not have this audio option, they are not compatible with the audio device and must either be connected to the audio device directly or can only use other audio methods (in-built speakers, 3.5mm speakers, etc.).
If using HDMI ARC, some TVs may also require you to change a setting to allow for the audio.
If you are experiencing sound issues while using an HDMI ARC connection and are either experiencing no sound, or sound cutting in and out, please try to change your TVs sound setting for SPDIF Type to PCM to resolve the issue. You can also try disabling any HDMI CEC functions that your TV may have before reconnecting to the soundbar.
On Android TVs, you will need to open the menu while viewing an input to access these settings.
Auxiliary
An Auxiliary connection typically uses a 3.5mm auxiliary cable to send a raw audio signal to your sound system.
Plug the Auxiliary cable into your sound system and into your TV, usually, the Auxiliary port is denoted by the Headphones symbol.
Adjust the volume on the sound system to the desired level.
Typically when an Auxiliary port is plugged in the TV will not play audio through the speakers. If you want to play audio from your TV and not the sound system you will have to unplug the Auxiliary cable.
Note: Some TVs provide the option to play audio through the TV's speakers and the Auxiliary port simultaneously. Explore the TV's settings to identify this capability.
After connecting the unit with your preferred method, you may be required to set the input audio mode on the soundbar/sound system so the unit knows where to expect the audio from.
Please refer to the manual for your soundbar or sound system for exact connection instructions, and the user manual of your TV for output specifications.
You can find the user manuals for some of our Kogan Soundbars below.
Kogan 2.1CH 80W Soundbar With Built-in Subwoofer
Kogan 2.1CH 100W Detachable Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
For any Kogan TVs or other Kogan soundbars, you can search the product code in our Help Center to locate the user manual.
If you require any assistance, please feel free to contact our Support Team via your Kogan.com account.