You just unboxed your JBL soundbar, excited to finally upgrade your movie nights with cinema-quality sound. You connect everything, press power, and… nothing. Your Sony TV keeps playing audio through its built-in speakers while your brand-new soundbar sits there silent.
This frustrating scenario happens more often than you’d think. The good news is that most connection issues between JBL soundbars and Sony TVs stem from a handful of fixable problems. You’ll learn exactly what’s causing the disconnect and how to get your setup working smoothly, without needing to call tech support or return anything.
Why Your JBL Soundbar Stays Silent
Picture this: your soundbar is powered on, all the cables look connected, but your Sony TV acts like the soundbar doesn’t exist. This happens because TVs and soundbars need to “talk” to each other through specific protocols and settings. When one device doesn’t recognize the other, or when settings clash, you end up with no sound transfer.
The connection between your TV and soundbar relies on a digital handshake. Your Sony TV needs to detect the soundbar as an audio output device, then route sound through the correct channel. If this handshake fails at any point, your TV defaults to its internal speakers. This can happen even when cables are physically plugged in.
Think of it like trying to have a conversation with someone who speaks a different language. Both parties are present and trying to communicate, but without a common language or translator, nothing gets through. Your TV and soundbar need to agree on the audio format, connection method, and output settings.
Several things can interrupt this communication. Cable problems, incorrect input selections, disabled TV settings, or outdated firmware can all create roadblocks. Sometimes the issue is as simple as the wrong cable type, while other times it involves buried menu settings that you’d never think to check.
JBL Soundbar Not Working With Sony TV: Common Causes
Connection problems between these devices usually trace back to a few repeat offenders. Let’s look at what typically goes wrong and why it prevents your soundbar from working.
1. HDMI ARC/eARC Port Confusion
Your Sony TV has multiple HDMI ports, but only one supports Audio Return Channel. This specific port allows audio to travel back from the TV to your soundbar. If you’ve plugged your soundbar into any other HDMI port, it won’t receive audio no matter what else you do.
Most Sony TVs label this special port as “HDMI 3 (ARC)” or “HDMI 4 (ARC),” but the location varies by model. You might have connected to HDMI 1 or 2 thinking all ports work the same way. They don’t.
Your JBL soundbar needs that ARC-enabled port to receive audio from your TV’s apps, built-in tuner, and other connected devices. Without it, the soundbar can only play audio from devices plugged directly into it.
2. Disabled or Misconfigured Audio Output Settings
Sony TVs come with audio output settings that determine where sound goes. By default, many models keep audio routed to the TV’s internal speakers. You need to manually switch the output to your soundbar.
These settings hide in menus that most people never explore. Your TV might list the output as “Audio System,” “External Speakers,” or “ARC.” If this setting still points to “TV Speakers,” your soundbar stays silent even when properly connected.
3. CEC Control Issues
Consumer Electronics Control lets devices control each other through HDMI. Sony calls their version “Bravia Sync,” while JBL might reference it as “HDMI-CEC.” When this feature malfunctions or gets disabled, your TV can’t communicate with your soundbar properly.
Sometimes CEC creates conflicts instead of helping. Your TV might struggle to recognize the soundbar, or the soundbar might not respond to volume commands from your TV remote. These glitches often stem from the feature being partially enabled on one device but not the other.
4. Faulty or Incompatible HDMI Cable
Not all HDMI cables support ARC functionality. Older cables or cheap knockoffs might physically fit but lack the wiring needed to carry audio backward from your TV to your soundbar. You could have everything set up correctly, but the cable itself becomes the bottleneck.
Cable quality matters more than people realize. A damaged cable with internal wire breaks will show the same symptoms as an incompatible one. Even bent pins inside the HDMI connector can prevent proper communication between your devices.
5. Firmware Bugs and Software Glitches
Both Sony TVs and JBL soundbars run software that occasionally develops bugs. An outdated firmware version might not properly support ARC, or a recent update might have introduced new compatibility issues. These software problems can make a previously working setup suddenly fail.
Manufacturers regularly release updates to fix these bugs, but many people never install them. Your TV and soundbar might be running software versions that simply don’t play nicely together. This becomes especially common with newer soundbar models and older TV firmware.
JBL Soundbar Not Working With Sony TV: DIY Fixes
Getting your soundbar working usually takes less time than you’d expect. These solutions address the most common problems, arranged from simplest to more involved.
1. Power Cycle Everything Completely
Turn off your Sony TV and JBL soundbar using their power buttons, not just the remote. Unplug both devices from the wall outlet and wait a full 60 seconds. This clears any temporary glitches in their memory and resets the connection protocols.
