If your sounddeck or soundbar is connected to the TV via HDMI but no sound is coming through, please check the following:
- Whether the TV and soundbar are connected via the HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC port.
- Whether the HDMI cable supports at least HDMI 1.4.
- Whether an optical connection can be used as an alternative.
- Whether the correct audio output is selected on the TV.
- Whether the audio format is set to PCM or Stereo.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
1. Check HDMI-ARC/eARC Port
Make sure your TV supports the HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel) or HDMI-eARC standard and that the sounddeck or soundbar is connected to exactly this port.
The corresponding ports on the TV are usually labeled “ARC” or “eARC”.
2. Check HDMI Cable
Verify that the HDMI cable used supports at least the HDMI 1.4 standard.
An outdated or damaged HDMI cable can cause the device to be recognized but no sound to be transmitted.
3. Use Alternative Connection via Optical Cable
If your TV does not have an HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC port, connect the TV and the sounddeck or soundbar instead via an optical audio cable (TOSLINK).
Requirement: The TV must have an optical audio output.
4. Check TV Audio Output
Many TVs have a separate setting for audio output.
Open your TV’s sound settings and check:
- Whether HDMI-ARC/eARC or Optical is selected as the audio output (depending on the connection used).
- Whether the internal TV speakers are disabled, if necessary.
- Whether the sounddeck or soundbar is recognized as the output device.
5. Check Audio Format
Make sure that the audio format is correctly configured in the sound settings of the TV or connected source devices (e.g., satellite receiver, cable receiver, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV).
Recommended setting for troubleshooting:
- Audio output: PCM
- Channel mode: Stereo
Additional Information
For more information about HDMI-ARC and HDMI-eARC, see:
- Help Center article: No Sound via HDMI
- Teufel Blog: what HDMI cables can do: ARC and CEC explained