You’ve bought Polk Soundbar for the best surround sound music and to watch movies to get “cinema-feel”. But for some reason, it isn’t paired with tv. I understand it is frustrating.
Make sure you have connected HDMI and optical cables, selected the correct source on the Polk soundbar (correct button settings), and set the TV audio output to HDMI or optical. If any of this is not up to mark, the Polk soundbar does not work with the TV.
Let’s see other scenarios of why Polk soundbars do not work with TV and how to connect to TV.
Primary Reason Why Polk Soundbar Is Not Working!
There are two significant reasons why the soundbar doesn’t work.
- The wrong HDMI port is being used.
- The HDMI cable is faulty.
I received the same question multiple times from users saying their soundbar is not working, no matter what brand. The common reason is they are using HDMI in port instead of HDMI out or HDMI ARC.
I can’t emphasize enough this is one of the hundred reasons why such requests are received daily.
Why is Polk Soundbar not working with TV? 3 Common Reasons
Some settings may stop the Polk soundbar from connecting with the TV. These settings need to be done through buttons. OR some faulty outlet connections are causing the problem. Let’s Check them out all.
Check Polk Soundbar Remote Button Settings
Review the button settings on your Polk soundbar remote control. Ensure that the volume is not set to zero and that the Mute button is not accidentally activated.
When troubleshooting TV pairing or sound issues, verify the status of the Polk soundbar’s control buttons, especially the Mute function.
TV Doesn’t Have HDMI ARC
Polk Soundbar will not be paired with a TV without HDMI ARC input in your TV.
To connect the Polk subwoofer to the TV, the TV must have an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel; the next-gen format of ARC) port.
Most brands like Samsung, Sony, Vizio, TCL, and LG support HDMI ARC.
Locate the HDMI port with ARC/eARC option to connect the Polk soundbar to TV.
What is ARC Port?
HDMI ARC is the input available for sending and receiving audio to TV. It provides much higher quality than simple HDMI and optical cable.
Use Optical Cable Instead of Standard HDMI(Alternative to HDMI ARC)
If your TV doesn’t support HDMI ARC, using a standard HDMI port won’t work.
Go for optical cable; this cable comes within the box of the Polk soundbar.
Check the Electrical Outlets of the Soundbar and Subwoofer
The first thing that requires attention is the outlet in which the soundbar and subwoofer are connected.
Power outlets are the first source that will supply power to the equipment. Any malfunction in this will hinder the pairing of Polk soundbar with TV.
Power Cable is Properly Attached
Insert the power cable in the soundbar properly and prefer using AC outlets for plugging in soundbar for power. AC outlets are mostly perfect for Polk.
Other power outlets are loose sometimes, thus inhibiting the connection of soundbar with the TV.
Use an AC outlet to Connect Subwoofer
Now connect cable to subwoofer and the power outlet in wall. Like the former, an AC outlet is suggested.
The subwoofer automatically connects with the soundbar as soon it is powered on.
How to Connect Polk Soundbar to TV? 6 Solutions if Polk Soundbar Is Not Working
These are the solutions if your Polk soundbar refuses to connect with TV. I receive hundreds of requests daily to help users troubleshoot the issue. I recommend the first two solutions mostly and they work 95% of time. It would be best if you try these solutions to get your soundbar working.
HDMI Cable is Faulty
More often than not, HDMI cable is faulty. Try replacing it with a new one. You can buy this from the nearest hardware store. Or buy it through Amazon.
Want to Watch a Movie NOW?
Use optical cable as an alternative option to HDMI. Optical cable also comes with a Polk soundbar box.
NO Sound? Adjust the Mute Settings through Polk Soundbar Buttons
Tweaking the mute settings is one of the things most people do. Sometimes unconsciously & sometimes knowingly, we press the mute button, resulting in no sound.
And when we again turn ON the TV, we don’t hear anything. As a result of frustration, we think of other things. What could’ve happened with my Soundbar? Is it out of order now, and many such things?
But don’t worry, if Polk soundbar is not giving any sound this could be one of the reasons.
You can adjust mute settings either through the Polk remote or through the Polk soundbar buttons.
Use HDMI ARC port instead of standard HDMI
HDMI ARC port is specifically designed for sending & receiving high-quality audio. The latest models of LEDs and TVs have ARC ports.
If your TV has both ports, HDMI standard, and HDMI ARC/eARC, connect the cable to the Audio Return Channel; in this way, the Polk soundbar will start working with the TV.
Optical Cable is an alternative to HDMI ARC for transferring audio. Some TVs don’t have HDMI; in that case, you can use this.
Place Bluetooth Connected Device in Close Proximity
One of the many common problems that hinder the pairing of a Polk soundbar with a TV is it may be connected to another Bluetooth.
Place your Bluetooth-connected device in close proximity to the soundbar so that some other devices may not connect with it.
Use GFCI/AC outlet for power
I suggest you use an AC outlet. I personally faced this situation.
Other outlets sometimes start acting up. GFCI and AC outlets are exactly fit for the power cable that comes with the Polk soundbar box.
In my case, AC outlet worked perfectly fine. If this doesn’t work for you, you can also try GFCI.
Reboot TV & Soundbar to Make it Work
Sometimes, rebooting the TV & soundbar will do the drill. How to do this? Follow the steps below if soundbar is not working with TV.
The order in which these steps are performed is important. So, the TV takes time to reboot before connecting to the soundbar and starting to work.
- Unplug every device from the TV, especially Blu-Ray or DVD players.
- Turn off the TV & subwoofer. Remove power switches from outlets.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Turn the TV back on, and then soundbar, so that TV takes the time to boot up.
Related: Why Polk soundbar keeps turning Off
FAQs
Do all TV brands support ARC ports?
Most of the common brands support HDMI ARC ports. Brands like Sony, Samsung, LG, and Vizio have in-built ARC ports.
If your TV doesn’t have HDMI, use an optical cable.
How to Pair Polk Soundbar to TV?
- Attach both the power cables of soundbar and subwoofer to power outlets.
- Insert the HDMI cable in HDMI out port of soundbar. This is the thing where most people make mistakes (don’t use HDMI-in port).
- Now connect the other end of HDMI in ARC port of TV.
Voila Polk soundbar is paired with the TV.
Why my Optical Cable is Not Working with TV?
Some older systems that don’t have HDMI use optical cable in that case. But sometimes, the soundbar still gives no sound. You have to change some settings.
Switch the audio format to PCM if you’re using an optical cable. This will do the drill.
Concluding Words
The prime cause for disturbance in connecting the Polk soundbar with TV is you’re using wrong HDMI port or HDMI cable in itself is faulty.
Some other reasons could be faulty boards, the mute button being ON, the volume being turned off, or some other Bluetooth device being connected.
You can refer to the article above for which port should be used for sound.
