How do I connect my TV to a stereo amplifier?
There are several ways to connect a TV to a stereo amplifier.
The right method depends on the TV’s audio outputs and the amplifier’s inputs.
1. HDMI ARC or eARC
Some modern stereo amplifiers have HDMI ARC or eARC.
This allows audio to be sent from the TV to the amplifier through an HDMI cable.
One benefit is that you can often control the amplifier’s volume with the TV remote.
Both the TV and amplifier need compatible HDMI connections.
2. Optical audio cable
Many TVs have an optical digital audio output, often labelled Optical or Digital Audio Out.
If the amplifier has an optical input, you can connect the TV directly using an optical cable.
If the amplifier has no digital inputs, you can instead use an external DAC to convert the digital signal to analogue audio.
3. Analogue audio output
Some TVs have an analogue audio output, such as 3.5 mm or RCA.
You can then connect the TV to a normal analogue input on the amplifier.
Bear in mind that some modern TVs do not have analogue audio outputs.
4. Bluetooth
If both the TV and amplifier support compatible Bluetooth audio transmission, it may be possible to connect them wirelessly.
However, Bluetooth can introduce some audio delay, which may cause the sound and picture to be out of sync.
A wired connection is therefore often preferable for TV audio.
Why am I not getting any sound?
Check the following:
The correct audio output on the TV
The TV may need to be configured to send audio to an external sound system.
The correct input on the amplifier
Check that you have selected the input to which the TV is connected.
Audio format
If you use an optical connection or external DAC, you may need to change the TV’s digital audio format to PCM.
A normal stereo amplifier or stereo DAC cannot usually decode multichannel surround formats directly.
HDMI settings
For HDMI ARC or eARC, you may need to enable HDMI-CEC and the correct audio output in the TV’s settings.
Which connection is best?
If both the TV and amplifier have HDMI ARC or eARC, this is often the most convenient option.
An optical connection is also a good option for stereo sound.
If the amplifier only has analogue inputs, an external DAC can be a simple solution.
Important: Do not connect the TV to the amplifier’s PHONO input. It is intended for turntables and uses different signal processing from normal audio inputs.