How to Connect Soundbar to Windows PC or Mac

This article will show you how to Connect Soundbar to Windows PC or Mac. You don’t have to be an audio expert to know how to connect a speaker to a computer. In the modern world, where technology is always getting better, this kind of information is very important. If you use computers every day, you are not computer-illiterate, and connecting a speaker should be easy for you. Soundbars are great to have if you love music or just want to hear the action in a movie better. If you own a computer, a soundbar might be just the upgrade you need over your normal speakers.

In the past, installing a Windows computer or a Mac PC was a little different from installing a Mac PC, but now, the linking method is not that different. You just have to choose whether you want a wired or wireless link. It can be soul-destroying to listen to music on the speakers on your PC or laptop. And if you spent a lot of money on your computer, it’s even worse. But don’t worry, because hooking up a speaker should take less than ten minutes and will make a big difference in the sound quality. Here are the ways how to Connect Soundbar to Windows PC or Mac.

Benefits of Connecting a Soundbar to Your PC or Mac

1. Soundbars are made to offer high-quality sound with more clarity, depth, and an overall more immersive audio experience. If you connect a soundbar to your PC or Mac, the music quality will be much better than with the built-in speakers.
2. Your entertainment experience will be better with a soundbar, whether you’re watching a movie, playing a game, or listening to music. It gives you sound that is fuller and more immersive, making your pleasure more enjoyable and interesting.
3. Some soundbars come with fake surround sound technology already built in. By connecting it to your PC or Mac, you can create a more immersive sound setting with simulated surround sound. This is especially helpful for games because it lets you hear clues about where to go and really get into the game.
4. Soundbars save room and are more convenient than traditional speaker setups because they are slim and small. They are made to sit on a desk or be mounted on a wall, so they don’t take up much room in your PC or Mac setup. Also, they often have wireless connection choices, which reduces the number of cables and makes setup and placement easier.
5. Easy to set up and connect: It’s usually easy to connect a speaker to your PC or Mac. Most soundbars have different ways to connect, like Bluetooth, HDMI, optical, or AUX inputs. This gives you the freedom to choose the best way to connect based on your device and personal tastes. Once they are connected, they are generally automatically recognized and need little to no extra configuration.

How to Preparing Your Soundbar and PC/Mac for Connection

1. Turn off your PC or Mac and the speaker.
2. Determine the type of link you want to establish between the speaker and your PC or Mac. Common options include HDMI, optical wire, or Bluetooth.
3. Check if your soundbar has the necessary ports or connections for your preferred method.
4. Depending on the chosen link type, acquire the required cables or other components. You will need an HDMI wire for HDMI, an optical wire with suitable connectors for an optical cable, or ensure that both your speaker and PC/Mac have Bluetooth turned on.
5. Locate your PC or Mac’s HDMI or optical audio port. The HDMI port will be labeled as “HDMI output port,” while the optical audio port may be identified as “TOSLINK” or “S/PDIF.”
6. Connect one end of the HDMI or optical cable to the output port on your PC or Mac that corresponds to the chosen connection type.
7. Connect the other end of the HDMI or optical cable to the input port on your speaker that matches the cable type.
8. Turn on your speaker and ensure that it is connected to the correct source. Consult the user guidebook for your soundbar to learn how to change the input source.
9. Start up your PC or Mac.
10. Configure the audio settings on your PC or Mac so that the sound is directed to the connected soundbar. In most cases, this can be done in the system settings or audio control screen.
11. Play audio or video on your PC or Mac and verify that the sound is coming out of the soundbar to test the connection.
12. Adjust the volume and customize other settings on the speaker according to your preferences.

