It’s rare to see these once-familiar red and white cables as a primary input for soundbars these days. Analogue cables are simple to set up by plugging the coloured plugs into the matching port. Whether your "source" is a Blu-ray player, cable box, streaming device, or game console, there are multiple ways to connect a soundbar to your TV. If you are connecting your source to the TV, then sending audio to the soundbar over HDMI, this requires gear compatible with HDMI ARC, or Audio Return Channel. If your soundbar is showing its age, find out more about the features available on the latest models – go to the best soundbars. Soundbar voice controls If you have any issues with your soundbar, see our expert guide to common soundbar problems . How to set up your soundbar

You might need to change the delay and volume levels, as every room has its own shape, layout and furniture, and these all affect the sound. 5. Adjust the subwoofer level Soundbars often have smart features, which allow you to control some settings with your smartphone or tablet. This is especially likely in mid-range and premium soundbars. Different brands and models have different levels of functionality. Soundbars aren't just for use with TVs, though – you can also use one to listen to music from your phone, tablet or laptop. We'll show you how. This feature allows you to control soundbar functions, such as turning on/off and adjusting volume, by speaking a command out loud – handy if you’re prone to losing the remote.This will allow you to use your TV remote to adjust the volume coming from the soundbar. 4. Adjust the sound Aim to place it within a foot of the height of your ears when you’re sitting in your normal TV viewing position. Soundbars tend to sound better when they’re wall mounted because of this. 4. Distance to soundbar If possible, place your soundbar directly in front of your TV and watch head on for the best results. This can also happen when your soundbar is connected to a set-top box such as Freeview, Sky or a Blu-ray or DVD player that has its own volume control. As with the above tips, you should ensure the set-top box has its own volume set as high as it can go. This should also prevent your soundbar from going to sleep. My soundbar sounds no better than my TV

Dolby Atmos uses upwards-firing speakers to bounce sound off the ceiling, to put you in the middle of the action. If your soundbar supports it, follow the instruction menu so you can get it set up for your specific room shape and size. 6. Furnishings But here's the problem: Not all devices are capable of decoding every sound format. Some TVs, for example, may only be capable of decoding Dolby Digital, but not the DTS audio that comes on some Blu-ray discs.Optical cables, for example, do not have enough bandwidth to carry 5.1-channel PCM, or the ability to send Dolby Atmos signals. The downside, of course, is that you are limited to the number of ports on your soundbar—many may only have one HDMI input—and it does not work for your TV's built-in apps or antenna tuner, which will require HDMI ARC or optical. Still, if you are having problems with one game console or Blu-ray player, try plugging it into the soundbar instead of the TV. HDMI cables can carry more data than optical ones, opening up the possibility for higher-quality sound formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound. HDMI CEC

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Still having problems with your set-up? See our expert guide to common soundbar problems . Setting up a soundbar app Whatever the problem, fixing your soundbar will almost certainly be cheaper – and more environmentally friendly – than replacing it. The audio for movies and TV are usually encoded in one of a few formats. Most streaming content is encoded in Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, while Blu-rays can use Dolby formats or DTS. Some devices can decode the audio themselves and send it as raw PCM as well.

These cables can carry high-quality stereo signals, but aren’t best suited for surround sound. HDMI If your soundbar has an external subwoofer, it might need a cable connection. Others are wireless and can be placed elsewhere, but generally it should be within 10 metres of the soundbar. This is more common when you’re watching TV using a set-top box such as a Sky or Freeview box. Even if your set-top box is connected to your TV and your TV to your soundbar, you may find the audio only gets to your TV's speakers. On the hunt for a soundbar that can take pride of place in your living room? Discover the best soundbars that combine style with substance. The best way to connect a soundbar The product must be correctly installed and operated in accordance with the instructions contained in the manual.Like any other speaker system, soundbars benefit from a bit of extra time and care when you first set them up. Use our easy-to-follow guide to find out how you can get the best-quality audio from yours. In addition, you will also probably have to enable a feature called HDMI-CEC on your TV and soundbar. This allows your TV remote to control your soundbar and vice-versa, and it's usually required for ARC to work properly. Annoyingly, this is called something different on every TV—Samsung calls it AnyNet+, while Sony calls it Bravia Sync, and LG calls it SimpLink.