Xiaomi's modern TVs are famous for their excellent value for money, but the built-in acoustics often leave much to be desired. The thin body does not allow you to place powerful speakers, which makes the sound flat and devoid of bass. The external acoustic system can radically change the perception of content, turning a regular movie viewing into a full-fledged theatrical experience right at your home.
The best way to connect technology is to use an HDMI interface. Unlike optical cable or Bluetooth, this method allows you to transmit audio signals of the highest quality without compression and delay. In this article, we will discuss the connection process in detail, explain why the ARC protocol is important, and help you customize the system for perfect sound.
Choosing the right cable and ports
Before you start physically switching devices, you need to make sure you have the right hardware. HDMI-The cables are the same, although they may look identical on the outside, for high-quality multi-channel audio, such as Dolby Digital or DTS, It's better to use high speed or ultra high speed cables. Older versions of wires may not be able to handle the high density data stream.
The critical point is choosing the right jack on your TV. There may be multiple HDMI inputs on the back or side of your Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi TV, but only one of them is marked with the special acronym ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC. This port is responsible for returning sound from the TV to external acoustics. If you plug the cable into a regular console port, the sound will not work.
Also check the back of the soundbar.Make sure you use an output labeled HDMI OUT (ARC) rather than an HDMI IN input.Confusion in these connectors is the most common mistake that keeps the system silent.The cable must connect the HDMI OUT (ARC) port on the soundbar and the HDMI (ARC) port on the TV.
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Use cables no longer than 3 meters long to ensure a stable signal. Poor quality wires that are too long can cause interference or loss of signal when switching sources.
⚠️ Note: Do not use HDMI-to-DVI adapters or older converters if you want to get multi-channel audio.They often cut the audio stream to stereo or completely block the transmission of sound through the stereo. ARC.
Physical connection of equipment
The process of connecting devices is physically simple, but it requires care. Make sure that both the TV and the soundbar are turned off from the socket before you start manipulating, this will prevent possible power surges and allow the system to correctly identify the new device when you turn on, insert one end of the cable into the appropriate soundbar port, and the other into the TV connector marked ARC.
Once connected, you need to power both devices. First, turn on the soundbar, wait for it to start, and then turn on the TV. Current HDMI-CEC systems that support Android TV must automatically recognize the connection. On the screen, you may notice that you have detected a new audio system.
If your soundbar has a remote control, check if the correct source of the signal (Source) is selected. The HDMI or ARC logo should be on the acoustic display or on the indicator. If Optical or Bluetooth is on fire, press the Source button on the soundbar remote to switch to the desired mode.
☑️ Checking the physical connection
Customization of sound parameters in MIUI TV
After you have a physical connection, you need to configure the software part. Android TV or PatchWall interface on Xiaomi TVs requires manual activation of external devices. Go to the main menu and select Settings. Find Sound or All Settings → Sound to get into the audio configuration menu.
Inside the menu, find Audio output or Dynamics, and the default value for audio output is "TV" or "Embedded speakers," and you need to change that parametre to External speakers or HDMI ARC, and then the sound should switch, and the built-in acoustics of the TV will turn off.
For the best quality, it is important to adjust the output format. Find Digital Audio Format or Digital Audio Format. It is recommended to choose Auto or Pass-through mode. This will allow the TV to transmit the original signal (for example, 5.1 or 7.1) directly to the soundbar that decodes it itself. If you choose PCM, multichannel sound can be compressed to stereo.
Some Xiaomi TVs require you to activate HDMI-CEC to control the soundbar volume from the remote. This option can be called Mi Remote, Control for HDMI or simply CEC. Activate it in Settings → Preferences → Inputs or in the menu of general system settings.
What is HDMI-CEC and why is it needed?
Comparison of Connection Interfaces
Users often wonder why other available connectors can't be used. Indeed, there may be an optical output and headphone jack on the back, but the HDMI ARC has a number of undeniable advantages over competitors, especially for modern audio formats.
Optical cable (Toslink) does not support the transmission of object sound, such as Dolby Atmos in full, and is limited by bandwidth. Analog output via minijack 3.5 mm is not able to transmit a multi-channel signal at all, limited to conventional stereo. HDMI is a universal solution.
| Characteristics | HDMI ARC/eARC | Optical (S/PDIF) | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum quality | No loss (Lossless) | Compressed (Dolby Digital) | Strongly compressed |
| Support for Atmos | Yes (full) | No (surrogate only) | Partially. |
| Controlling one remote | Yes (via CEC) | No (needs an IR blaster) | No. |
| Sound delay | Minimum | Low. | High (razsynchron) |
Addressing common problems
Even with the right connection, there can be technical difficulties. Often users experience no sound or periodic loss of sound. First of all, check if the cable is tightly seated in the connector. HDMI contacts are sensitive to oxidation and poor contact.
If you have audio, but it's intermittent or cracking, it might be because the resolution or refresh rate is incompatible. Try changing the video output settings in Settings → Display and Sound. Sometimes switching from 4K 60Hz to 4K 30Hz or 1080p for diagnosis helps.
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In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by restarting both devices with a 1-minute disconnect, which resets the handshake errors of HDCP and HDMI-CEC.
⚠️ Warning: If the soundbar makes a quiet noise or buzz, check the grounding of the socket. HDMI-cable can transmit tips from the network, creating a background in the columns.
Another common problem is the desynchronization of sound and image (lipsync), which can keep the sound behind the lip movement of the actors. To correct this parameter, there is a special setting called Sound Delay or Audio Delay in the Xiaomi TV's audio menu, adjust it until it is synchronized.
Customize the soundbar for maximum quality
Once you've successfully connected, remember to set up the speaker system itself. Many soundbars have their own smartphone apps to update the firmware. The firmware update often fixes compatibility bugs with TVs from different brands, including Xiaomi.
Choose the right sound mode. For movies, Cinema or Movie mode is optimal, which activates subwoofer and surround effects. For music, it is better to switch to Music or Stereo mode to avoid unnecessary artificial sound processing.
The soundbar's location also plays a role. Make sure it's not covered by the decorative elements of the nightstand and is at the level of the ears of the sitting viewer. If the soundbar supports microphone calibration (as in some Sony or Samsung systems), be sure to conduct it to account for the acoustics of your room.