How To Connect Speakers To TV Successfully. A Complete Guide

The built-in speakers of television are simply not enough to give you a great TV or movie experience. Most of the time, the dialogues are unclear, and the dramatic sounds are not convincing enough.

For this reason, you should use external speakers or sound system. This article aims to teach you how to connect speakers to TV using different methods.

First, you should decide what kind of speakers you will use. You can have simple computer speakers, a home theater or stereo system, or a soundbar. After choosing your speakers, find out what kind of connection it uses.

In addition to saving space and being easy to connect, soundbars are also great in their design which enhances your overall setup without messing with the consistency. 

You can get affordable soundbars with a great sound capacity and bass to give you a theater experience within your living space. 

The most amazing thing is that you do not need to break the bank looking for a great soundbar that offers the right tonal balance while confidently producing powerful audio. 

Read this guide to help you how to connect them to the TV.

Common Types Of Connection

Connection depends on the kind of speakers and TV you have. Some devices offer different connection options, while others may only give you one option. Here are the different types of connections between TV and other components.

HDMI Connection

Nowadays, this is the go-to connection for high-definition AV transmission because it is convenient. Most televisions today have at least 3 HDMI inputs. You can also find them in many home theater receivers.

Component Video Inputs

This was what older generation televisions use, but you can still find at least one set in newer televisions. It's only for videos and it receives RCA connectors. Some cable boxes, DVD players, and other components still use these inputs.

Composite Video Inputs

This input receives yellow RCA connectors, and it’s even older than the component video inputs. It sends video signals from DVD players, older Blu-ray disc players, cable boxes and other home theater receivers. Though they are old, you may still be able to find them in some new devices.

Optical Digital Audio

This cabling system uses fiber optic cables and laser light to send digital audio signals between devices. It's one of the many options you can connect your speakers to your TV. This connection only carries audio data, so you will need a separate connection for video, like component or composite cables.

People usually use an optical audio connection when an HDMI port isn't available on their components. The HDMI is popular because it offers all-in-one features and doesn’t need more cables.

RF Connector

Another older way to get a signal into television is with an RF connection. It has a small hole where you can plug in coaxial cable. You can still use it to connect antennas to get free over-the-air TV.

USB Sports

This allows you to connect a USB storage device so you can play music, show photos or videos, and watch movies. However, make sure that the file you want to play on the TV is compatible.

Headphone/Stereo Input

Connecting speakers can be as easy as plugging the jack into the input. The input can come in different sizes but the most common one is a 3.5mm jack.

5-Way Binding Post

This is a terminal for wire found on speakers, amplifiers, and receivers. They can accept bare wire, pin connectors, spade connectors, banana plugs and dual-banana plugs.

AV Cables And Connectors

RCA Cables

These are sometimes called phono connectors and they carry audio and visual signals. Most of the time, they are red and white, but sometimes it's also red and black. You can use them to connect VCRs or DVD players to a TV or stereo receivers.

They come in pairs and two connectors on both ends of the cable. The red one is for the right stereo and the white or black one is for the left stereo.

75-Ohm Coaxial Cable

Some cable boxes, modems, and satellite receivers use this because it allows for a high-speed data and AV signal transmission.

Optical Digital Cable / Optical Audio Cable

This is the cable you use for optical audio connections. It uses light energy to transmit audio signals from one device to another.

Speaker Wire

Another common type of audio cable is the speaker wire which comes with or without a connector. It also comes in different thickness, from 12 gauge to 18 gauge.

As a general rule, the longer the wire run, the thicker the gauge should be. Anything over 50-60 feet should have a 12 gauge wire.

| Read More:  Affordable Soundbar

How To Connect Speakers To TV

For easier connection, add speaker wire connectors at the end of the wire. They also make plugging and unplugging easier than just a bare wire. The three main kinds of speaker wire connectors are:

Pin Connector

A pin connector is angled and straight at the end of the wire. They work best with five-way binding posts.

Spade Lugs

Spade lugs are U-shaped connectors that go around the plastic nut. To use it, just slide the open end over the post and hook around the binding post.

Banana Plugs

Banana plugs are much like a pin connector, but they are fat in the middle. This "fat" part gives a tighter and more secure fit to the binding post.

Connecting Computer Speakers To TV

It may not be the ultimate sound system but it’s still a lot better than the TV’s built-in speakers. It gives more volume and clarity to the audios.

Nowadays, most TVs have a headphone jack that matches your computer speakers. You can simply plug it in and connect the speakers into an AC adaptor outlet. Turn it on and you’ve got yourself an upgrade to your TV's speakers.

Connecting Soundbar To TV

A soundbar is another way that you can improve your audio-visual experience at home. What it is is in the name itself basically, a bar or box that gives off a sound. They are external speakers you can connect to your TV to improve the audio.

With the right type of soundbar, you can get rich sound, much like what a full sound system can give. One of the good things about it is that it doesn't take so much space and it doesn't need a lot of wiring.

There are four possible ways you can connect a soundbar to your television. They are RCA cable connection, headphone jack, audio return channel, or optical audio connection. The method you choose, of course, depends on the TV and soundbar you use. Many devices may have the different options available.

RCA Connection

First, plug the RCA cable into the soundbar; white end of the cable should go into the white port and red end to the red port. Second, on the back of the television, locate the red and white audio input. Match and plug the RCA cable accordingly.

Headphone Jack

For this method, you will need a cable that has a red and white RCA on one end, and a headphone/stereo jack on the other. One advantage of this method is that you may be able to control the soundbar volume with the TV remote.

Optical Audio Connection

First, check if this option is available on your soundbar and TV. If it is, then you can proceed with plugging one end of the cable in the soundbar, and the other end on the TV.

Audio Return Channel

ARC (Audio Return Channel) uses HDMI cables and ports. It allows you to send audio from the TV to the soundbar. It's available in many of today's TVs and soundbars and it removes the hassle of many wires.

To connect with ARC, first, plug the HDMI cable into the ARC port of the soundbar. Then, plug the other end into the TV where it says ARC, HDMI 1 or 2, depending on the manufacturer.

Connecting Home Theater Or Stereo Systems To TV

The first thing you want to do is check your TV’s input and output ports. Input jacks receive signals, while output jacks send signals from your TV to the sound system. With today’s newer televisions and sound systems, you may have these connection options: HDMI, RCA, and optical audio.

If it’s necessary, connect all the speakers to each other and the control system first. Make sure the cables are in their right places. Then, decide which method you’d like to use to connect it to the TV.

For RCA connections, plug the red and white ends into the home theater system and the other ends to the TV. With HDMI, simply plug the cables in the places. For optical digital audio, connect it accordingly from the sound system component to the TV.

Troubleshooting

After you set up your speakers to the TV, check if everything is working right. If there are many cables involved, don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first time.

If Nothing Turns On

No TV Reception

Poor Quality Photos

HDMI Connection Isn't Working

Let's say you have a DVD player, game console, or another component connected via HDMI, but it's not working.

The Audio Doesn't Sound Right.

Additional Tips For Connecting Speakers Or Sound System To TV

Setting up your TV and external audio source can be overwhelming especially if you have no idea about all the cables, inputs and outputs.

However, it's not all that difficult, especially because manufacturers have already simplified a lot of it for the buyers. For instance, they have come up with HDMI connections which eliminate a lot of cables and complicated connections.

When you set up your TV and AV system, familiarize yourself with the components by reading the manual. There should be instructions and guidelines in the manual.

If, after troubleshooting, you are still seeing or hearing some problems, then there may be a defect in one of your components. To be sure, then you might have to call for help for support.