How to Connect a Soundbar to a TV and DVD Player
Soundbars are incredible pieces of audio equipment that can enhance your home theater and entirely transform your media viewing experience. You can transform your home movie night by connecting a Soundbar to your TV and DVD player.
To connect your Soundbar to a TV and DVD player, first, connect the DVD player to your TV via an HDMI cable. Then run an optical cable or an HDMI ARC cable from the DVD player to the Soundbar. Or, you may pair the devices via Bluetooth by adding in a Bluetooth receiver and streaming this way.
Whichever way you decide to go with adding a Soundbar to your TV and DVD player, you are sure to be pleased.
The enhanced sound quality will transform your media streaming world, and you will only want to continue adding multiple channels to your home theater’s surround sound speaker system.
Let’s take a closer look at the steps to get you started with your Soundbar, TV, and DVD player.
Also read:
How to Connect a Soundbar to a TV and DVD Player
In case you are unaware, a Soundbar is a piece of sound equipment that acts (as a speaker) to amplify the audio that you stream within your home. This piece of equipment varies on the number of sound channels that it streams, the design, and overall aesthetic appeal.
Considering it is a relatively simple device to set up and enjoy within your home theater space, it is no surprise that it has become increasingly popular.
Soundbars are simple to set up, are sleek in appearance, and are relatively user-friendly. So, it is no surprise that you might be considering purchasing one and pairing it with your TV and DVD player.
If you are sick and tired of having to ask your friend to quiet down so that you can hear what your favorite actor is saying in the movies you watch at home, then it is time to enhance your sound quality.
One of the best ways to do this is to connect a Soundbar directly to a TV and DVD Player. Here’s how:
1. Purchase all the necessary equipment
The first step to connecting your Soundbar to your TV and DVD player is obviously to gather all pieces of equipment that you might need to make this happen.
While the specifications might vary based on the type of TV and DVD player (as well as Soundbar) that you have, there should be some general guidelines that you can follow.
Obviously, you will need the Soundbar, TV, and DVD Player (as well as a power source for each of these that should come standard with each device).
Next, you will need something to connect the TV to the DVD Player, and you will need something else to connect the Soundbar to the DVD Player.
One of the most common options is to pair the TV and DVD Player with an HDMI cable, although RCA cables are relatively common, too. Either way, these should be connected to one another so that the audio/video is streamed from your DVD to your TV.
In pairing the Soundbar, then, you can use an HDMI ARC cable to pair the Soundbar with the DVD Player, or you can use an optical cable to connect the two devices.
Your aim here is to set up a method that the audio can be signaled from the DVD Player (streaming the audio from the DVD) to the Soundbar through the cabled connection.
Another option that you have is to look into smart options that are paired wirelessly, or you can even seek out an option to pair the devices via Bluetooth with a Bluetooth receiver. But, this option will require additional steps, so we will take a look at that further later on.
2. Pay attention to the specifications of your Soundbar
As you look to pair your Soundbar with your TV and DVD Player, it is pretty important to pay attention to the specifications of this device.
What this means is that you need to pay attention to what kinds of cables and connections that your Soundbar is capable of achieving.
You can determine this by looking at the Soundbar itself and establishing which types of cords will connect, or which types of Input/Output options are available.
Additionally, you should note whether your Soundbar is capable of a wireless connection because this could come in very handy. The odds are pretty high that your Soundbar will be capable of being paired wirelessly should you choose to go this route.
3. Note the Input and Output audio options available on your TV and DVD Player
Just as important as it is to pay attention to the specifications of your Soundbar, it is similarly important to pay attention to the Input and Output audio options that are available on your TV and DVD Player.
This will determine which type of cords that you need to purchase (or find in that old tub of random cords that you have stuffed in a closet).
Whether you are using an upgraded Smart TV or an older version, you should still be able to make the connection with a Soundbar and DVD Player.
But, the cords and components that you use might shift a bit as you transform your home theater from a decade-old TV room to a more modernized space to enjoy movies and shows with your friends and family.
4. Connect the TV and DVD Player
After you have established which type of connections your TV and DVD Player have for Input and Output of both audio and video, it is time to establish the connection. Typically, you can do this with an HDMI cable connected from your DVD player to the TV.
But, if you have an older version of a TV that does not have an HDMI cable input option then you should use the RCA cables or other equipment that came with your DVD to pair it with a TV.
Either way, the goal here is to connect the audio and video from the DVD Player (that will play your favorite movies) to the TV (that you will view them on).
5. Connect the Soundbar to the DVD Player
After you have established a connection between the TV and DVD Player, you will need to connect the Soundbar to the DVD Player. Typically, if you are not using a Soundbar, the audio will be connected (with the RCA cables or HDMI cable) from the DVD Player to the TV.
In completing this step, you are transferring the audio from the DVD Player directly to the Soundbar- where you would prefer to stream the audio, instead.
To do so, you can pair the Soundbar with the DVD Player using an HDMI ARC cable or an optical cable depending on the specifications of your device (as well as your preference in their achieved sound quality).
Instead of the audio being routed by the DVD Player to the TV speakers, you are, in essence, rerouting the audio to your Soundbar. In this case, you will likely need to ensure that the appropriate settings have been adjusted.
Set the TV sound settings to the Soundbar (assuming you have these two paired up previously so that your TV recognizes the device.
Additionally, you will need to set the DVD Player’s sound settings to HDMI input (or however else you opt to connect the DVD Player to the Soundbar). Just be sure that the settings have been assigned to read as you intend the connections to be made.
6. Alternatively, opt for a wireless connection
If you decide that the wires are too much for you to look at (or you do not want to fool with installing something creative to hide your wired connection between your Soundbar, TV, and DVD Player, then you can opt for a wireless connection.
This might take a bit more setup than the previous steps, but it can be worth it for the sleek, minimalistic appeal of the wireless connection.
To opt for a wireless connection, you will either need to have a Smart TV that can be paired with your Soundbar (likely on your Google Home), or you can pair the group (including the DVD Player) with a Bluetooth receiver.
In this case, you would pair the DVD Player and the TV with one another by following the same steps as above (using an HDMI cable or RCA cables depending on your device specifications).
Then, you can connect a Bluetooth receiver to your DVD player and connect it with your Bluetooth compatible Soundbar. Once you pair the two devices, then you are well on your way to a wireless connection between your Soundbar, TV, and DVD Player.
7. Stream your audio
Now that you have paired your Soundbar to your TV and DVD Player via a wired or a wireless connection, it is time to begin streaming your audio. You might notice that your DVD Player’s audio sounds a bit different than when you use other streaming sources.
But, unless this seems to drastically take away from the audio quality, then you can assume that it is the media that you are streaming that is to blame rather than how you have your devices set up.
Once you configure your equipment and get set up, it is time to enjoy the show and appreciate the enhanced sound quality that your new Soundbar can provide for you, your family, and your friends.
Check out:
- Soundbars For Home Theater; Top Picks
- Best Soundbars Without Subwoofer
- Best Soundbars with Headphone Jacks
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.
