I have just bought a Bose Soundbar 500 but am unable to connect with my Samsung TV as it does not have any HDMI (ARC/ eARC) or Optical Port. It has only 2 standard/ regular HDMI ports.
Do I need to use an adapter/ converter of any particular spec to establish connectivity between the Soundbar and the TV? Please suggest. Thanks.
Hi Zafrul,
Thanks for your post and welcome to the community.
Depending on the audio output types available for your own TV, you may find an analog to digital audio converter a solution - converting an RCA or similar audio output on your TV to an Optical input suitable for the Soundbar 500. Your own experience when using third-party converters may vary.
Kind Regards,
Hector B - Community Support
Dear Hector B,
Thanks for offering a probable solution.
Let me summarize :
- My TV (Samsung) has only 2 regular HDMI ports
- It has no HDMI (ARC/ eARC) Port
- And no Optical Port
Just for a clearer understanding, If I were to get a converter/ adapter for my Soundbar 500 to be able to work with the above mentioned TV,
- should I have a regular HDMI port on on one side of the converter/ adapter (to connect with the TV) and
- an Optical Port on the other side (to connect with the Soundbard)?
Given the above, may I request for a link of a recommended conveter/ adapter ? I'd be highly grateful.
wrote:Hi Zafrul,
Thanks for your post and welcome to the community.
Depending on the audio output types available for your own TV, you may find an analog to digital audio converter a solution - converting an RCA or similar audio output on your TV to an Optical input suitable for the Soundbar 500. Your own experience when using third-party converters may vary.
Kind Regards,
Hector B - Community Support
I do accept that my experience could very well vary from others with the product.
Thanks and best regards
Zafrul
The HDMIs you have will not output any sound.
You will have to look to see what audio outputs you have. If it doesn't have optical out, it will likely have Coaxial, RCA (red and white stereo sockets) or a headphone (3.5mm) out. You will then need an analogue to digital converter to go from one of the above outputs to the optical format.
Thanks for clarifying that for me
As said you won't be able to get any sound through those HDMI ports meaning that you would need a third party converter.
Kind Regards,
Hector B
Dear Hector B,
1. Can you suggest me a third party converter with a particular spec?
2. I have an Apple TV that connects to the Samsung TV with regular HDMI. If I connect the Apple TV with the Soundbar 500 instead of the TV, will I get audio from the Soundbar?
Thanks and best regards
Zafrul
Hi Zafrul,
I can't suggest any particular third party converter as I haven't tested any myself. However someone here in the community may be able to suggest one that has worked for them.
This won't work as the Soundbar won't be able to pass video through it back to the TV.
Hope this helps!
Kind Regards,
Hector B
wrote:I have just bought a Bose Soundbar 500 but am unable to connect with my Samsung TV as it does not have any HDMI (ARC/ eARC) or Optical Port. It has only 2 standard/ regular HDMI ports.
Do I need to use an adapter/ converter of any particular spec to establish connectivity between the Soundbar and the TV? Please suggest. Thanks.
Sometimes these digital ports are put in very obscure places.
What model is your TV?
I'm having the same problem as . I purchased a "Monster" 12ft. 3.65m Optical Audio Cable at Walmart yesterday. Since it had two types of tips I used the optical too to the back of the Bose 500 & added the other tip which plugged into the headphone jack ... nothing. After reading the input on this it seems that I need to now purchase a analog to digital converter? My TV IS an RCA LED, LCD, full HDTV manufactured in March, 2013. It does have a digital audio out (orange), L-Audio-R (red & white), and composite/Y Pb Pr (green, blue, red). Any suggestions? Thanks so much!
Time for a new TV!
You are trying to get old TVs to work with contemporary SoundBars that require digital interfaces. You need a TV that supports either HDMI (arc) or at least optical audio. I don’t think messing around with adaptors will get you the results you are looking for and is simply spending good money after bad.
Fortunately you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a TV that supports digital interfaces.