Splittin Audio from Your TV: How to Send Audio to a Soundbar and RCA Receiver
For sound lovers who want to enhance their audio experience with both modern and traditional setups, splitting audio from your TV to a soundbar and an RCA receiver simultaneously can elevate the overall quality of your viewing experience. Whether your TV has an HDMI ARC or optical output, there are effective methods to achieve this. Here, we guide you through the process step-by-step.
Check TV Settings
Before diving into the technical setup, ensure that your TV’s settings are properly configured to support audio output to both devices.
HDMI ARC: Make sure your TV’s HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is enabled. This allows the TV to send audio back to a soundbar or speakers connected via HDMI. Connect the HDMI ARC output of your TV to the input on your soundbar using a high-speed HDMI cable.
Audio Settings: Access the TV’s audio settings and make sure the audio output is correctly set. This ensures that the audio doesn’t get stuck on the default or internal speakers of your TV.
Using an Optical Splitter
An optical splitter can be a simpler solution when you want to route audio to an RCA receiver alongside your soundbar.
Connect Optical Cable: Use an optical cable to connect the optical output of your TV to the optical splitter. The optical splitter serves as a junction where you can route the audio to different endpoints.
Connect to Soundbar and Receiver: From the splitter, connect one output to the soundbar, typically via an optical input. If the soundbar doesn’t have an optical input, use an optical to RCA converter to connect to the RCA receiver. This configuration allows you to route the same audio signal to both devices.
Using an HDMI Audio Extractor
An alternative to Optical Splitters is using an HDMI audio extractor. This device is designed to extract and split the audio output from your TV for different purposes.
Connect HDMI Cable: Connect an HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC port of your TV to the HDMI input of the extractor. This device acts as a central hub to distribute audio and video signals.
Extract Audio: The HDMI audio extractor provides an HDMI output for the soundbar and an independent audio output, either optical or RCA, for the RCA receiver. Connect the soundbar to the HDMI output and the receiver to the corresponding audio output.
Wiring Diagram Clarification
For a visual understanding, here’s a simple wiring diagram:
Treiber Diagram:
Simple wiring diagram to split audio from TV to both a soundbar and an RCA receiver.Final Adjustments
Audio Sync: After setting up, check for any audio sync issues between the soundbar and the RCA receiver. Sometimes, calibration or adjustment of settings on the TV or sound devices can help in ensuring a seamless experience.
Volume Control: Ensure that the volume control works properly on both devices. Some setups might require separate volume adjustments to optimize the balance of audio between the two devices.
Conclusion
By using an optical splitter or an HDMI audio extractor, you can effectively route audio from your TV to both a soundbar and an RCA receiver simultaneously. Always check compatibility with your devices and adjust settings accordingly for optimal performance. Enjoy your enhanced audio experience with these powerful tools!