Is Your JBL Soundbar's HDMI ARC Not Working? Here's How to Fix and Reset It
Sound cuts out right after connecting your soundbar to the TV, or the speaker stays silent despite everything being plugged in. Before assuming a damaged HDMI ARC, the cause is usually straightforward: a misconfigured audio setting, a loose cable, or a streaming glitch.
Most HDMI ARC issues can be resolved without specialist help. Working through the right checks in the right order is usually enough to get sound back where it belongs.
If you’re unsure where to begin, it may be helpful to first understand what HDMI ARC entails.
What is a HDMI ARC?
HDMI ARC stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel. Rather than running separate cables for video and audio, a single high-speed HDMI cable handles both, connecting your TV to external devices such as soundbars.
The result is a tidier setup and consistent audio performance across your home theatre audio system.
Audio signals travel to and from your speakers through the same cable, reducing latency and supporting a broader range of audio formats compared to digital optical audio.
A healthy HDMI ARC connection produces audio immediately on startup. If your soundbar is silent, cuts in and out, or only works intermittently after connecting via HDMI, the ARC connection is likely where the issue starts.
How to Fix a JBL Soundbar HDMI ARC That’s Seemingly Not Working
HDMI ARC issues can show up in several ways: no sound from the soundbar, audio that cuts in and out, or a connection that drops without warning. If your JBL soundbar is not working as expected through HDMI, run through the following quick checks first. If any one of these resolves the issue, you can stop there:
Disconnect the HDMI cable from both devices and reconnect it.
On your TV, set the speaker settings to Audio System.
On your audio system, press the INPUT or TV button to switch the input to TV.
Check the OPTICAL/COAXIAL setting.
Turn off the TV and the audio system.
Turn on the TV first, then turn on the audio system.
On your TV speaker settings, set the Digital Audio Output to PCM.
No matter which soundbar you have, if the checks above do not clear the issue, the steps below cover the most common causes in more detail.
1. Correcting the HDMI ARC Input Connection
The first thing to check is whether the cable is connected to the right port. For the HDMI ARC connection to work, both ends of the cable need to be plugged into ARC-labelled ports on each device.
Plugging either end into a standard HDMI port disables the ARC function entirely, leaving your soundbar with no audio output. Check both your TV and soundbar to confirm the cable is seated in the correct ARC port on each end.
2. Turning On TV Audio Settings
Modern TVs support a range of audio settings, and sometimes the TV's output format won't match what your soundbar can process, resulting in no sound through the HDMI ARC. Adjusting the settings to align with the correct format can resolve the issue:
Navigate to your TV's main settings menu.
Go to the audio settings and select ‘output device’.
Find and select your JBL Soundbar from the list.
Test the audio.
Depending on your TV model, you may also require a restart for the settings to take effect.
Check the Digital Sound Out setting too:
Navigate to your TV's settings.
Go to the audio settings and select “additional settings”.
Search for Digital Sound Out.
In the options, see if the Digital Audio Out is set to ‘Auto’ or ‘Pass Through’, and try switching between these two options to fix the issue.
You can also try setting your audio output to PCM (Pulse Code Modulation). PCM limits output to stereo sound, but it helps identify whether the root cause is an audio format compatibility issue rather than a fault with the HDMI ARC connection itself.
3. Enabling Consumer Electronic Control
Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) manages how your TV and connected devices communicate through HDMI, including the ARC feature.
If CEC is off, your HDMI ARC will not function regardless of how the cable is connected. Understanding why your HDMI ARC is not working often comes down to whether CEC is active.
Depending on your TV's brand, your CEC setting might appear under a different name; here's what you can do for some of the major brands:
Samsung: Access Settings > General > External Device Manager > search for ‘Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)’.
LG: Access Settings > General > Simplink and click ‘Activate the Simplink’ to turn on HDMI-CEC for your LG TV and turn on ‘Auto Power Sync’.
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Sony:
Smart TV: Go to Home > select ‘External Inputs’ > HDMI Setup > select ‘Control for HDMI’ and activate the toggle switch.
Non-smart TV: Access Settings > select ‘System Settings’ > click on ‘Setup’ > head to Bravia Sync Settings > pick ‘HDMI Device Selection’ to activate it.
Panasonic: Go to Menu > Setup > HDMI Control > select ‘CEC’, and activate the toggle switch.
Vizio: Go to Menu > System > navigate to ‘CEC’, and then set it to ‘Enable’.
Philips: Go to Home > select ‘Setup’> access ‘TV Settings’ > navigate to ‘Installation’ > choose ‘Preferences’ > click on ‘EasyLink’ > enable toggles for ‘Master EasyLink’, ‘Auto TV’, and ‘RC Key Forwarding’.
Sharp: Go to Menu > System Options > choose ‘Aquos Link Setup’ and activate ‘Aquos Link Control’.
Roku: Go to Home > Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) > select ‘System Audio Control’ and check its box. Likewise, choose ‘1-touch play’ and activate it.
Toshiba: Go to Menu > Options > navigate to HDMI CEC Control Setup and activate HDMI CEC Control > enable the ‘TV Auto Power’, ‘Auto Standby’, and ‘Amplifier Control’ settings.
If the CEC feature is not immediately visible, search online for your specific TV model to locate it. You might also want to consider the following option:
Select ‘General’ > system preferences > additional audio configuration.
Once found, activate the CEC feature.
Restart your TV and test to see if the issue is resolved.
4. Power Cycling
If the steps above have not resolved the issue, a full power cycle is the next move. Rebooting both devices clears many technology-related glitches that are not tied to a specific setting. Here is how to reset your HDMI ARC connection through a power cycle:
Shut down both your TV and JBL Soundbar.
Unplug your TV and Soundbar’s power adapters, followed by the HDMI ARC cable.
Wait for approximately five minutes.
Reconnect the power adapters for your devices and then the HDMI ARC.
Turn both devices on and test.
If a full power cycle does not resolve the issue, contact JBL Malaysia for support or check your warranty options below.
Find Your Perfect Soundscape with JBL
Fixing HDMI ARC issues takes patience, but most problems can be worked through without specialist help. When everything is running as it should, soundbars are well worth the investment, whether you are fine-tuning a soundproof room or building out a full home theatre experience.
If you have identified that your JBL Soundbar is faulty, JBL Malaysia offers a one-year local warranty across the full range. From TV soundbars to noise-cancelling headphones and beyond, you can get your devices seen at your nearest JBL service centre.
For anyone looking to upgrade their audio setup, JBL's range covers everything from compact soundbars to complete home audio systems. Browse the full JBL range today and find the right sound for your space.
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