How to Connect Soundbar to Windows PC

Via Wired Connection

1. Make sure your PC and soundbar are turned off.
2. Determine the type of connection your soundbar supports. The most common options are HDMI and optical. Check the available ports on your soundbar.
3. Obtain the necessary cable for your chosen connection type. If using HDMI, ensure you have an HDMI cable. For optical connection, you’ll need an optical cable with the appropriate connectors.
4. Locate the corresponding audio ports on your PC. If using HDMI, identify the HDMI output port. For optical connection, look for the optical audio port labeled as “TOSLINK” or “S/PDIF.“
5. Connect one end of the HDMI or optical cable to the corresponding audio output port on your PC.
6. Connect the other end of the cable to the input port on your soundbar that matches the cable type. For HDMI, connect it to the HDMI input port on the soundbar. For optical connection, plug it into the optical input port.
7. Ensure that all the connections are secure and properly inserted.
8. Turn on your soundbar and set it to the appropriate input source for the wired connection. Refer to the soundbar’s user guide for instructions on selecting the correct input source.
9. Power on your PC and wait for it to boot up.
10. On your Windows PC, right-click the volume icon in the system tray located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
11. Select “Sounds” from the context menu. This will open the Sound settings.
12. In the Sound settings window, go to the “Playback” tab.
13. Locate the soundbar or the audio output device associated with your soundbar. It may be listed as the soundbar’s model name or a generic audio device.
14. Select the soundbar as the default playback device by right-clicking on it and choosing “Set as Default Device”.
15. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
16. Play audio or video on your Windows PC to test the connection. The sound should now be routed through the connected soundbar.

Via Wireless Connection

1. Ensure that your soundbar and Windows PC both support wireless connectivity, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
2. Turn on your soundbar and put it in pairing mode. Refer to your soundbar’s user manual for specific instructions on how to enable pairing mode.
3. On your Windows PC, go to the Settings by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
4. In the Settings menu, click on Devices.
5. In the Devices menu, select Bluetooth & other devices.
6. Make sure the Bluetooth toggle is turned on.
7. Click on the + Add Bluetooth or other devices button.
8. In the Add a device window, select the Bluetooth option.
9. Windows will start searching for available Bluetooth devices. Wait for your soundbar to appear in the list of available devices.
10. Once your soundbar appears in the list, click on it to start the pairing process.
11. If prompted, enter any passcode or PIN required to connect the soundbar. Refer to your soundbar’s manual for the default passcode or how to set it up.
12. After entering the passcode, Windows will complete the pairing process, and your soundbar should now be connected to your PC wirelessly.
13. To ensure that the sound is directed to the soundbar, right-click on the Volume icon in the system tray (usually located at the bottom-right corner of the screen).
14. Select Open Sound settings from the context menu.
15. In the Sound settings window, under the Output section, select your soundbar from the list of available devices.
16. Adjust the volume settings on your soundbar or in the Sound settings window to your liking.
17. Play audio or video on your Windows PC, and the sound should now be transmitted wirelessly to your connected soundbar.

How to Connect Soundbar to Mac

1. Turn off your Mac and the soundbar.
2. Determine the type of connection you want to use. Common options include HDMI, optical cable, or Bluetooth.
3. Check if your soundbar has the necessary ports or connections for your preferred method.
4. Depending on the chosen connection type, gather the required cables or ensure that both your soundbar and Mac have Bluetooth turned on.
5. Locate your Mac’s audio output port. On most Mac models, this is a 3.5mm headphone jack or a USB-C port (in newer models).
6. If you’re using an HDMI connection, make sure your Mac has an HDMI output. You may need a separate HDMI adapter if your Mac doesn’t have an HDMI port.
7. If you’re using an optical cable, you’ll need a digital-to-analog audio converter since Macs typically don’t have optical audio ports.
8. If you’re using Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both your Mac and the soundbar, and they are discoverable.
9. Connect one end of the cable (HDMI, optical, or USB-C) to the appropriate port on your Mac.
10. Connect the other end of the cable to the corresponding input port on your soundbar.
11. If using Bluetooth, pair your Mac with the soundbar by following the Bluetooth pairing instructions provided by the soundbar manufacturer.
12. Turn on your soundbar and select the correct input source.
13. Power on your Mac.
14. Go to System Preferences on your Mac by clicking on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and selecting “System Preferences.”
15. In the System Preferences window, click on the “Sound” icon.
16. In the Sound preferences, navigate to the “Output” tab.
17. Select your soundbar from the list of available audio output devices.
18. Adjust the volume and other sound settings on your Mac to your liking.
19. Play audio or video on your Mac to ensure the sound is coming out of the connected soundbar.
20. Finally, you can customize additional settings on your soundbar, such as audio modes or equalizer settings, according to your preferences.

Conclusion

Using any of the above ways, if you don’t hear any sound at first, you may need to check your computer’s audio settings. Check to see if everything is turned up and the soundbar is on and plugged correctly. It’s pretty easy to connect a speaker to a computer, whether it’s a Windows PC or a Mac. Most of the time, the link is made as soon as you plug in the cable, and you won’t have to do anything else.

Questions and Answers