A large number of tech brands make accessories  that are only compatible with their own core technologies (I’m looking at you Apple). Therefore, when you’re buying a sound bar, it’s only natural to wonder if it has to be the same brand as your TV. More specifically, will a Samsung sound bar work with an LG TV? 

Samsung sound bars work well with LG TVs. In most cases you should have multiple options for how you connect the two. Some of these options involve wires like HDMI, while others are wireless like bluetooth. The best option may depend on your particular TV’s capabilities and connections. 

If you want a guide to connect your Samsung sound bar to your LG TV–with the best sound quality possible–you’ve come to the right place. Below we will describe multiple ways to connect the sound bar, along with our assessment on which way is best if your TV has both options. So let’s see if we can not only get your sound bar hooked up, but optimized for sound as well!

How Do I Connect My Samsung Sound Bar to My LG TV

The most common ways to connect a Samsung sound bar to an LG TV all involve using different types of cords. You can use an HDMI cable,  a digital optical cable or even an auxiliary cable to make the connection. The TV just has to be on the right setting, and of course the given cable has to be plugged into both the sound bar and the TV.

Below we have outline the three most common types of cables you can use to connect a Samsung sound bar to an LG TV, along with the steps to actually connect them.   

Connecting Your Sound Bar With HDMI 

HDMI cables have become, perhaps, the most widely used cables to attach sound bars like those made by Samsung. 

Connecting your sound bar with an HDMI cable, is simple and easy if you follow these steps:

  • Connect your HDMI cable: Put one end of the cable into the OUT HDMI port on your sound bar, and the other in any HDMI input on your TV. Plug another device into the INPUT HDMI port on your sound bar: This could be your bluray player, cable box, video game console or whatever you want to play on the TV. You just take the HDMI plugged into that device and put the other end up into the INPUT on the sound bar. Plug in and turn it all on: Make sure your sound bar is plugged in, then turn on both the sound bar and the TV. Select the HDMI port your sound bar is plugged into: Go to “source” on your TV and find the sound bar. With all the devices on it should now be working.

The sound bar should distinguish between which HDMI ports are inputs and which are outputs. If it doesn’t show up on the TV and you followed all the other steps correctly, ensure the cable is in the correct port on both the TV and the sound bar. 

Connecting Your Sound Bar With Digital Optical

Digital optical cables provide excellent quality sound because of the speed at which they can transfer information. 

The following steps will have your Samsung sound bar hooked up to your LG TV with a digital optical cable in no time:

  • Turn on your TV and Sound bar: For this process to work it’s best to have everything on. Connect the cable: Plug one end of the cable to the TV’s digital optical input and then the other into the sound bar’s output. Press the source button on your sound bar: The source button should be available both on the sound bar itself and its remote. Find the setting “D.I.N”: This should come up after you press the source button. Find settings in the TV home menu: Press the home button on the TV remote and go to settingsGo to the sound settings in the sound menu: The sound menu is the little icon with a speaker on it. Click on it and look for the sound settings. Switch the TV speaker off: In the sound settings you should see an option for your speakers. Click it and switch the internal speaker to off.

With the TV speakers off you should only receive sound via the sound bar.  

Connecting Your Sound Bar With an Aux Cable 

An aux cable won’t give you the best quality, but it is one of the easiest to connect. You simply need to plug one end into the input on the soundbar (essentially look for a headphones jack) and the output of the TV. 

Once you’ve completed this, turn on both the sound bar and the TV. The sound bar should now essentially act as if it was the TV’s built-in speaker. 

Will a Wireless Samsung Sound Bar Connect to My LG TV?

So, we’ve covered the kinds of cables that can connect a Samsung sound bar to a TV, but what about connecting it wireless? Can you use wireless features across brands when it comes to Samsung sound bars and LG TVs?

Some LG Smart TVs have Bluetooth capabilities. You can use these to connect to a Samsung sound bar that also has bluetooth. 

The following steps should allow you to connect your Samsung soundbar to your LG TV, assuming both have Bluetooth capabilities: 

  • Use your sound bar remote to turn on pairing mode: There should be a pair button on your sound bar’s remote. Press it so it can search for your TV.Go into your TVs sound settings: From the settings menu you should be able to get into advanced settings. There you will find sound settings. Click on them.Go to sound out and find your device: There should be a “Sound Out” button. Click it. From there you should be able to select “LG Sound Sync Bluetooth.” Select it and have it find your bluetooth. Select the bluetooth from your speaker: It may take a moment to two to pair, but once it does, you should be ready to go!

 If your bluetooth didn’t come up, try to hit the pair button again and repeat the process. 

What is the Best Option for Connecting My Sound Bar?

So now that we’ve been over all of the major ways to connect a sound bar, one question remains, “which is the best way?” 

If you have an HDMI port or a port for a digital optical cable, they are your best two options. There is a degree of sound quality lost when simply using an aux cable or a bluetooth. At the same time, some people won’t mind the difference, and may opt for something like bluetooth because it’s more convenient. Pick the one that serves your needs best!

So Really, Can You Use a Samsung Sound Bar With an LG TV?

You can, in fact, use a Samsung sound bar with an LG TV. You can either connect it with cables that include HDMI, Digital optical and Auxiliary, or you can connect it wirelessly (assuming it has those features) via bluetooth. 

If you want the best sound quality, HDMI is the best way to go. Of course, digital optical has fantastic sound as well. If you want convenience, it’s nice to have your speaker hooked up wirelessly through bluetooth, and it’s easiest to connect using an auxiliary cable. The only question left is which will you choose?