How Do I Connect Multiple HDMI Devices to My Soundbar?

Can you hook up multiple devices with HDMI on your soundbar? In this tutorial, you’ll know how to connect all of your devices so when you use them, you’ll get the best sound quality possible even if many devices are paired with it.

If you are asking yourself ‘How Do I connect multiple HDMI devices’, then you’re in the right place. When you complete the tutorial we have listed, you’ll be able to hook multiple devices that have an HDMI within one soundbar. Think about it, you won’t have to switch HDMI cables when you have to change between your home theater or your game console.

This will be an important tutorial because it will save you a lot of time once everything is set up. You will be able to have sound come out of one soundbar no matter how many devices are connected to it. You won’t have to make any kind of adjustments because everything is plugged in and ready to go.

What You Need to Follow in This Tutorial

In this tutorial, it’s obvious that you will need the following:

• An HDMI cable (including an HDMI ARC cable)
• HDMI ports
• HDMI switch (if needed)
• Optical cable (if needed)
• Smart TV (optional)
• Your source device (or two devices +)
• Your soundbar

While we are focused mostly on HDMI devices, there are other alternatives that we’ll be taking a look at. In the event that you have no HDMI ports in your source devices, we’ll provide you with alternative solutions.

For example, we will discuss how you can connect your devices to your soundbar using an RCA connection and Bluetooth. Let’s talk about each one of these briefly.

Related: How to connectHow to Connect Bluetooth Soundbar to Roku TV

RCA cable to HDMI

This is if you want to connect a DVD player to your TV (Techwalla) that has an HDMI port. You will need an RCA to HDMI converter. You’ll want to connect the HDMI cable to the TV and then connect the RCA cables to the DVD player or even a game console.

Even though people are using Blu-Ray discs and players, some people still love their DVDs. For that reason, it may be a smart idea to ensure that you have the right connection for your DVD player. And this is the best solution to go with.

Here’s how to do this:

• You’ll have an HDMI input and an AV or RCA output. You’ll notice the yellow, red, and white color coded outputs that indicate which RCA wire will go where.
• Connect the power cord of the converter into its appropriate slot. Then plug it into the outlet.
• Double check to see if the connection is correct. If you notice any sound coming out of the soundbar, you should be all set.

Bluetooth to HDMI connection

For this setup, you will need an HDMI transmitter that will be able to connect your devices using Bluetooth technology. This will come in handy if your TV does not have Bluetooth capabilities of their own (assuming it’s not a smart TV that already does). With that said, you’ll want to do the following:

• You’ll want to connect it either with an RCA cable or a 3.5 AUX (whichever you prefer).
• If you have an RCA cable, plug the HDMI cable from the RCA to HDMI converter into the port. Then using RCA cables, connect it to the transmitter.
• If you have an Aux 3.5 mm cord, then connect one end to the TV’s AUX port and the other to the Bluetooth’s transmitter.

Connect Multiple HDMI Devices to Your Soundbar: Step-by-step Guide

Now, we’ll take a look at this step-by-step guide on how to connect multiple HDMI devices to your soundbar. Be sure to follow each of these steps so you don’t miss anything. Otherwise, you may run into issues afterwards.

Let’s get started.

1. Know your TV’s connectivity specs

The connectivity specs will depend on the type of TV you have. If you have a Smart TV, you can breathe easy knowing that you can easily connect a soundbar to your TV and make it easier to connect multiple devices. If it’s any other TV, then there may be a few extra steps to take.

What if you have an older TV?

If you have an older TV, it may be a good idea to purchase something like a Bluetooth receiver. The good news is that it can be set up using either an RCA or AUX cable. The setup is simple and straightforward either way.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Connect the transmitter to an audio output. So long as your TV has one, it should be enough to where you can add Bluetooth capabilities.
• Make sure the Bluetooth transmitter is turned on. It should be indicated by a small light. Some of these may also be battery-powered and can include an additional light indicator that will come on if the battery is low.
• Switch on the transmitter’s pairing mode. Depending on the transmitter you have, the steps you need to take may be different. Most of the time, it will require you to just press the power button for a bit until you see the indicator lights flash. From there, you can pair the now Bluetooth-capable TV to your sound bar.

