[LG TV] How to connect an LG TV to a Home Theater System

How to connect a sound bar or home theatre to LG TV | LG India Support

LG TVs make it easy to get the option to enhance your sound experience by giving you the option to connect your external sound system via ARC, Optical, or Bluetooth

Are you looking to elevate your movie nights by upgrading from your LG TV’s built-in speakers to a cinematic home theater system? Whether you are trying to output immersive Dolby Atmos audio through a premium soundbar, connect a traditional multi-channel AV receiver, or sync older audio gear, setting up the connection is quick and straightforward. LG TVs offer multiple high-quality output options, including HDMI eARC/ARC, optical audio cables, and wireless Bluetooth syncing. In this guide, we will walk you through the simple steps to physically connect your hardware, configure your LG webOS audio settings for the best sound quality, and ensure your system works seamlessly with a single remote control.

How to Connect Your LG TV to a Home Theater Using an HDMI Cable

Connection using HDMI cable

1. First, connect the TV and the sound bar with an HDMI cable. Connect the sound system to the TV's HDMI ARC port . This may be HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 depending on your TV model.

HDMI in ARC plugged in on TV end, and HDMI OUT (TV ARC) plugged in on the soundbar end

2. Press the settings button on the TV remote and select [All Settings] → [Sound] → [Sound Out] → [Use Wired Speaker] → [HDMI (ARC) Device].

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'Sound' UI Menu with 'Sound Out' selected

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'Sound' Out UI Menu with 'Use Wired Speaker' selected.

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'Use Wired Speaker' UI Menu with 'HDMI(ARC) Device' selected.

3. If not automatic, change the input function on the sound system to ARC or to the HDMI corresponding to the LG TV. [E-ARC] or [ARC] may appear across the display of the system confirming connecting.

Connection using Optical cable

1. Prepare the optical cable.

2. Check the position of the terminal on the back of the sound bar and the position of the terminal on the back of the TV, and connect the cable.

Note :
Check the shape of the optical cable and connect it to match the shape of the U-shape. If the shape is different, do not connect. If you try to connect it with excessive force, the terminal may break.

'Optical out' plugged on TV End, and 'optical in' plugged in on soundbar.

3. Press the settings button on the TV remote and select [All Settings] → [Sound] → [Sound Out] → [Use Wired Speaker] → [Optical Out Device].

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'Use Wired Speaker' UI Menu with 'Optical Out Device' selected.

4. If not automatic, change the input function on the sound system to Optical. [Optical] or [OPT] may appear in the display of the system confirming connecting.

Connection using Bluetooth

Press the settings icon on your remote control and select [All Settings] → [Sound] → [Sound Out] → [Use Wireless Speaker] → [Bluetooth Devices] → [Connectable Devices].

Note:
Ensure the Bluetooth Device is powered on and searchable.

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'Sound' Out UI Menu with 'Use Wireless Speaker' selected.

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'Use Wireless Speaker' UI Menu with 'Bluetooth device' selected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. What is the difference between HDMI ARC and eARC on my LG TV?: A. HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) offers much higher bandwidth than standard ARC. This allows it to transmit uncompressed, premium audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for true theater-quality sound.

Q. Can I control my home theater volume using my LG TV remote?: A. Yes. You must enable SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) in your LG TV settings. Go to General > Devices > HDMI Settings, and toggle SIMPLINK to ON so your TV remote can control the home theater's volume and power.