For a Hisense soundbar or receiver over HDMI, connect the soundbar's HDMI ARC output to the TV's port marked ARC or eARC, using an HDMI High Speed cable rated for 18 Gbps. Enable HDMI control: press Home, choose Settings, then Inputs, HDMI control, and set it On, as the Hisense CEC guide describes. Choose the ARC or external speaker output in the TV's sound settings. If sound is silent, turn both devices off, unplug them for a minute, plug the soundbar in first and turn on the TV, then select the soundbar input.
The checks in more detail
If sound drops on some content, the format is the usual cause: set PCM or Stereo to test, then try Dolby Digital before Atmos. Check that the port's Enhanced HDMI format is not causing a mismatch. If the TV remote does not control the soundbar's volume, HDMI control is off or the soundbar is on another input. Try a different HDMI cable and another ARC device to find the fault.
eARC, on the ports that support it, carries lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD and Atmos. Update the TV and soundbar software. Disconnect Bluetooth audio, which can steal the sound from ARC. Turn the TV's own speakers off while testing ARC, since some TVs keep playing through them and hide whether the soundbar is receiving anything. A soundbar that works with ARC but drops sound on power-up may be waking slower than the TV, so turn the soundbar on first and give it ten seconds.
If a firmware update has just changed behavior, note the version and whether the soundbar or the TV updated first, because a mismatch between the two after separate updates is a known way for the link to stop negotiating. After changing any ARC setting, restart both devices fully; ARC negotiates when the link comes up, and a live change often waits for the next power-on. Keep the soundbar's firmware current, since ARC handshake fixes often ship in the soundbar's own updates rather than the TV's.
Differential
Likely causes of “Hisense TV line ARC or eARC soundbar audio is not working”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong HDMI port
What separates it There is no TV audio because the soundbar is on the wrong HDMI port
How to confirm Use the port that is marked ARC on the TV, for the soundbar
- 2
HDMI control off
What separates it There is no volume control because HDMI control is switched off
How to confirm Turn HDMI control on, which you find under Inputs in the settings
- 3
An old cable
What separates it The sound drops out because the cable is old
How to confirm Use a High Speed HDMI cable, and try again
- 4
An unsupported format
What separates it Movies are silent because the audio format is not supported
How to confirm Set PCM as the audio format, and check the sound
- 5
A stale link
What separates it The sound is silent after changes because the link has gone stale
How to confirm Power cycle both the TV and the soundbar, and then test again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The port on the TV that the soundbar uses
- Whether HDMI control is switched on
- The model of the soundbar that you are using
- The audio format setting that is chosen
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUse the ARC port
ReversibleUse the ARC port on the TV, and not another HDMI port, for the soundbar.
Turn HDMI control on
ReversibleTurn HDMI control on, in the Inputs settings, so that the soundbar can follow the TV.
Choose the ARC output
ReversibleChoose the ARC output in the sound settings, so that the TV sends sound to the soundbar.
Use a High Speed cable
ReversibleUse a High Speed cable, and try another one if the sound still drops out.
Power cycle both
ReversiblePower cycle both devices, starting with the soundbar, and then the TV, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Set PCM
ReversibleSet PCM as the format if a format fails, since it works with almost every soundbar.
Update both
ReversibleUpdate both devices, since new software fixes many ARC problems, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- eARC
- Higher models have eARC for lossless audio.
- ARC
- One port is marked ARC.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the U7N Mini-LED TV, U6N Mini-LED TV, A7N 4K TV.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If ARC fails on a good port and cable, contact Hisense
- !If only some formats fail, set PCM as the audio format
- !If the soundbar is silent on every device, check it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Enable HDMI control.
Common faults and fixes.
Game mode, ALLM and VRR.
Reset, WiFi, Bluetooth, apps and remote FAQ.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What is ARC?+
ARC is Audio Return Channel, which sends the TV's sound to a soundbar over HDMI.
Where is HDMI control?+
HDMI control is in Settings, under Inputs, in the TV's menus.
Which cable do I need?+
You need a High Speed cable that supports 18 Gbps, for a reliable link.
Do I need CEC?+
You need CEC for the TV remote to control the volume of the soundbar.
Can Bluetooth block ARC?+
Yes, Bluetooth can block ARC, if a Bluetooth device is still connected and takes the sound.