Does Sony Bravia have audio output?
Sony Bravia TVs have been popular television sets manufactured by Sony since 2005 when they discontinued their previous WEGA LCD line [1]. Sony has a long history in consumer electronics and television sets going back to when they launched the first transistor TV in 1959 [2]. The Bravia brand encompasses their high definition LCD televisions which are known for their quality displays and sleek design.
Audio Outputs on Sony Bravia TVs
Sony Bravia TVs come with various audio output options that allow you to hear sound through different devices. Some of the key audio outputs available include:
HDMI Port
Sony Bravia TVs have HDMI ports that can output audio over an HDMI cable to external speakers, soundbars, AV receivers, etc. Connecting in this way allows full support for advanced audio formats like Dolby Digital Plus, DTS:X, and more. According to Sony’s support article, “How to listen to your TV from the Bravia TV speakers and an AV receiver simultaneously”, “The method for setting that up differs depending on whether or not your devices are compatible with the BRAVIA Sync function that connects via HDMI” (Sony).
Optical Audio Out
Another standard audio output option is the optical digital audio output, also known as S/PDIF. This allows you to pass a Dolby Digital or DTS signal to an external audio system. To enable this output, go to the TV’s settings menu, select “Display & Sound” > “Audio output” and choose Optical as the audio output (Sony Help Guide).
HDMI Port
All Sony Bravia TV models come equipped with the latest HDMI ports. These HDMI ports allow you to connect devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, set-top boxes, etc. to your Sony Bravia TV. The HDMI port carries both video and audio signals. So when you connect an external device through HDMI, you get both picture and sound output from your Sony TV.
Specifically for audio output, the HDMI port supports digital audio formats like Dolby Digital, DTS, LPCM etc. This allows you to get high quality multi-channel audio like 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound from your connected device through the TV’s speakers or audio system.
So in summary, the HDMI port available on Sony Bravia TVs like most modern TVs, carries both video and audio signals allowing you to get the complete audio/video experience. You can enjoy excellent picture quality and rich digital multi-channel audio conveniently from the HDMI input.
Optical Audio Out
Most Sony Bravia TVs released within the last several years include an optical audio output. This allows you to connect the TV to an external audio system, like a soundbar or AV receiver, to output digital audio. The optical output is capable of carrying Dolby Digital and DTS audio from the TV’s built-in tuner or external sources like a Blu-ray player or gaming console.
According to Sony support, the optical audio output may need to be manually activated when viewing digital channels via a coaxial input. So if you are not getting audio through the optical output, check the settings to ensure it is enabled. The optical output also prioritizes Dolby Digital, so if the source content does not contain DD audio, you may need to change settings on the TV or source device.
RCA Audio Out
Sony Bravia TVs come with red and white RCA audio outputs that allow you to connect the TV audio to an external audio system like a soundbar, AV receiver, or stereo system. According to the Sony Bravia Connectivity Guide, using these RCA outputs requires:
- An RCA audio cable
- Optionally, a mini-plug to RCA adapter if your device doesn’t have RCA inputs
The RCA outputs provide 2-channel stereo audio out from the TV. This allows you to play the TV’s sound through your home audio system for better sound quality than the built-in TV speakers. The audio quality from the RCA outs is very good.
In the Audio settings menu on the TV, you may need to change the “Audio Out” or “Headphone/Audio Out” setting from “Headphone” to “Audio System” or “Audio Out” to enable sound output through the RCA jacks.
Headphone Jack
Most Sony Bravia TVs come with a 3.5mm headphone jack that allows you to connect headphones or external speakers to listen to the TV’s audio. This provides a simple way to listen privately without disturbing others in the room.
The headphone jack outputs stereo audio, so you can plug in standard headphones, earbuds, or computer speakers. Some models also include audio output settings in the TV menu to control headphone volume or audio effects.
One caveat with the headphone jack is that it usually disables the internal TV speakers when in use. So plugging headphones into the jack cuts audio output to the built-in speakers. Just unplug the headphones and audio returns to the normal TV speakers.
Overall, the headphone jack on Bravia TVs provides a convenient way to enable private listening from the set. It works with most standard audio devices that accept a 3.5mm input. Just be aware it typically mutes the built-in speakers when enabled (according to this Ask Me Fast article).
Bluetooth Audio
Most Sony Bravia TVs support Bluetooth audio streaming, allowing you to pair wireless headphones, speakers, and other audio devices to the TV. This lets you listen to your TV’s audio completely wirelessly through your Bluetooth device of choice.
According to Sony’s support article (Can I use Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and soundbars with my Sony TV?), Sony Bravia models that support Bluetooth audio include:
- Google TVs (2021 models or later)
- Android TVs (2019 models or later)
To use Bluetooth audio, you simply need to pair your headphones, speakers, etc. to your Bravia TV through the settings. The pairing process is mostly the same as pairing to any other Bluetooth device. Once paired, audio will automatically be routed from your TV to the Bluetooth device whenever it is connected.
One thing to note is that Sony Bravia TVs can only be paired to one Bluetooth audio device at a time. So if you want to switch between different Bluetooth headphones or speakers, you’ll need to disconnect the current device first before pairing the new one.
Speakers
Sony Bravia TVs come with built-in stereo speaker systems. The number of speakers, size, output power, and sound quality can vary across models depending on the screen size and price range.
The highest end Sony Bravia TVs have sophisticated speaker systems with features like tweeters, full-range and subwoofers, and the latest audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and Sony Acoustic Surface Audio. Models like the A90J OLED and Z9J 8K have powerful 4.2 channel 60W speaker systems that produce impressive sound quality without the need for an external soundbar or speakers.
Mid-range and more affordable Sony Bravia models usually have 2 channel 20W speakers that still provide decent sound quality for everyday TV watching. Speakers on entry-level models can be as low as 10W with just down-firing speakers. For serious cinematic sound, an external audio setup would be required.
Audio Formats Supported
Sony Bravia TVs support a wide range of audio formats and codecs for media playback via USB and DLNA. Here are some of the key supported audio formats:
- MP3 – The most common digital audio format. Supported on all Sony Bravia models.
- AAC – Advanced Audio Coding format used by Apple’s iTunes store. Supported on most models from 2013 onwards.
- FLAC – Free Lossless Audio Codec for uncompressed high-quality audio. Supported on mid to high end Bravia models.
- WMA – Windows Media Audio format. Supported on Sony Bravia TVs.
- WAV/PCM – Uncompressed lossless audio. Supported on all models.
- AC3 – Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound format. Supported on most models.
- DTS – DTS Digital Surround audio codec. Supported on many mid to high end models.
Sony Bravia TVs use audio decoders and processors that can handle most common media audio formats. High end models tend to support more lossless and surround sound formats. Refer to your specific TV’s specs for the exact audio codecs supported.
Source: https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/00117502
Conclusion
To summarize, Sony Bravia TVs come with various audio output options to connect external audio devices or speakers. The main options are:
- HDMI: Supports multi-channel digital audio to AV receivers or speakers
- Optical Audio Out: Outputs Dolby Digital and DTS audio to AV receivers
- RCA/Analog Audio Out: For connecting to analog stereo audio equipment
- Headphone Jack: Allows private listening via headphones
- Bluetooth: Stream audio wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers
- Built-in Speakers: All Bravia models include integrated speakers
So in conclusion, Sony Bravia televisions support the latest surround sound formats and offer flexible connectivity to external audio devices. With the above output options, you can create the home theater audio set-up of your choice.