While everything is unplugged, press and hold each device’s power button for 10 seconds. This drains any residual electricity stored in their circuits. Then plug your soundbar in first, let it fully boot up, and plug in your TV second.
This simple reset fixes connection issues surprisingly often. Your devices establish a fresh handshake without any lingering configuration errors from previous attempts. Give them a minute to recognize each other before testing the audio.
2. Verify the Correct HDMI Port and Cable
Locate the ARC-labeled HDMI port on your Sony TV. It’s usually HDMI 3 or 4, marked clearly near the port itself. Unplug your soundbar’s HDMI cable and plug it firmly into this specific port. You should feel a solid click when it seats properly.
Check your HDMI cable next. Look for “High Speed HDMI” or “HDMI with Ethernet” printed on the cable itself. If your cable has no markings or says “Standard HDMI,” it might not support ARC. Try a different cable if you have one available, preferably one that explicitly mentions ARC support.
Make sure both ends of the cable connect firmly. Wiggle the connectors gently to confirm they’re fully inserted. A loose connection creates intermittent problems that seem random and frustrating.
3. Configure TV Audio Output Settings
Press the Home button on your Sony TV remote and go to Settings. Look for “Sound” or “Audio” settings, then find “Audio Output.” You’ll see options like “TV Speakers,” “Audio System,” or “ARC.”
Select “Audio System” or whichever option references external speakers or ARC. Some Sony models require you to explicitly disable TV speakers in a separate toggle. Look for any setting that says “TV Speakers” and switch it to Off.
Save your changes and back out of the menu. Your soundbar should immediately start producing audio. If you still hear nothing, try changing your TV’s volume. Sometimes the soundbar needs this trigger to activate.
4. Enable and Test HDMI-CEC/Bravia Sync
Go back into your Sony TV’s settings and find “External Inputs” or “HDMI Settings.” Look for “Bravia Sync Settings” or “CEC Control.” Enable this feature if it’s turned off. Also enable “Device Auto Power Off” and “TV Auto Power On” for full functionality.
On your JBL soundbar, check if it has a CEC setting. Some models have this in their own settings menu, accessible through buttons on the unit or a dedicated remote. Enable CEC on the soundbar as well.
Test the setup by adjusting volume with your TV remote. If your TV’s volume control now affects the soundbar’s volume, CEC is working correctly. This confirms proper communication between your devices. If CEC causes problems instead of solving them, try disabling it on both devices and relying on optical audio or ARC alone.
5. Update Firmware on Both Devices
Check for software updates on your Sony TV first. Go to Settings, then System or About, and select “Software Update.” If an update is available, install it. Your TV might restart during this process.
For your JBL soundbar, visit JBL’s support website on your phone or computer. Search for your specific soundbar model and look for firmware downloads. Many JBL soundbars update via USB drive. Download the firmware file, copy it to a USB stick, plug it into your soundbar, and follow the update instructions in your soundbar’s manual.
Keeping both devices updated prevents countless compatibility issues. Manufacturers fix bugs and improve ARC functionality through these updates. After updating, perform another power cycle to ensure the new firmware initializes properly.
6. Try Optical Audio as an Alternative
If HDMI ARC continues failing, use an optical cable instead. Most Sony TVs and JBL soundbars have optical audio ports. This connection doesn’t support advanced features like CEC control, but it delivers reliable audio.
Connect an optical cable from your TV’s optical output to your soundbar’s optical input. Go into your TV’s audio settings and select “Optical” or “Digital Audio Out” as the audio output. Your soundbar should have an input button that lets you switch to optical mode.
Optical audio works independently of HDMI, giving you a solid backup solution. You’ll lose some convenience features, but you’ll get the improved sound quality you bought the soundbar for. Sometimes the simpler solution proves more reliable than the fancier one.
7. Contact a Professional Technician
If none of these fixes work, you might be dealing with a hardware fault. A damaged HDMI port on your TV, a faulty soundbar circuit board, or internal connection problems require professional diagnosis.
Contact Sony support for your TV or JBL support for your soundbar. Describe everything you’ve tried so they don’t make you repeat steps. They might identify a known issue with your specific model combination or arrange a repair if your device is under warranty.
Wrapping Up
Your JBL soundbar and Sony TV can absolutely work together once you sort out the connection hiccups. Most problems boil down to settings, cables, or simple configuration mismatches that take minutes to fix. Start with the easiest solutions like power cycling and checking your HDMI connections.
Don’t get discouraged if the first attempt doesn’t work. Try each fix methodically, and you’ll likely get your soundbar pumping out quality audio soon. Your movie nights deserve better than tinny TV speakers, and you’re closer to that upgrade than you think.