How do I connect my LG TV to my music system?
Connecting your LG TV to an external music system or speakers can greatly enhance your audio experience while watching shows, movies, and playing games. The built-in speakers on most flatscreen TVs are small and tinny, without the full range or power to do justice to a film’s soundtrack or immersive game audio. By hooking up dedicated external speakers or a surround sound system, you can enjoy room-filling, high quality sound that makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
In addition to boosting audio quality, connecting external speakers to your LG TV allows you to customize your setup. You can choose speakers and components that match your room size, aesthetic preferences, and budget. Going beyond the basics of a soundbar, you can create a full home theater system with multi-channel surround sound. With the right equipment, you can enjoy a cinematic auditory experience without even leaving your living room.
This guide will walk through the steps to connect your LG TV to an audio system or powered speakers. With a few cables and some configuration in the TV’s settings menu, you can start enjoying a richer, more immersive TV viewing and gaming experience.
Prepare Equipment
To connect your LG TV to a music system, you’ll need the proper cables and adapters. The exact cables you need will depend on the inputs and outputs available on your TV and speakers. According to Reliance Digital, you’ll typically need either an RCA cable or 3.5mm audio cable.
If your TV has RCA audio outputs, you can use an RCA stereo audio cable to connect to RCA inputs on your speakers. Make sure to get a cable with two RCA connectors on each end (one for right audio and one for left).
If your TV only has a 3.5mm headphone jack output, you can use a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable or adapter to connect to RCA inputs on your speakers, according to SoundGuys. You can also use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect to speakers with a 3.5mm input.
Before connecting, check that your TV, music system, and speakers support the input and output options you plan to use. For example, some systems may not output sound over the TV’s headphone jack when external speakers are connected. Consulting your device manuals to verify compatibility can help avoid issues.
Locate Ports
To connect your LG TV to an external audio system like speakers or a soundbar, you first need to locate the audio output ports on the TV. LG TVs typically have several audio out options including:
- Optical – Also called S/PDIF or TOSLINK, this port uses fiber optic cables to transmit digital audio signals. It provides high quality sound and supports surround formats like Dolby Digital.
- HDMI ARC – HDMI ports with ARC (Audio Return Channel) can output TV audio directly to an external audio system that also supports ARC.
- RCA – These red and white analog ports can connect to auxiliary inputs on speakers using RCA cables. Quality is limited to stereo audio.
- 3.5mm – The round 3.5mm audio jack that headsets use can also connect to aux inputs using a 3.5mm to RCA cable.
You’ll want to look for one of these ports along the back or side edges of your LG TV to use for audio output. Check your TV’s manual if you’re uncertain of the port locations. The optical and HDMI ARC options provide the best quality, while the analog RCA and 3.5mm ports are more universally compatible. Just avoid the audio output port labeled “Headphone” as this won’t transmit sound to external speakers.
For reference, see: LG Support Article
Connect Cables
To connect your LG TV to a music system or external speakers, you’ll need to use the appropriate cables. Here are the steps for connecting the cables between your TV and speakers:
First, identify the available ports on the back of your LG TV. Most modern LG TVs have an HDMI ARC port, which allows you to connect to external speakers using an HDMI cable. Older LG TVs may only have RCA or 3.5mm ports available.
If your LG TV has an HDMI ARC port, use an HDMI cable to connect from the HDMI ARC port on the TV to the HDMI port on your speakers or music system. Make sure the speakers support HDMI ARC as well. This single HDMI cable will carry both audio and video signals.1
If your LG TV only has RCA ports, use a pair of RCA audio cables to connect the RCA audio out ports on the TV to the RCA audio in ports on your speakers or music system. Make sure to match up left and right channels.
Similarly, if your TV only has a 3.5mm audio out port, use a 3.5mm to RCA cable to connect from the TV’s headphone jack to the RCA audio in ports on your speakers.
After connecting the cables, you may need to change audio settings on the TV to enable external speakers and select the correct audio output format. Refer to your speaker and TV manuals for device-specific instructions.
Configure TV Settings
Once you have connected your music system to your LG TV, you will need to change the audio output settings on your TV. Here are the steps to access the audio settings menu and change the output to your external speakers:
First, turn on your TV and press the Settings button on your LG remote. Select the Settings icon, then choose All Settings. Next, go to the Sound menu and select Sound Out. From here, you can change the audio output of your LG TV.
Set Sound Out to External Speaker (Optical). This will route the TV audio through the optical output to your external music system. If you connected your speakers differently, choose the corresponding output setting like HDMI ARC or Bluetooth.
Now the audio from your LG TV should play through your connected speakers. You can adjust the volume on your music system directly now rather than the TV remote.
