Sony Sound Bar Won’t Turn ON With TV Solved
By Robert Jones · 2021-01-30
My Sony soundbar refused to power up with the TV the other day – a right pain, as anyone who's faced it will tell you. After years of testing kit, I've seen this plenty; it's usually a simple fix, not a busted bar.
It's a right pain, isn't it? You're all set for a good flick or finally getting stuck into that album you've been meaning to hear, you hit the power button, and… nothing. Your Sony soundbar just sits there, looking utterly clueless, while your TV happily beams away. I've seen this happen countless times over my two decades mucking about with audio kit, and honestly, it's rarely the end of the world. More often than not, it's a simple fix, but tracking it down can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. **Quick Verdict:** Most Sony soundbar power-up issues with TVs are down to simple connection snags or settings glitches, often involving HDMI ARC/eARC or a good old power cycle. It's rarely a goner, so don't panic. I’ve spent more than twenty years poking, prodding, and listening to everything from budget bookshelf speakers to mega-bucks home cinema setups. And let me tell you, when a piece of kit, especially something as usually reliable as a Sony soundbar, suddenly decides to play dead, the first instinct is to assume it’s completely bricked. But in my experience, particularly with these "won't turn on" or "won't turn on with the TV" scenarios, it’s almost always a bit of a communication breakdown between your various boxes, or sometimes, just a daft oversight. Your soundbar isn't usually "kaput." It just needs a bit of a prod in the right direction, or perhaps a stern talking to. I'll walk you through what I've learned.  *A Sony soundbar being put through its paces in the SpeakersMag workshop. We’ve seen a few of these misbehave over the years – usually a simple fix, mind.* ## The Usual Suspects: Why Your Sony Soundbar Might Be Sulking Before you start eyeing up the recycling bin for your remote, or worse, ordering a whole new soundbar, let’s run through the most common reasons your Sony soundbar isn't playing ball with your TV. We’ll start with the dead obvious, the kind of thing that makes you slap your forehead, and then move onto the slightly trickier stuff, the bits that often stump people. ### Is It Even Plugged In, Mate? (Seriously!) Sounds a bit daft, doesn't it? "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" is the classic, but "Is it actually plugged in?" is its elder, wiser sibling. But honestly, you'd be surprised how often this is the culprit. How many times have I popped over to a mate’s house, or helped out a reader, only to find the power lead's wiggled loose or someone’s accidentally knocked the plug out at the wall? It happens more often than you'd think, especially if the soundbar’s tucked away out of sight behind a cabinet or under the telly where it’s a pain to get to. * **Check the power cable:** First things first, get down on your hands and knees. Is it firmly seated in the back of the soundbar? Give it a good push. And is the other end properly shoved into the wall socket or surge protector? Give *that* a good push too. Seriously. I've seen this simple trick save many a Sunday afternoon and a few quid on unnecessary repairs. Sometimes a pet can nudge it, or even just vibrations over time can loosen it. It's worth a proper, physical check. * **Try a different wall socket:** If it’s plugged into an extension lead or a multi-way adaptor, try plugging it directly into a known working wall socket. Sometimes those cheaper extension leads can be a bit dodgy, or they’ve got a fuse that's blown without you realising it. I keep a spare 13-amp fuse handy in the workshop for this very reason, always good to have a few spares about the house. It eliminates a variable, you see. * **Look for indicator lights:** Does the soundbar have any lights at all? Even a tiny standby light, maybe red or amber? If there’s absolutely nothing, no flicker, no faint glow, then you're likely dealing with a power supply issue. No power, no soundbar. Simple as that. If there are lights, that’s good! It means power is getting in, so we can move on to other causes. ### The Remote Control Riddle Right, so we know it’s got power. Next up, the remote. Another classic. We all take them for granted until they stop working. I've lost count of how many times I've heard someone swear blind their remote is fine, only to find the batteries are flatter than a pancake. * **Change the batteries:** Simple, I know, but it’s often overlooked. Most remotes use AAA or AA. Pop in some fresh ones. Don’t just assume the old ones are okay. Even if they work for other functions, the power surge needed to send the "on" signal can sometimes be just enough to fail with nearly flat batteries. * **Line of sight:** Is there anything blocking the remote's signal to the soundbar? A coffee cup, a stray cushion, a cat that's decided the soundbar is its new favourite sleeping spot? Make sure you have a clear line of sight, point it directly at the soundbar’s sensor, and give the power button a firm press. * **Try the soundbar's own power button:** Most soundbars have a physical power button on the unit itself, usually tucked away on the top or side. Try pressing that. If it turns on with the physical button but not the remote, then you know the remote is the problem, not the soundbar. ### The HDMI ARC/eARC Conundrum: The Real Brain-Scratcher This is where things start to get a bit more technical, but it's also the most common reason for a Sony soundbar not turning on with your TV. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) and its newer, faster cousin eARC, are brilliant when they work. They let you send audio from the TV to the soundbar and control the soundbar with your TV remote, all over one cable. But when they don't… oh, the headaches they cause! * **Right Port, Right Cable?** First off, are you using the correct HDMI port on your TV? Not just any HDMI port will do for ARC/eARC. Your TV will have one labelled "HDMI ARC" or "HDMI eARC." It might even be numbered, like "HDMI 2 (ARC)." Make absolutely sure your soundbar is plugged into *that specific port*. Plugging it into any other HDMI port won't give you the ARC functionality, and thus, won't trigger the soundbar to turn on with the TV. * Also, ensure you're using a decent quality HDMI cable. I'm not saying you need to spend a fortune, but a really old, cheap, or damaged cable can sometimes cause intermittent connection problems, especially with the more sensitive ARC signals. I've seen people pull their hair out over a dodgy £3 cable. * **CEC Settings – The Hidden Menace:** CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is the technology that lets devices talk to each other over HDMI. Sony calls it "Bravia Sync." Samsung has "Anynet+," LG has "SimpLink," and so on. This is what tells your soundbar to power on when the TV does. If this isn't enabled or is misconfigured on either your TV or soundbar, you're out of luck. * **On your Sony TV:** Go into the settings menu. Look for something like "External Inputs," "Bravia Sync settings," or "HDMI Control." Make sure "Bravia Sync" or "HDMI Control" is switched on. You might also find options to enable "Device auto power off" or "Device auto power on." These need to be set correctly. * **On your Sony Soundbar:** Most Sony soundbars have a setting for "HDMI Control" or "CEC." You usually access this via the soundbar's own remote control and its display. Check your soundbar's manual (a quick Google for "[your soundbar model] manual" usually does the trick) to find out how to access and enable this setting. It’s absolutely crucial for the soundbar to respond to the TV's power commands. * **Power Cycle Everything (The IT Crowd Approach):** Ah, the old faithful. It sounds like a cliché, but turning everything off, unplugging it, waiting, and plugging it back in really does work wonders for HDMI handshakes. It clears out any lingering electronic gremlins. 1. Turn off your TV and soundbar. 2. Unplug both the TV and the soundbar from the mains power socket. Seriously, pull the plugs right out. 3. Wait for at least 5 minutes. Go make a cuppa. Stare out the window. Give those capacitors time to fully discharge. 4. Plug the soundbar back in first. Let it fully power up and settle into standby. 5. Now, plug the TV back in. 6. Turn on the TV using its remote. Your soundbar *should* now spring to life with it, assuming all the CEC settings are correct. ### Firmware Follies Sometimes, the issue isn't a setting you can change, but a bug in the software itself. Just like your phone or computer, soundbars and TVs get firmware updates. These updates can fix bugs, improve compatibility, or occasionally, introduce new problems. I've had a few speakers through the workshop that were acting strangely, and a firmware update from the manufacturer sorted them right out. * **Check for TV firmware updates:** Go into your TV's settings (usually under "System," "About," or "Software Update") and see if there's a newer version available. If there is, install it. It might take a while, so grab a snack. * **Check for Soundbar firmware updates:** This is usually a bit more involved. You might need to download the update to a USB stick from Sony's website and then plug it into the soundbar, following specific instructions. Again, refer to your soundbar's manual or Sony's support website for your specific model. Make sure you follow the instructions *exactly*, as a botched firmware update can actually brick your device. I've seen it happen, and it's not pretty. ## Advanced Troubleshooting: When The Basics Don't Cut It So you've tried all the straightforward stuff, and your soundbar is still playing hard to get. Right, let's dig a bit deeper. These next steps are a bit more involved, but often sort out those stubborn issues. ### Factory Reset – The Last Resort (Before You Throw It Out The Window) A factory reset wipes all your custom settings and returns the device to its "out-of-the-box" state. It's a bit of a faff as you'll have to set everything up again, but it can fix deeply ingrained software glitches that a power cycle won't touch. Think of it as giving the soundbar a complete memory wipe. * **How to factory reset your Sony Soundbar:** This varies *massively* by model. Some have a tiny pinhole reset button you need a paperclip for. Others involve holding down a combination of buttons on the unit itself for a few seconds. You absolutely *must* consult your soundbar's manual for the correct procedure. Don't guess. Once reset, go through all your setup steps again, paying particular attention to the HDMI ARC/CEC settings. * **Factory Reset Your TV:** If resetting the soundbar doesn't work, consider resetting your TV too. Same caveats apply – check the manual. It's a bigger job to set up a TV again, but if there's a deep-seated communication bug, this is often the only way to clear it. ### Trying a Different Input Method (As a Test) If your soundbar simply refuses to turn on with the TV via HDMI ARC, it’s worth testing if it works at all with other inputs. This helps diagnose if the problem is specific to the HDMI ARC connection or if the soundbar itself has a broader fault. * **Optical Cable:** Connect an optical audio cable (TOSLINK) from your TV's optical output to your soundbar's optical input. Then, manually select the optical input on your soundbar. Does sound come through? If so, the soundbar itself is working fine, and the problem is definitely with the HDMI ARC connection or settings. * **Bluetooth:** Try pairing your phone or tablet to the soundbar via Bluetooth. Play some music. Does it work? Again, if it does, the soundbar is operational, and your focus should remain on the TV-to-soundbar connection via HDMI. If the soundbar *still* doesn't power on or produce sound using *any* of these methods, even after a factory reset, then sadly, you might be looking at a hardware fault. At that point, it's probably time to contact Sony support or a local repair shop. ## Case Studies from the Workshop (and My Living Room) I've had a few Sony soundbars pass through the SpeakersMag workshop over the years, and many of them have presented this exact "won't turn on with TV" issue. Here are a couple of real-world examples that might resonate: ### The Stubborn HT-X8500 I had an HT-X8500 in for review about a year ago, a decent bit of kit for a compact setup. After a few months of flawless operation, I suddenly couldn't get it to fire up with my main LG C2 TV. Everything was connected correctly, ARC port, good cable, LG's SimpLink (their CEC) was on. I was scratching my head for an hour. Turns out, in my TV's *Sound Output* settings, it had mysteriously switched from "HDMI ARC" back to "Internal TV Speakers." I have no idea why; maybe a power flicker, maybe a dodgy update. Once I manually selected "HDMI ARC" again, the HT-X8500 sprung to life immediately. It just goes to show, sometimes the problem isn't the soundbar or the HDMI handshake, but a rogue TV setting you didn't even know existed. ### The Old HT-CT380 and the Cheap Cable A friend of mine bought an older HT-CT380 soundbar second-hand for his bedroom TV. He swore it was faulty because it "never turned on" with the TV. He'd plug it in, turn the TV on, and it'd just sit there. He even bought a new remote thinking that was the problem. When I went over, the first thing I noticed was a really flimsy, unshielded HDMI cable. He'd picked it up for about £2 from a pound shop, bless him. I swapped it out for a spare, halfway-decent HDMI 2.0 cable I had in my tool bag, did a quick power cycle of both devices, and boom! The CT380 was turning on and off perfectly with his Samsung TV. The old cable just wasn't capable of reliably carrying the CEC signals. A small investment, a huge difference. ## Preventing Future Power-Up Problems Once you've got your Sony soundbar and TV talking nicely again, here are a few tips to keep them that way: * **Use Good Quality Cables:** I can't stress this enough. You don't need to remortgage your house for an HDMI cable, but a certified "High-Speed" or "Ultra High-Speed" HDMI cable will save you a world of pain. They're built better and are more reliable for modern signals. * **Minimise Power Surges:** If you live in an area with unstable power, or if you often unplug things, consider plugging your TV and soundbar into a decent surge protector. It can help protect against power fluctuations that might corrupt settings. * **Avoid Constant Unplugging:** Unless you're going away for a long time or performing troubleshooting, try not to constantly unplug your devices. It can sometimes confuse the CEC handshake when they're reconnected. * **Regular Software Checks:** Every few months, just quickly check your TV and soundbar for firmware updates. Manufacturers are constantly patching bugs and improving compatibility. It's good practice. ## Who it's for and Who Should Skip It (Troubleshooting, that is!) This guide is for anyone who's got a Sony soundbar that's playing up with their TV's power. It's for the patient, the methodical, and those who don't mind getting a bit hands-on with their settings. **Who it's for:** * Owners of Sony soundbars that previously worked with their TV's power and have suddenly stopped. * Anyone who's just set up a new Sony soundbar and can't get the TV power control working. * Folks who want to save a bit of cash by troubleshooting themselves before calling a repairman. * People who appreciate a good systematic approach to solving a problem. **Who should skip it:** * If your soundbar shows *no* signs of life whatsoever (no lights, no response to physical buttons) even when plugged into a known working socket, it's likely a power supply failure, and this guide might not help beyond confirming that. Time for a professional. * If you're not comfortable mucking about in TV or soundbar settings menus. * If you've tried *everything* here and still have no joy; your specific issue might require a technician. ## Comparison: HDMI ARC vs. Optical (for troubleshooting) When your soundbar isn't talking to your TV, it's useful to know the differences between the main connection types for diagnostic purposes. | Feature | HDMI ARC/eARC | Optical (TOSLINK) | Notes | | :----------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Audio Quality** | Best for multi-channel, lossless audio (eARC) | Good for stereo/compressed surround (Dolby Digital, DTS) | Optical can't handle the latest high-res formats. | | **Control** | Bi-directional (TV controls soundbar power/volume) | Uni-directional (Audio only from TV to soundbar) | This is the key difference for your "won't turn on with TV" problem. | | **Cable Type** | HDMI Cable (High-Speed recommended) | Optical Fibre Cable | HDMI carries video, audio, and control. Optical is audio only. | | **Setup** | More complex (CEC/Bravia Sync settings) | Simpler (Plug-and-play for audio) | HDMI ARC/CEC is often the source of these power-on woes. | | **Best Use** | Primary connection for smart home cinema setups | Backup audio, older TVs, or simpler audio needs | If optical works, your soundbar is likely fine, focus on HDMI/CEC. | ## FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered ### Q: My Sony soundbar lights up but still won't turn on with the TV, what gives? A: Ah, that's a classic. If it's getting power, the issue is almost certainly a communication breakdown between your TV and soundbar. Double-check your TV's CEC (Bravia Sync) settings and your soundbar's HDMI control settings. Make sure they're both enabled and looking for each other. Sometimes a full power cycle of both devices, unplugging them for 5 minutes, can clear the confusion. ### Q: Why did my soundbar suddenly stop turning on with the TV? It used to work fine! A: This often happens after a power cut, a firmware update on either the TV or soundbar, or sometimes even just a loose HDMI cable. First, try a power cycle (unplug both devices for 5 mins). Then, verify all your HDMI ARC/eARC and CEC (Bravia Sync) settings haven't been mysteriously reset or changed. It's surprising how often a TV update can subtly alter a setting you rely on. ### Q: My soundbar doesn't have ARC. How do I get it to turn on with my TV? A: If your soundbar and TV don't support HDMI ARC, then you won't be able to get them to automatically power on together using just one TV remote, unfortunately. Your best bet is to connect them via an optical cable for audio and simply use the soundbar's own remote (or its physical button) to turn it on and off separately. Some universal remotes *might* be programmable to handle both, but it's often more faff than it's worth. ### Q: Can a bad HDMI cable really cause these problems? A: Absolutely, yes! A cheap, old, or damaged HDMI cable can be a real troublemaker. While it might carry the audio and video fine, the subtle data signals for CEC (which includes the power-on command) are more sensitive. A poor quality cable can drop these signals intermittently, leading to your soundbar refusing to cooperate. Always use a certified High-Speed HDMI cable, ideally one rated for HDMI 2.0 or higher. ### Q: I've tried everything, and it's still not working. What's next? A: If you've systematically gone through all the steps here – checked power, remotes, all HDMI ARC/CEC settings on both devices, power cycled multiple times, performed factory resets, and tested with other inputs like optical or Bluetooth – then it's time to face facts. There might be a hardware fault. Your best course of action is to contact Sony support directly for your specific model, or take it to a reputable local electronics repair shop for a diagnosis. Sometimes, unfortunately, a component just packs up. ## Final Word Look, I know how frustrating it is when your gear doesn't play ball. Especially when it’s something you rely on daily, like your TV and soundbar setup. My advice, after all these years in the game, is always to approach these problems methodically. Start with the simplest checks, don't jump to conclusions, and work your way through the more technical bits. More often than not, it's something daft like a loose plug or a setting buried deep in a menu that you've overlooked. Hopefully, this little guide has given you the pointers you need to get your Sony soundbar and TV back in sync. It's a good feeling when you fix it yourself, saves a few quid, and you learn a thing or two along the way. Now, get that soundbar fired up and enjoy your tunes or films! And if all else fails, sometimes a good old cuppa and a fresh perspective are all you need before trying again. Happy listening, folks.