As a Samsung soundbar owner, I’ve been frustrated trying to get my soundbar to work with Chromecast. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved my problem and other solutions I discovered to help others who may have the same issue. In this blog post, I’ll explain why some Samsung Soundbars don’t work with Chromecast, ways to get around it, and how to make sure your soundbar is compatible with Chromecast.
Do Samsung soundbars work with Chromecast, though? Can you use these two together? The answer is yes! However, you must take into consideration the devices’ compatibility and required specifications for this to work.
| Tips |
|---|
| Samsung soundbars are compatible with Chromecast |
| HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC is required for simultaneous use |
| Connect devices to TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC ports first |
| Use an HDMI splitter as an alternative if necessary |
| Enable CEC and disable TV’s built-in speaker |
| Check HDMI CEC sync by unplugging both devices |
Table of Contents
How to Use Samsung Soundbar and Chromecast Simultaneously
Before you attempt to pair your Samsung soundbar with Chromecast, there are a few things you need to know first.
What You Should Know
These are some terms you need to be familiar with to understand how all the components can work together.
- HDMI – This stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. It’s used for transferring high-definition audio and video between two devices through a single cable.
- HDMI ARC – ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. This is what allows devices to transmit audio from one another. For example, a soundbar’s HDMI OUT (TV-ARC) and TV’s HDMI IN ports should be connected through one cable for sound to be transmitted.
The HDMI ARC supports the following audio formats: Dolby Digital (up to 5.1 channel), PCM (2 channel), limited Dolby Atmos, and DTS Digital Surround (up to 5.1 channel).
- HDMI eARC – “e” here stands for enhanced, and by its name, is an upgraded version of the HDMI ARC. They perform the same function, except that HDMI eARC allows you to send all the latest audio formats between devices. This includes Dolby Atmos.
HDMI eARC enables the audio to a TV that comes from source devices such as cable, satellites, and streaming platforms, to be sent to a soundbar or an AVR through a single HDMI cable.
Pairing Samsung Soundbar With Chromecast
Firstly, try to connect the devices to your TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC ports. Sometimes, connecting external devices to the TV through their HDMI ARC ports can allow the simultaneous use of all of them.
It wouldn’t hurt to try this, but it might not work under some circumstances. The compatibility of the devices plays a big role in whether this could work or not.
- Check and locate your TV and Samsung soundbar’s HDMI ARC ports—usually labeled on your devices. Connect them using an HDMI cable.
- Go to your TV Settings. Doing so may vary depending on your TV model, but you have to look for CEC and enable it. Enabling CEC can give you ease of control over both your TV and soundbar.
- Go to Audio Settings and disable or turn off the TV’s built-in speaker.
- Turn on your soundbar and make sure the input is set to TV.
- Typically, your TV has two more empty HDMI ARC ports. You can use one to plug in your Chromecast.
If this doesn’t work for you, there might be some compatibility issues with your devices.
You might have a Dolby Atmos system. This is not a problem if your TV has HDMI eARC. HDMI eARC enables the sound of the original media from the Chromecast device to be transmitted to the soundbar. Without it, you can try using an HDMI splitter.
Read more: Chromecast not working with Soundbar
How to Use Samsung Soundbar and Chromecast With an HDMI Splitter
An HDMI splitter is a tool you can use to split the signal from a single source and send it to multiple output devices. In this case, you should have three HDMI cables.
Connect the Chromecast to the HDMI splitter. This is the source or input device. From there, connect the soundbar and TV. They’re the output devices.
This connection will enable the splitter to duplicate the signal from the source to the output routes, allowing the simultaneous use of all the devices.
Recent News
According to Samsung Newsroom Australia, Samsung soundbars Q700 and above will have the ability to support third-party connectivity features.
These soundbars will be able to support AirPlay 2 and will have built-in Chromecast ability. This may vary depending on your location, though.
Read more: Chromecast blue screen
Pros
- Easy to connect and setup.
- Enjoy better sound quality and surround sound.
- Can control Chromecast and soundbar with your TV remote.
Cons
- Compatibility issues between devices.
- Need to use HDMI ARC or eARC.
- Need to disable the TV’s built-in speaker.
Conclusion
Using your Samsung soundbar along with a Chromecast device is possible, but it boils down to the compatibility of your devices.
If some of the features don’t work properly, you can try unplugging your TV and soundbar from their power sources.
In case HDMI CEC gets out of sync, it’s also advisable to unplug all the devices connected to your TV. Plug them all back in and see if that fixes the problem.
