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How to Connect a Stereo System or Speakers to a TV

Expand the audio from your TV by connecting it to external speakers

By Gary Altunian Gary Altunian Writer Gary Altunian was a freelance contributor to Lifewire and industry veteran in consumer electronics. He passion was home audio and theater systems. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 31, 2021 Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email TV & Displays Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections Remote Controls

What to Know

Place receiver\amplifier close to TV, locate audio jack on TV, locate audio input on receiver, plug cables into TV and receiver\amplifier.Make sure all equipment is off before connecting.Ensure that the volume on the receiver\amplifier is set to a low setting before testing. This article explains how to install a stereo system or speakers to a TV. Instructions apply to televisions made by many manufacturers; including but not limited to LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.

What You' ll Need

Miguel Co / Lifewire You'll likely need a 4-6 foot analog audio cable with stereo RCA or miniplug jacks. If the TV and stereo system support HDMI connections, then be sure to pick up those cables as well. Once all the tools are available, hook up the speakers to the TV using the appropriate audio cables, and then power on the TV and speakers. A small flashlight might be handy to illuminate the dark corners behind the receiver and television. 1:30

How to Connect Speaker Wires to Your Receiver or Amp

How to Wire Together a TV and Speakers

Clean out the space around the TV to make room for the speakers and allow for some wiggle room to get things situated, and then follow these steps in order. The 6 Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers of 2022 Place the stereo receiver or amplifier as close as possible to the TV, while still being in reach of other devices (i.e., leave room for your cable or satellite set-top box, DVD player, Roku, etc.). Ideally, the TV should be no further than 4–6 feet away from the stereo receiver, else a longer connection cable will be needed. Before connecting any cables, make sure all equipment has been turned off. Locate the analog or digital audio output jack on the television. For analog, the output is often labeled AUDIO OUT and could be two RCA jacks or a single 3.5 mm mini-jack. For digital sound, locate the optical digital output or HDMI OUT port. Locate an unused analog audio input on your stereo receiver or amplifier. Any unused analog input is fine, such as VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, DVD, AUX, or TAPE. Most likely the input on the stereo or home theater receiver is an RCA jack. For digital connections, locate an unused optical digital or HDMI input port. Using a cable with the appropriate plugs on each end, connect the audio output from the television to the audio input of the receiver or amplifier. This is a good time to label the ends of cables, especially if your system has a variety of components. It can be something as simple as writing on small strips of paper and taping it around cords like little flags. If you ever need to adjust connections in the future, this will eliminate a lot of guesswork. Once everything is plugged in, turn on the receiver/amplifier and television. Make sure the volume on the receiver is at a low setting before testing the connection. Select the correct input on the receiver and turn the volume up slowly. Your TV and speakers should be properly wired together now. Some surround sound systems use wireless connections to reach other speakers in the room. However, the soundbar that plugs into the TV, which the other speakers communicate with, is all you have to connect directly to the TV to verify that the sound works. Contact the manufacturer of the speakers for specific steps on connecting the wireless speakers to the soundbar.

What to Do If the Speakers Don' t Make Sound

If no sound is heard, first check that the Speaker A/B switch is active. If the switch is disabled, no sound is allowed through to the speaker system. Another area you can check if you don't hear sound after connecting the speakers to the TV is the TV menu. If your TV has this option, you may need to turn off the internal speakers and turn on the audio output of the television. Your audio system itself might have a pause or mute feature that, if enabled, will stop sound from being relayed through the TV to the speakers. If your TV's volume is down or off and the stereo system's volume is muted, it can appear as though something is broken when really you just have to un-mute one or both devices. Surround sound speakers that support Bluetooth might connect to a nearby phone during the setup process (this can happen by accident during setup as you're clicking buttons). If you think this might be why the speakers aren't playing any sound from the TV, restart the speaker system and temporarily disable Bluetooth on any nearby devices. If anything, plugging in the audio cables might be the only step you're positive you did correctly, but even that can not always work the first time around. Some cables can be pressed in just enough to be held in place but not far enough to actually work properly. Re-check all the cables by unplugging them and pressing harder this time to be sure they snap into place. If the volume of the speakers is turned up, properly attaching the audio cables should make a sound. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The Complete Guide to Home Audio Systems for Beginners How to Connect a Projector to a Speaker How to Connect Your TV to an External Audio System How to Install Your New Stereo System How to Make Wired Speakers Wireless How to Connect Speakers Using Speaker Wire How to Connect a Subwoofer to a Receiver or Amplifier How to Add Bluetooth Adapter to Your TV How to Connect an iPad to a TV Super Bowl TV and Home Theater Setup Tips How to Splice Wires for Speakers and Home Theater Systems How to Fix Common Car Amp Problems How to Install and Set Up a Home Theater Receiver Tips to Set Up and Get the Most From a Sound Bar How to Get Sound From a Projector to Speakers How to Use a Speaker Switch for Easy Multi-Room Audio Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies