The meteoric rise of the Amazon fire stick over the past few years has left many to wonder, what exactly is it capable of? A frequently asked question by many new users of the Amazon fire stick is, can it be connected to their soundbar?
You can connect the Amazon Fire TV Stick to a soundbar, and there are two ways to do it. The first method is with a Bluetooth wireless connection. The second method is to plug your firestick directly into the HDMI port on your soundbar.
In this article, we will discuss the different models of fire sticks, their capabilities, and the various ways they can be paired with your soundbar to optimize your audio experience. We will also briefly review some of the other key features of the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Also read: How to Connect a Soundbar to an Xbox One?
Amazon Fire TV Stick Overview
The Amazon Fire TV is an audio/video streaming device used in conjunction with a high-resolution TV to stream movies and shows via the internet.
The idea for the fire sticks originally spawned from Amazon’s earlier device, the Amazon Fire TV, but with compact portability being its target selling point.
Since its release in 2014, the Amazon Fire TV Stick has undergone many changes and upgrades on the quest to become the product it is today.
Essentially, Amazon wanted to create a smaller version of the Fire TV but without compromising any functionality, and from that, the Fire Stick was born.
From its first release until now, the fire stick has been updated to include Alexa voice command, 4K graphic capabilities, and improved processing speeds.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick gives the viewer access to tens of thousands of movies and TV series from all the most popular networks, including NetFlix, Disney+, Amazon Prime TV, and HBO, to name a few.
How to Connect a Firestick to a Soundbar
As mentioned before, there are two ways you can connect a firestick to a soundbar. Below is a more detailed explanation:
Using HDMI (Direct Method)
The first pairing method, which we will explain, is the HDMI connection.
This is the most preferred method when syncing your firestick and soundbar. Put simply, HDMI (which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface) works by combining video as well as audio data and transferring the information between connected devices in a very high-resolution format.
Because of this, connecting your fire stick to your soundbar using the HDMI port will yield the fastest possible transfer of data, hence the highest bandwidth.
The fire stick device comes equipped with an HDMI plug, appearing as a metallic semi rectangle at one end. Once you have identified the HDMI plug, check your soundbar for a corresponding outlet.
It will likely be found either on the back or the side of the soundbar, depending on the model. Then do the following easy steps:
- Plug the fire stick into the HDMI outlet on your soundbar labeled “HDMI IN.”
- Using a second HDMI cord — insert one end into the “HDMI OUT” outlet on the back of the soundbar — and the other end into the HDMI port on your TV.
This method’s advantage is that it provides a very high-quality output of sound due to its direct connection to the soundbar. If you desire to maximize every bit of your system’s potential quality, using the HDMI method will be the ideal way to achieve this.
Using Bluetooth (Indirect Method)
The next option we are now going to go over is the Bluetooth wireless method:
- To begin setting up, you will first plug your Amazon Fire TV Stick directly into the HDMI port of the TV you will be using.
- From there, you will access the settings menu for the firestick.
- Once you have accessed the firestick settings menu, click on the option titled “Bluetooth devices.”
The firestick will now begin scanning for nearby devices that are available for pairing. Once it has detected your Bluetooth soundbar, it can now be synchronized, and the indirect method is complete. Bluetooth synchronization is rapid and can usually connect within seconds.
An important point to note here is that this method will result in lesser sound quality than directly connecting to the soundbar through the HDMI port due to the slightly delayed wireless connectivity nature.
If your soundbar is not capable of Bluetooth wireless technology on the off chance, this method will not be possible, and the direct method will be your only pairing option.
Choosing the Right Firestick for You
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is cost-effective, simple to use, easy to set up, and will provide the user with countless hours of entertainment.
For this reason, it is a must-have for anyone into movies, tv-series, sports, or even video games. The question now becomes, which firestick is best for you?
Below are two of the top Amazon Fire TV Sticks, based on their quality, affordability, and customer approval ratings:
Fire TV Stick 4K Bundle With Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
The 3rd generation Fire TV Stick is the top of the line in media streaming devices. The Alexa voice feature provides users with a sense of total control.
Alexa can be used not only to select and play your favorite movies but also to adjust the volume, convey the weather forecast, deliver the news, and countless other commands. Perhaps the most enticing feature of the 3rd gen echo dot is its 4K capacity.
When combined with a 4K television, the 3rd gen fire stick provides a picture quality that can not be matched by any previous model.
This product supports up to 2160p resolution, has 8 GB of storage capacity, and comes with built-in Bluetooth technology. With all of these things considered, the 3rd gen 4K fire stick is undoubtedly the best product of its kind.
The 4K 3rd Gen Echo Dot also includes a 1-year limited warranty with every purchase.
Fire TV Stick Lite With Alexa Voice Remote
If you are looking for a cheaper and more general-purpose fire stick or you do not have a 4K compatible TV, the fire stick lite is a practical alternative.
This lite version still possesses many echo dot capabilities, including the 8 GB memory, the Alexa voice command features, and the HDMI plugin.
The Bluetooth 5.0 technology of this model allows the fire stick to pairing with just about any Bluetooth device, including wireless headphones, video game controllers, and of course, soundbars. For this reason, this may be the most versatile product on this list.
The main difference between the two models lies in their graphic quality. The fire stick lite only supports up to 1080 pixels, but this will be more than enough to suffice for the average person.
The firestick lite also includes a limited warranty of up to 90 days. The manufacturers stand behind this product, and for a good reason.
Closing Remarks
In this article, we set out to answer the question, is it possible to connect a firestick to a soundbar.
Luckily, not only is it possible, but there is more than one way in which it can be done, depending on your setup and preference. Take your time to study your devices thoroughly, as this will help you discover the ideal method of synchronization.
Pairing your firestick with your soundbar is fast and straightforward, often indicative of a high-quality product.
There is a reason why PCMag proclaimed that “The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a nearly flawless media streamer.” The quality of this product, indeed, cannot be overstated.
Jason is a home theater expert with over 10 years of experience in setting up home cinema rooms and systems. What started out as a hobby soon transformed him into an authority in the audio-visual field. He is passionate about providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information on the latest audiovisual technologies and their applications for home theaters. Read more about Jason.