You can take TV watching a notch higher by enhancing its audio and achieving surround sound in your entertainment room. The built-in speakers of your television may not simulate this theatre experience for you, so you would most probably need to plug in external speakers. Learn how to connect speakers to the TV so you may enjoy your favorite movie in no time.
Easy Steps on How to Connect Speakers to TV
All you need to get started before doing this guide on how to connect speakers to TV is an audio cable with stereo RCA or miniplug jacks. The cable ought to be analog and from four to six feet long. Check if your TV has HDMI connections so you can be ready with HDMI cables. Now that you have these materials available, follow these steps on how to connect speakers to TV.
- While all devices are still turned off, plug the external speakers into the television. Be sure that the cables on the speakers and the TV match. Also, position the TV and speakers close to each other, with just enough space for cords of the typical four to six feet long.
- On the TV, look for the analog or digital audio output jack. Using a flashlight to locate the labels, you should see analog cable ports labeled AUDIO OUT. These could either be RCA jacks or a single 3.5 mm mini-jack. On the other hand, newer models have an optical digital output port labeled ‘HDMI OUT.’
- On your speaker, stereo receiver, or amplifier, look for any unused analog input. This could either be the ports labeled Video 1, Video 2, DVD, AUX, or TAPE. However, if your connection is digital, look for the HDMI input port on your speaker, stereo receiver, or amplifier.
- Take note of these available ports on both your TV and speakers, as these ought to be connected by your available couples.
- Turn the television and the speakers on.
- Connect the ports you located in steps 2 and 3 with the appropriate cables you have – analog cables for analog connections or digital HDMI cables for digital connections. If the cords are too long and littering across the floor, you may neatly wind or fold the cords right at the middle of the bight and tie with a wire.
- Check your speakers for sound. The audio of your TV should now be heard from your speakers.
If you do not hear any sound coming through, check your cables again. Figuring out how to connect speakers to TV is mostly a matter of using compatible connections. So be sure that your cords or cables are plugged in the appropriate ports. It could get quite confusing to work through a tangle of cords and cables, so a helpful tip would be to label each wire.
You might consider using color-coded labels indicating the appropriate ports where the plugs should go. Labels could hopefully spare you from the hassle of trial and error. Cut the colored tape with a surface you can write on and tie around each cable’s ends. Or cut strips of paper, write the appropriate cord labels, and tie them on the cords’ ends with clear tape.
But the probable reasons why your speakers still do not work even when connected to the television could be the following:
- The Speaker A/B switch is disabled. Check this switch to ensure that this is active; otherwise, no sound will come through your speakers.
- The internal speakers of your TV are enabled. Head to your television’s Menu, look for settings related to internal speakers, and turn this off. Next, turn the television’s audio output on so that the sound will be directed to your external speakers.
- If using Bluetooth speakers or speakers with Bluetooth options, these may still be connected to a phone or another source device. Be sure that the speakers are not paired with any other device by turning off Bluetooth in phones, laptops, or tablets around you.
- Your TV volume is set so low. Check that your TV volume is set just high enough for something to be heard through the external speakers.
- Your devices are on mute. If muted, no sound will be heard in the speakers, so be sure to check that the TV and the speakers are unmuted.
- Your cables might be connecting loosely. In this case, check that the cables and cords are plugged and snug in the ports.
Conclusion
Learning how to connect speakers to TV is pretty easy, though there would be a bit of confusion at first. But that is normal on your first try. As always, it’s wise to refer to the manufacturer’s manual of both your TV and your speakers to get instructions straight from the horse’s mouth. Manufacturer’s manuals these days are much simpler than the older versions, and they usually have graphic illustrations to help you through the setup. Find out more about connecting speakers.