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LG TVs do not all have the same audio outputs. Check the TV’s back and side panels for a port labeled OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT or an HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC. Then connect the matching port on your soundbar or receiver and choose that connection under the TV’s Sound Out settings. Confirm your exact model’s manual before buying a cable: available ports and menu labels vary by model and webOS version.

Which audio output does your LG TV have?

“Audio out” is not one universal jack. The available choices depend on the TV model, and a set may not support every connection type. Inspect the ports and their labels rather than identifying a connection by appearance alone.

  • Optical: Look for a square port labeled OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT. It connects to a matching optical input on a soundbar or receiver.
  • HDMI ARC/eARC: Look for an HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC. This connects to the corresponding TV ARC/eARC port on a soundbar or receiver.
  • Headphones: Selected models have a 3.5 mm, three-pole stereo headphone jack. A round 3.5 mm port is not necessarily for headphones; LG notes that some such ports are intended for diagnostics or RS232 control.
  • Wireless audio: Some models offer wireless speaker options in the Sound Out menu. Confirm the TV’s support and available options in its manual and settings.

LG USA Support says, “Some TVs may have Headphone Outputs, but this is not common.” LG also says that selected models have a headphone jack. Do not assume a headphone connection is available just because you see a small round port.

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How to connect a soundbar or receiver

Choose a connection supported by both the TV and the external audio device. The labels on the ports matter: a regular HDMI port does not by itself mean it supports ARC or eARC.

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Optical audio

  1. Check that the TV has an optical audio output and the soundbar or receiver has an optical input.
  2. Connect the two ports with a digital optical audio cable.
  3. On the TV, open Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select the optical output option available on your model.

LG’s menu labels vary by webOS version. Its optical setup guide lists “Optical” for webOS 5.0 or older, and “Use Wired Speaker > Optical Out Drive” for webOS 6.0 and webOS22. If those choices do not appear, consult the manual for the exact TV model. Buy a TOSLINK cable only after confirming compatible optical ports at both ends.

HDMI ARC or eARC

  1. Find the TV HDMI port marked ARC or eARC and the soundbar or receiver port marked TV ARC or TV eARC.
  2. Connect those labeled ports with an HDMI cable.
  3. In the TV’s Sound Out settings, choose the HDMI ARC option available on your model.

Use the ports marked ARC/eARC on both devices. Check the TV manual for model-specific setup instructions; simply connecting to another HDMI port does not establish an ARC connection.

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Wireless speaker connection

Open the TV’s Sound Out menu and look for the wireless speaker option supported by your model. Available options depend on the TV and the device you want to connect, so check the exact model manual before purchasing or pairing a wireless accessory.

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How to use wired headphones

If your model supports wired headphones, connect them to its headphone output and choose the corresponding headphone option in Sound Out. LG’s wired-headphone guidance describes supported jacks as 3.5 mm, three-pole stereo; some supported TVs can play audio through headphones and the TV speakers at the same time. The setting and whether simultaneous playback is available depend on the model.

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If you cannot confirm that a 3.5 mm port is a headphone jack, check the manual before connecting headphones. LG warns that some similar-looking ports are for diagnostics or RS232 control.

Set the TV’s Sound Out option

For many current LG smart TVs, start at Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out. Select the option matching the connection you actually made. The precise route and wording can differ by webOS version, so use the TV’s manual if the menu does not match these labels.

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Troubleshoot when there is no sound

  1. Verify the port and cable. Check that the cable runs from the TV’s labeled output to the matching input on the soundbar or receiver. For HDMI ARC, both ends must be connected through ports marked ARC/eARC.
  2. Check Sound Out. Open Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out and select the connection you are using. If the labels differ, consult the model manual.
  3. Check the external device’s volume. LG notes that a soundbar or other external device set to volume 0 can make a correctly selected output seem not to work.
  4. Confirm the TV’s features. If the output option is missing, look up the exact model number and check its manual. The TV may not have that port or support that connection.

Choose based on the ports and your goal

For a soundbar or receiver, use a connection available on both devices and supported by the TV: optical or HDMI ARC/eARC, for example. For private listening, first verify that your model supports wired headphones or the wireless option you intend to use. LG’s guidance establishes these setup paths, but does not establish one connection as universally best for every TV and audio device.

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