How does surround sound work with a TV?
Christopher Pierce
Published Apr 06, 2026
How does surround sound work with a TV?
You get an AV receiver that builds a bridge between the equipment and a bunch of speakers. The receiver goes between the TV and a source, such as a cable TV service. Put, the video signal is sent straight to the TV, while the surround sound receiver transmits the sound to your speaker system.
How to enable 5.1 surround sound on Samsung TV?
Here are the steps you need to complete to enable 5.1 passthrough on compatible TVs. Samsung: Go to Menu > Sound > Speaker List and select ‘Receiver (HDMI)’ for HDMI ARC, or ‘Audio Out/Optical’ for digital optical. Go to Menu > Sound > Additional Settings and set ‘HDMI Audio Format’ to ‘Bitstream.’
Do you need HDMI cable for surround sound?
According to this article on It Still Works, you will require two HDMI cables instead of one because you need to connect the cable TV, the receiver for surround sound, and the HDTV. Now, what are the steps to establish a reliable connection?
Can you connect a speaker to a TV?
Most TVs do, however, provide audio outputs that allow you to connect them to self-powered (computer) speakers, a small external amplifier, or a home stereo receiver. The types of speaker system electronics & cables you need depend on your TV’s output jacks.
You get an AV receiver that builds a bridge between the equipment and a bunch of speakers. The receiver goes between the TV and a source, such as a cable TV service. Put, the video signal is sent straight to the TV, while the surround sound receiver transmits the sound to your speaker system.
Here are the steps you need to complete to enable 5.1 passthrough on compatible TVs. Samsung: Go to Menu > Sound > Speaker List and select ‘Receiver (HDMI)’ for HDMI ARC, or ‘Audio Out/Optical’ for digital optical. Go to Menu > Sound > Additional Settings and set ‘HDMI Audio Format’ to ‘Bitstream.’
According to this article on It Still Works, you will require two HDMI cables instead of one because you need to connect the cable TV, the receiver for surround sound, and the HDTV. Now, what are the steps to establish a reliable connection?
How do I Turn on the sound on my TV?
On your TV menu, set Speakers to Audio system . On the remote control, press the HOME button. Select Settings. Select Display & Sound → Audio output → Speakers → Audio system. Select Sound → Speakers → Audio system. Turn on the Control for HDMI setting on your TV, and the A/V receiver or home theater system.