Vizio Soundbar Lights Flashing Up And Down? (Here’s Why)
Vizio sound bars are some of the best on the market. However, while Vizio is a choice brand for audiophiles on a budget, they are not without their software and hardware hitches.
Problems with the soundbar lights flashing up and down usually occur with the soundbar’s software, interference from other devices, or even its settings if recently changed.
Vizio Soundbar Lights Flashing Up And Down
When Vizio soundbar lights flash up and down there are a number of electrical or programming faults that may be the culprit. These might include improper settings, poor connections, or even a software error.
This article will discuss what to do if your soundbars light display is scrolling up and down, what it means, and some of the other common problems that users will face with this brand, and what you can do to resolve them.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take so you can continue enjoying your product without paying for expensive repairs. The following article will provide you with a troubleshooting guide that can help you fix the flashing lights’ fault, among others.
1. Light Display Sound Bar Lights Flashing Up And Down
One of the Vizio soundbar features is a 12 light LED display that will indicate which functions are or are not running on the device. When functional, the LED light display on your Vizio soundbar can scroll up and down for a few reasons.
If the lights are flashing up and down on your soundbar, it may indicate that the soundbar is cycling through potential inputs. From bottom to top, each pair of LEDs that illuminated represents a different input:
- Analog Audio In – AUX Stereo RCA
- Analog Audio In – AUX Stereo 3.5mm
- Coaxial In – Digital
- Digital Optical Audio In – Optical
- Bluetooth
- USB In – USB
The lights on your soundbar will scroll up and down when the soundbar is searching for a Bluetooth device. Once pressing the Bluetooth button on your sound bar’s remote or the device itself, the LED display indicate that the bar is searching and will do so for fifteen minutes total.
Once the LED display indicates it is searching, and you will be able to find your Visio soundbar on your device (for example, VIZIO SB2920). If your soundbar doesn’t find a device to connect with, it will automatically turn off.
Additionally, when you turn the volume up on the Vizio soundbar, the blue LED lights will light up sequentially. When you turn the volume down, the lights will decrease sequentially, and if the volume sounds muted, the LEDs will flash. (1)
How To Factory Reset Your Soundbar
Sometimes disconnecting the optical cable from the soundbar will cause the LED display lights to flash up and down. It is one of Vizio soundbars’ common problems, but you can rectify it by performing a factory reset.
You can do this by pressing a combination of two buttons depending on the model and holding them down for four to five seconds.
Sometimes the combination is the input and Bluetooth button or the Bluetooth and volume down button. Check your instruction manual to see which combination will work with your particular model. (3)
2. Troubleshoot For Other Problems
Often when soundbar lights are scrolling up and down, the issue will be accompanied by other problems such as no sound. However, this will not be a hardware issue and will likely be due to software.
The first thing that needs checking is the physical connections such as cables and power sources. Check whether the soundbar connections to the AC outlet are making contact well.
If the connection is loose, likely, the soundbar will not power on at all. Other things that need checking before assuming that the soundbar itself is the issue are if the outlet is malfunctioning, there is a blown fuse, or the circuit breaker for that plug needs resetting.
If the signal between the soundbar and its remote control is interrupted by other objects, the soundbar will not respond. Make sure that your remote control is not more than fifteen feet away from the soundbar. If it still doesn’t work, you can try replacing the batteries in your remote control. (2)
Issues With Volume
If your device’s LEDs seem to be responding, but you can’t hear anything, a rudimentary check to make is that its volume is turned up enough to be heard or if you have accidentally muted the device. If incorrectly set audio settings exist, this may affect sound output.
If the soundbar is connected to a defective device, it may not function properly, so check the functioning and settings of your phone, TV, or console to ensure that that isn’t the source of the problem.
You can try connecting your soundbar to another device which will clarify whether it’s the defective soundbar.
The sound on many TVs comes default set to output sound through their built-in speakers, so it may be necessary for you to change the default settings on your set to reroute its pathways.
If this doesn’t work, you can press the Input button on your soundbar, which will connect the bar with the device’s input audio. The audio input will appear on the screen once connected.
Wireless Subwoofer Troubleshooting
If your Visio soundbar has a wireless subwoofer and it’s not working, there are a couple of troubleshooting steps you can take. Check your settings to make sure you have the sub volume turned up.
Move the subwoofer to a location that is closer to the soundbar, and it should have nothing obstructing its line of sight to the soundbar either. Ensure that you have the subwoofer plugged in and set to the powered position.
If the light on the woofer is blinking in a slow pattern, you will need to pair the subwoofer with the soundbar, wirelessly connecting it to the soundbar. First, confirm the power to the subwoofer and that the power switch is in the on position.
Now locate the pairing button on the back of the subwoofer. On the back of the subwoofer, press and hold the pairing button for five seconds. The LED on the back will begin to blink.
Next, you will need to hold the power button on the soundbar for five seconds. Your model may have a pairing button on the soundbar itself. If so, hold that for five seconds instead.
The LED indicators will flash three times. Check your Quickstart guide to find out what model of soundbar it is that you have. The subwoofer should now be linked with the soundbar.
If you have a Vizio soundbar with satellite speakers that are not producing sound, try these troubleshooting tips. Make sure the satellite speaker’s wires are securely connected. The wires might have loosened during setup. Try turning on the surround function using the remote control.
Sources
- Vizio Quick Start Guide. https://cdn.vizio.com/documents/sb2920c6/qsg-sb2920c6.pdf
- Vizio Soun Bar Easy Troubleshooting For 12 Common Problems. Patterson, James. https://theconchtech.com/smart-tv/vizio/vizio-sound-bar-easy-troubleshooting-for-12-common-problems/
- How to Reset Vizio Sound Bar? All the Best Possible Ways. Roberts, Tim. https://speakershunter.com/how-to-reset-vizio-sound-bar/
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.