Configure Speaker Settings
Properly configuring your speaker settings is crucial for getting the best audio performance when connecting your LG TV to an external sound system. Here are some tips for adjusting the speaker settings:
Adjust speaker volume – Use your sound system’s remote control or settings menu to set all speakers to a comfortable listening volume. Start with the volume around 50% and adjust up or down as needed. Make sure volume is balanced across left, right, and center channels. If using a subwoofer, adjust its volume control so bass blends nicely with other speakers without overpowering them.
Set up surround sound if applicable – If your sound system supports surround sound, enable this in the system’s audio settings menu. Select a surround sound mode like Dolby Digital or DTS. The TV may need to be configured to pass surround sound signal to the speakers. Consult the owner’s manuals for both devices if needed.
Experiment with sound modes – Try different preset sound modes on the speakers like Movie, Music, or News to find the one that provides the optimal listening experience for different TV programming.
Adjust individual speaker levels – Many systems allow customizing volume for each speaker. Tweak individual speaker levels to achieve the ideal balance and experience for your room setup and listening position.
Run speaker calibration – Some home theater systems have an auto-calibration process that sets levels and distances for surround speakers. Run this setup process if available. It will tune the system specifically for your room.
With properly configured speakers that work well with your LG TV, you’ll be able to enjoy exceptional audio performance.
Test Connection
Once everything is connected, it’s important to test that your speakers are working properly with the TV. Play some video or audio content on your LG TV to hear sound coming from the speakers. Start with normal volume levels and adjust as needed.
If you don’t hear any audio from the speakers, double check that they are powered on and that the correct input is selected on your amplifier if applicable. Make sure volume levels on the TV, speakers, and amplifier are all turned up.
Check the audio settings on your LG TV and confirm that “TV Speaker” is set to off and the correct audio output mode is enabled based on your connection type (HDMI, optical, RCA, etc). You may need to cycle through the options to get sound.
Slowly increase the volume to a comfortable listening level. Make adjustments to the bass, treble, and balance settings on the amplifier or speakers until audio sounds correct. The audio should be clear and consistent from all connected speakers.
If issues persist, see the troubleshooting section below. But with proper setup, your LG TV and music system will deliver quality audio for movies, TV, music, and more.
Troubleshooting
If you are having issues with no audio or low volume when connecting your LG TV to your music system, here are some troubleshooting tips:
First, check that the TV volume itself is turned up and not muted. Use the volume buttons on your LG TV remote to adjust the volume. Also, verify that the volume on your music system is turned up.
Next, confirm that you have selected the correct audio output on your LG TV settings. Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Out and choose External Speaker (Optical) or External Speaker (HDMI ARC) depending on how your devices are connected. Make sure the TV is outputting sound to the correct port.
Check that all cables are securely inserted into the ports on both devices. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the cables or swapping them out for different cables if possible. Also, try connecting the devices to different ports if available.
If you are using an optical audio cable, check that the red light is shining through the tip of the cable to confirm a proper connection. Clean the tip of the cable with a microfiber cloth if the light is not shining through.
Test the source audio by connecting headphones directly to your music system or media device to isolate the issue. If the headphones work, the problem likely lies with the LG TV settings or connection.
As a last resort, perform a factory reset on your LG TV settings. This will erase all custom settings and allow you to setup the audio options again from scratch. Refer to your TV manual for steps to factory reset.
Final Tips
Here are some final tips for getting the best audio experience when connecting external speakers to your LG TV:
Hide TV speakers for clean look: Once you have your external speakers connected, go into the settings menu on your LG TV and disable the built-in TV speakers. This will give you a cleaner look without multiple sets of speakers visible.
Place speakers optimally: Position your external speakers optimally to create an immersive surround sound experience. Place left and right speakers equidistant from the central seating position, elevated to ear level if possible.
Use a universal remote: Consider getting a universal remote to conveniently control both your TV and speakers. This allows you to easily adjust speaker and TV volume from one device.
Conclusion
Connecting your LG TV to an external speaker system can significantly enhance your audio experience while watching movies, TV shows, sports, and more. By following the steps outlined in this guide to prepare your equipment, locate ports, connect cables, configure settings, and test the connection, you will be able to get your devices linked properly.
Once connected, the high-quality speakers will provide richer, more immersive sound than the built-in TV speakers can deliver. As explained in the 3 Powerful Benefits of a High-Performance Audio System, the boosted audio performance makes music and sound effects more lifelike and enthralling. Your entertainment will become more engaging. Upgrading to external speakers also allows you to customize your setup based on the size and layout of your room, as discussed in Soundbar vs. Speakers: Which TV Audio System Is Best for You?. Carefully configuring the speaker positions can optimize the surround sound effect.
By investing some time into hooking up an external speaker system to your LG TV, you can massively improve your audio experience and enjoyment of your home entertainment system. The fuller, more powerful sound will make movies and shows come alive.