A soundbar is only as good as the signal feeding it. HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, optical, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm analog each carry different audio formats at different quality levels. Picking the right connection is the first step to actually hearing what your soundbar can do.
Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Zeskit Maya HDMI 2.1 Cable | eARC / Dolby Atmos | 4.8/5 |
| Monoprice Certified Premium HDMI 2.0 | ARC on mid-range TVs | 4.7/5 |
| AmazonBasics Toslink Optical Cable | No-ARC TVs | 4.6/5 |
| Syncwire 3.5mm Stereo Aux Cable | Monitor speakers and PC setups | 4.6/5 |
| Avantree Oasis Plus Bluetooth Transmitter | Wireless on non-BT TVs | 4.7/5 |
Zeskit Maya HDMI 2.1 Cable — Best for eARC and Atmos Soundbars
HDMI eARC is the top-tier soundbar connection standard and requires a cable that reliably passes 48 Gbps without signal degradation. Cheap cables labeled HDMI 2.1 frequently fail this, forcing the connection to drop to standard ARC or even stereo PCM. The Zeskit Maya is broadly tested by the home theater community and consistently passes. Use it between the TV’s eARC-labeled port and your soundbar’s HDMI input. Enable HDMI-CEC (the manufacturer-specific name varies: Anynet+ for Samsung, Bravia Sync for Sony, SimpLink for LG) to control soundbar volume from the TV remote.
Find Zeskit Maya HDMI 2.1 Cable on Amazon
Monoprice Certified Premium HDMI 2.0 — Best for Standard ARC
TVs with HDMI ARC (not eARC) send audio return via the standard ARC bandwidth, which supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. Any Premium HDMI 2.0 cable handles this reliably, and there is no practical reason to spend more. Monoprice’s Certified Premium line has passed third-party testing for 18 Gbps throughput. The cables are braided, have quality latched connectors, and last several years of normal use. For most living room setups with a non-Atmos soundbar, this is all the HDMI cable you need.
Find Monoprice Certified Premium HDMI 2.0 on Amazon
AmazonBasics Toslink Optical Cable — Best Non-HDMI Connection
If your TV has no HDMI ARC port, a digital optical cable (Toslink) is the right connection. Optical carries up to Dolby Digital 5.1 and is immune to the ground loop hum that plagues analog audio cables. The AmazonBasics Toslink is consistently reliable; its connectors snap in firmly and the cable length options (3 to 12 feet) cover most TV-to-soundbar distances. Set TV audio output to Dolby Digital or Auto/Bitstream for multi-channel audio, not PCM (which would output 2.0 stereo). Optical cables cannot carry Dolby Atmos or DTS:X object audio.
Find AmazonBasics Toslink Optical Cable on Amazon
Syncwire 3.5mm Stereo Aux Cable — Best for PC and Monitor Speaker Setups
Computer monitors with built-in speakers or desktop soundbars connected to a PC typically use 3.5mm analog audio. The Syncwire aux cable is built with oxygen-free copper and double-braided nylon, which reduces the interference that cheaper cables pick up from USB and GPU cables nearby in a PC setup. This connection type is 2-channel stereo only, with no surround processing, but for music and desktop gaming it is perfectly adequate. At under ten dollars it is the most cost-effective soundbar connection available.
Find Syncwire 3.5mm Aux Cable on Amazon
Avantree Oasis Plus Bluetooth Transmitter — Best Wireless Solution
For TVs without Bluetooth output, the Avantree Oasis Plus converts an optical or 3.5mm signal into Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and aptX Low Latency codec support. Low Latency mode drops lag to around 40ms, which is acceptable for most TV dialogue without noticeable lip sync issues. The unit can transmit to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, so you can pair both a soundbar and wireless headphones for late-night listening without switching. Setup takes about two minutes and the unit remembers pairing across power cycles.
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How to Choose the Best Soundbar Connection
Audit your TV’s back panel before buying anything. If you see a port labeled eARC: buy an HDMI 2.1 cable and use it. If you see only ARC: HDMI 2.0 is sufficient. If there is no ARC but there is an optical out: use Toslink. If there is no optical: use 3.5mm or Bluetooth transmitter. Always enable HDMI-CEC in TV settings for ARC connections, or remote control of soundbar volume will not work. Upgrade the cable before assuming the soundbar or TV has a defect; a failing cable is the most common source of intermittent audio dropouts.
For related reading, check our best connection for Samsung soundbar guide for Samsung-specific tips, and visit our methodology to understand how we evaluate audio gear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cable to connect a soundbar to a TV?+
HDMI ARC or eARC is the best connection for most soundbars. It returns audio from the TV to the soundbar over the same cable your devices use, supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with eARC, and allows TV-remote volume control via HDMI-CEC. If your TV has no ARC port, optical (Toslink) is the next best option, supporting up to Dolby Digital 5.1.
Does optical audio sound worse than HDMI ARC?+
Optical audio supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 at up to 1.5 Mbps, which sounds very good for movies and TV. It cannot carry lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, and it does not support Dolby Atmos object-based audio. HDMI eARC is audibly superior for Atmos-capable soundbars and content. For non-Atmos setups, the difference is small in practice.