LG Soundbar With Sony TV No Sound: What Usually Causes It
If your LG soundbar with Sony TV no sound problem appeared suddenly, it is usually caused by an HDMI ARC/eARC setting, an incompatible audio format, or a control handshake issue between the devices.
The good news is that most cases can be fixed without replacing hardware, and a few settings changes often restore audio immediately.
Sony BRAVIA TVs and LG soundbars can work very well together, but they depend on correct audio routing, matching output modes, and a stable connection through HDMI ARC, eARC, optical, or Bluetooth.
When one part of that chain is misconfigured, the TV may show volume activity while the soundbar stays silent.
Check the connection type first
The connection method determines which settings matter most.
Start by identifying whether your LG soundbar is connected through HDMI ARC or eARC, optical cable, or Bluetooth.
- HDMI ARC/eARC: Best for Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, and TV remote control integration.
- Optical cable: Reliable and simple, but limited to older surround formats.
- Bluetooth: Convenient, but more likely to suffer from pairing or latency issues.
If you are using HDMI, make sure the cable is plugged into the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port, not a regular HDMI input.
On many Sony TVs, that port is labeled clearly, but it is easy to miss during setup.
Confirm the Sony TV audio output settings
When a Sony TV sends audio to an external speaker, the internal speakers may mute automatically.
If the soundbar is still silent, the TV may not be outputting audio to the correct device.
Settings to review on Sony BRAVIA TVs
- Set Speakers or Audio System to the external audio device.
- Enable HDMI Control if you are using ARC or eARC.
- Turn on eARC Mode if both the TV and LG soundbar support it.
- Check Digital Audio Out and try Auto, PCM, or Dolby Digital.
On many Sony models, Auto works best for modern soundbars, but if there is no sound, temporarily switching to PCM can help determine whether the issue is format-related.
If PCM works and Dolby does not, the problem is usually an audio decoding or passthrough mismatch.
Verify the LG soundbar input mode
LG soundbars often have multiple input modes, such as HDMI ARC, Optical, Bluetooth, and TV Audio.
If the soundbar is set to the wrong input, it will remain silent even when the TV is sending audio correctly.
Use the soundbar remote or the onboard button to cycle to the correct input.
Look for labels such as TV ARC, OPT, or HDMI.
If you recently changed cables, the soundbar may still be listening on the previous input.
Also check the volume and mute status on the soundbar itself.
A soundbar can appear connected while still being muted, in standby mode, or set to a very low volume.
Why HDMI ARC and eARC handshakes fail
HDMI ARC and eARC rely on a communication handshake between the TV and the soundbar.
If that handshake fails, the TV may detect the device but not send audio properly.
Common triggers include:
- Power outages or brief unplugging
- Firmware updates on the Sony TV or LG soundbar
- Using an HDMI cable that is damaged or not high-speed certified
- Connecting the soundbar to the wrong HDMI port
- CEC control conflicts between devices
A practical fix is to power off both devices, unplug them from the wall for one minute, reconnect the HDMI cable firmly, and then turn on the TV first, followed by the soundbar.
This reset often restores ARC communication.
Test with a different audio format
One of the most common reasons for LG soundbar with Sony TV no sound issues is format incompatibility.
Some soundbars handle Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Atmos differently, while Sony TVs may default to an output mode the soundbar does not decode correctly.
Try these steps on the TV:
- Open audio settings.
- Change digital audio output from Auto to PCM.
- Test sound from a live channel, streaming app, or TV menu tone.
- If sound returns, switch back gradually to Dolby Digital or Auto.
If PCM works but surround formats do not, the LG soundbar may need a firmware update, or the app you are using may be outputting a codec that your setup cannot pass through cleanly.
Check CEC and device control settings
Sony calls its control feature HDMI Control, while LG uses SimpLink for CEC-based operation.
These features allow the TV remote to control the soundbar volume and power, but they can also interfere with audio routing if one device is stuck in a bad control state.
Try disabling HDMI Control on the TV, then power-cycle both devices and enable it again.
If the sound returns after a reset, the issue was likely a CEC synchronization problem rather than a broken speaker or TV.
Use these physical checks before deeper troubleshooting
Before changing more settings, inspect the hardware path carefully.
Small physical issues can look like software failures.
- Reseat both ends of the HDMI or optical cable.
- Check for bent connectors, loose plugs, or damaged cable jackets.
- Try a different HDMI cable, preferably one rated for high-speed or Ultra High Speed use.
- Make sure the soundbar is not in Bluetooth pairing mode by accident.
- Confirm the TV is not sending audio to headphones, a second speaker, or a casting device.
If you are using an optical cable, remove and reinsert it so the red light is visible at the cable end.
No red light usually means the TV is not sending optical output or the connection is not seated properly.
Update firmware on both devices
Firmware updates can fix compatibility issues between Sony televisions, LG soundbars, HDMI chipsets, and streaming apps.
If the sound issue started after a software update, the next update may contain the fix.
Update the Sony TV through its system software menu and check the LG soundbar support page or LG ThinQ app if your model supports app-based updates.
After updating, restart both devices and test audio again.
When the problem comes from the streaming app
Sometimes the TV and soundbar are working correctly, but one app is outputting audio in a way that triggers silence.
This is common with streaming platforms that switch between stereo, Dolby Digital Plus, and Atmos depending on the title.
To isolate the app:
- Test the TV home menu sounds.
- Play audio from a different app.
- Check whether broadcast TV or an external console produces sound.
If only one app is silent, clear the app cache, update the app, or reinstall it.
App-specific audio bugs are common on smart TV platforms.
Use optical as a fallback if ARC keeps failing
If HDMI ARC or eARC remains unreliable, optical audio is a strong fallback for basic TV sound.
While it does not support all advanced formats, it is stable and easy to troubleshoot.
When switching to optical:
- Connect the optical cable from the TV’s optical out to the soundbar’s optical in.
- Set the Sony TV audio output to Optical.
- Set the LG soundbar to Optical input.
- Disable TV speakers if the TV still tries to use them.
Optical will not carry full eARC features such as lossless Atmos, but it can confirm whether the issue is with HDMI control rather than the soundbar itself.
Signs the issue may be hardware-related
If you have tested multiple cables, reset both devices, and tried different audio formats, the problem may be hardware-related.
Typical warning signs include a soundbar that never powers on properly, no response to any input, or a TV HDMI port that fails with multiple devices.
At that point, test the LG soundbar with another TV or test the Sony TV with another sound system.
Cross-testing helps identify whether the fault is in the TV, the soundbar, or the cable.
Fast troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm the soundbar is on the correct input.
- Use the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port.
- Set Sony audio output to Audio System.
- Try PCM if Auto produces no sound.
- Power-cycle both devices and reseat cables.
- Update firmware on both devices.
- Test with optical if HDMI ARC still fails.
For most users, the fix is a combination of the correct HDMI port, the right Sony TV audio setting, and a compatible output format.
Once those three pieces match, an LG soundbar and Sony TV usually deliver stable sound without further issues.