Modern Xiaomi TVs running on Android TV offer great images, but the built-in acoustics often inferior in sound quality to even budget audio systems. To turn the living room into a full-fledged cinema, you need to properly connect an external sound source, whether it is a full-fledged home theater with speakers or a quality soundbar. The process of integrating equipment from different brands can seem difficult due to the variety of interfaces, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem everything is done quite logically.
Owners of Mi TVs and Redmi TVs face a choice of connection method, which depends on the year of the model and the set of ports on the back. You can use wired connections for maximum quality or wireless technology for aesthetics. The right setup will allow you to hear all the nuances of surround sound that are lost when using standard TV speakers.
In this article, we will take a look at all the switching options available, including the nuances of setting up the HDMI ARC protocol and fixing common audio synchronization issues. You will learn how to activate hidden audio settings and why it is sometimes worth abandoning wireless connectivity in favor of cable.
Choosing the optimal connection interface
The first step before you start physical manipulation is to audit the available ports on the back or side of your Xiaomi TV.Most modern models are equipped with ports. HDMI, But not all of them support the reverse audio channel that you need to control the volume of the receiver with the remote control of the TV. HDMI (ARC) or eARC, which is usually located separately or has a corresponding designation on the circuit.
If your home theater is an older generation or a low-end model without HDMI, you should pay attention to Optical’s digital optical output (Toslink), which transmits a clean digital signal without loss and supports multichannel sound, although it does not allow you to control the volume from the TV remote as flexibly as HDMI. In extreme cases, when other options are not available, you can use an analog output of 3.5 mm Jack or RCA, but the sound quality in this case will be significantly lower.
When choosing a cable, you should give preference to certified models that can skip high bitrates of audio formats. Cheap cables can cause interference, crackling or complete absence of signal when trying to play tracks in Dolby Digital or DTS. Investing in high-quality wire often solves 90% of problems with the stability of the audio system.
Connection via HDMI ARC and eARC
The most preferred and modern way of integration is using the HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) interface, which allows you to transmit audio from the TV to the receiver and simultaneously send control commands (on, volume) back, which eliminates the need to use two remotes. To implement this scenario, connect the HDMI cable to the port with the inscription ARC on the Xiaomi TV and to the corresponding HDMI OUT (ARC) port at the home theater.
After the physical connection, you need to program the settings in the TV menu. Go to the settings section, select Settings, then go to Sound or Audio. In the list of audio output devices, select External speakers or Receiver (HDMI). It is also important to activate the CEC function, which in Xiaomi TVs can be called Mi Link or simply CEC, so that the TV remote can control the volume of external acoustics.
☑️ Checking the settings HDMI ARC
Note that the newer models’ eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) protocol requires HDMI High Speed cables with Ethernet or Ultra High Speed. If you use an older cable, the system can automatically switch to a standard ARC or not identify the device at all. If you have problems, try replacing the cable with a better, 4K HDR certified cable.
⚠️ Note: If, after connecting through HDMI sound appeared, but the remote stopped adjusting the volume, check the settings CEC. Sometimes both devices need to be rebooted after this option is enabled for the correct handshake process.
Use of Optical Output (Toslink)
The optical interface remains the gold standard for mid-to-high-end audio systems, providing galvanic decoupling and no electromagnetic input. To connect, you'll need a Toslink cable, which is easily recognized by the connector's characteristic square cross section and the red glow at the end when connected. Put one end of the cable into the Digital Audio Out (Optical) port on a Xiaomi TV, and the other into the Optical In port on the receiver.
The fiber optic cable is fragile inside, so you should not bend it at sharp angles when stacking behind the bench. Once you connect to the TV menu, you need to manually change the format of the output. Go to Settings → Sound → Digital Sound format and select Auto or Pass-through so that the TV transmits the original bit stream without decoding.
The main limitation of an optical connection is the inability to transmit uncompressed high-resolution audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, which are only available via HDMI. However, for most streaming services and digital television, Toslink's bandwidth is quite enough to transmit compressed multichannel Dolby Digital Plus sound.
Why is there a red light in an optical cable?
Wireless connection via Bluetooth
If your home theater or soundbar supports wireless connectivity, Xiaomi TVs make it easy to pair devices without unnecessary wires. This method is ideal for small rooms where you do not want to pull cables through the entire living room. First, go to the Settings menu → Remote and accessories (or Bluetooth) and start searching for new devices.
Put your audio system in pairing mode (usually by holding the Bluetooth button on the remote or body). When a Xiaomi TV detects a device, click on it to connect. It is worth remembering that Bluetooth has limited bandwidth and does not support full multichannel surround sound in movie formats, limited to stereo or compressed surround sound.
The main problem with wireless connectivity can be to desynchronize audio and video when the sound is behind the lip movement of the actors. To combat this, some TV models have a sound delay setting, but it is often easier to use a wired connection to watch movies. Bluetooth is better left for listening to music or news channels.
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To minimize the delay of sound when Bluetooth is connected, try turning off any “improvers” of sound, such as equalizers or movie modes, in your TV settings that add additional signal processing.
Customization of sound parameters in MIUI TV
Once you have a physical connection, it is critical to properly configure the Android TV software that is installed on Xiaomi. Go to Settings → Sound and find the Digital Format section. You need to select Auto or Pass-through mode so that the TV does not try to decode the sound on its own, but transmits the original signal to the decoder of your home theater.
You should also check the settings of Dolby Atmos and DTS. If your audio system supports these formats, make sure that the appropriate switches are activated. In some versions of the MIUI TV firmware, there is a bug when selecting the Auto mode, the sound may disappear when you switch applications, in which case you should rigidly specify the format, for example, Dolby Digital.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | What do you need? |
|---|---|---|
| Digital format | Auto / Pass-through | Transmission of the initial signal to the receiver |
| Sound mode | Standard/Film | Basic frequency correction |
| CEC Control | Included. | Volume control from the TV remote |
| Television volume | 80-100% | Maximizing signal strength |
Remember that after changing the audio format settings, you may need to completely restart the TV, not just go into standby mode, only this way the system completely rewrites the audio output configuration and applies new parameters to work with the external decoder.
Diagnostics and problem-solving
Even with the right connection, users can experience no sound or periodic loss. The first reason is often the cable itself: try replacing it with a known serviceable one or reconnecting it to another HDMI port if there are more than one, and it is also worth checking whether the settings at the home theater itself are lost - the right source of input (Source) is chosen.
If you have a sound, but it's quiet or hoarse, check the volume level on the TV itself. When you connect external acoustics, many people forget to turn the volume of the TV to the maximum, because they think it's regulated only by the receiver. In reality, the TV is the source of the signal, and low output leads to loss of dynamics.
⚠️ Attention: When using adapters (e.g. from 3.5 mm to RCA) Make sure they're active and keep the signal going in the right direction. Cheap passive adapters can only work one way.
In difficult cases, when the TV "can't see" the audio system, try resetting the audio settings to factory values. Sometimes a software failure in the Android Audio HAL module prevents the correct identification of new hardware. After the reset, repeat the setup procedure from the beginning.
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90% of sound problems are solved by replacement HDMI-cable to high-quality screened wire or switching digital format in the settings of the TV on "Pass-through".