2. Know your TV’s connection requirements

You now have a good idea of your TV’s connectivity specs. So now, we turn our attention to the connection requirements. At this point, your TV should have Bluetooth capabilities regardless if it’s a smart TV or not.

Here are some tips that you want to follow

• If you want to lessen the amount of wires, Bluetooth may be your best option. But be careful, it has its limits. Bluetooth 4.0 can connect up to 3 to 5 devices, while Bluetooth 5.0 will hold up to 7.
• Make sure that it’s on the same WiFi network. If nothing is working, you may want to check which device is connected to which WiFi network. For example, if the Bluetooth device is on one network and the source device is on the other, make the switch regardless of what device you choose.
• Keep in mind that you still have HDMI, RCA, AUX, and Optical inputs for your TV. So if you don’t have a Smart TV, make sure you put one of these to good use.

3. Pair each device

Your TV will be your go-to device as you will need a visual indicator to know which device is already connected to your soundbar. This will make the process simple because you can be able to allow the soundbar to scan for another source device and pick up on it. From there, the pairing will be easy.

If you want to pair each device using an HDMI ARC or optical cable, this is how you do it:

• Find the HDMI ARC port on both your soundbar and TV. Both of them must be available and in working order.
• Make sure you have a high speed rated HDMI cable if you want the best results. Plug in the ARC cable into both the TV and the soundbar itself.
• Go to your TV’s setting’s menu and search for your HDMI or CEC options (depending on the TV you have). Make sure that these are enabled before moving forward.
• Turn on your soundbar and make sure it’s on TV mode. This will ensure the sound coming from the TV is routed to the soundbar itself. Make sure that the TV’s original speakers are muted.
• Using any leftover HDMI ports you may have, connect other devices you want to use.

4. Check Your TV Settings for Preferred Speaker Options

Now, you’ll want to look at your TV and find your preferred speaker options. Most TVs will have the HDMI input as their default option. However, not every TV will do this.

So, let’s take a look at what needs to be done:

• Check to see if your connections are in place. If they are, move on to the next step.
• Switch to your TV settings and find out where your preferred speaker option is plugged in. For example, if you have your speakers plugged into an HDMI, then you’ll want to select the HDMI option. If you have multiple HDMI inputs, then you’ll want to find the one that it’s connected to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an HDMI splitter?

An HDMI splitter will be able to split the signal from a source device to ensure the connection of devices using multiple HDMI ports. An output signal will be created and it can provide a long distance transmission if and when possible.

Is it worth getting an HDMI splitter?

Yes. An HDMI splitter will be useful as it won’t reduce the overall quality. The reason for this is that it’s cloning a digital signal. However, issues may arise if the HDMI cable itself is considered to be too long. Check the length to make sure if a splitter may be worth using.

Can an HDMI switcher reduce quality?

No, it will not. If there are signal quality issues, this can be pointed to the switch itself being low quality or you may be dealing with a bad connection. Either way, it’s important to check out these common issues so one may be ruled out to confirm the other. Again, a switcher will be used to ensure that the digital signal is cloned properly.

Final Thoughts

Did you enjoy this tutorial? If so, we hope that you found the steps listed above to be easy to understand and follow along. Doing so will allow you to ensure that multiple devices are all being supported on your Soundbar so you can play music just by a few touches or taps.

While there are a few ways to connect multiple HDMI devices to your soundbar, you’ll want to find the one that makes sense to you. Whether you have one HDMI input or multiple HDMI inputs, it all depends on what can be setup.

If you need to purchase a newer device due to a lack of HDMI ports, have at it if you have the money. If you need an HDMI switch, get one. If you have plans to set up something for the best movie, TV, or gaming experience, decide what is possible when you have your TV, soundbar, and other devices to connect with.

If you liked this tutorial, you can leave us a comment below. If you discovered any of the mentioned solutions above as either working or not working, please let us know so we can make it more valuable for new readers.