How to Connect VIZIO Soundbar to Roku TV

Recently, I bought a VIZIO M-Series Sound Bar for my entertainment purposes. VIZIO Soundbar is the best choice for Roku TV users since it sounds immersive while streaming movies and series in 4K quality. However, some people need assistance in the process of connecting an external speaker to a Roku TV. It is neither rocket science nor a cakewalk. Follow my guidelines below to connect a VIZIO Soundbar to a Roku TV.

You only need an HDMI or Optical cable to connect a soundbar to any device. In addition, you must tweak some settings to change the Audio output. 

In this article, I have shown the step-by-step instructions and the requirements to connect a VIZIO Soundbar to a Roku TV.

How to Connect VIZIO Soundbar to Roku TV With HDMI Cable

The first method will be using an HDMI cable, one of the best ways to transfer data. Before diving into this article, we’ll discuss a key aspect the user might get confused about. It is called ARC and CEC.

ARC (Audio Return Channel) and CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)

Both of these are features regarding audio in HDMI. These features help maintain two-way communication between the TV and an external device (here, the Vizio Soundbar). The soundbar will take over when you connect ARC over HDMI to your Roku device with the help of CEC volume control. This also helps take full advantage of Dolby Atmos, making the audio quality breathtaking.

Now that we have cleared the topic of ARC and CEC, we can indulge in setting up the soundbar via HDMI. Following the steps below, you can connect your Vizio soundbar to Roku TV.

[1] Connect your Vizio Soundbar and Roku TV via HDMI cable. Then, power on both your Vizio soundbar and Roku TV.

[2] Click the Home key on the Roku remote and open Settings.

[3] Now, choose Audio > Audio mode. After doing so, select Auto(DTS).

[4] Now, you must head back to the Audio Menu and choose HDMI. Next, set it to Auto-detect.

[5] Once completing that, go back to the Audio menu and select ARC. Next, set it to Auto-detect.

[6] Now, go to System in Settings and choose the CEC option. You will find ARC(HDMI); press OK on that to make it checked.

By doing so, you can connect your Vizio soundbar to your TV via ARC over HDMI.

Note: If your Roku device shows no signal on HDMI, check whether you have connected the cable firmly.

How to Connect VIZIO Soundbar to Roku TV With Optical Cable

As we have said, most Roku TV does possess HDMI, but the problem arises when the soundbar doesn’t have one. Luckily, most Roku TVs do possess an optical out port. Compared to other audio signal transmissions, it produces a stable and better sound or video quality. Now, most Roku TVs come with an AV adapter that you must plug into the appropriate port on your TV and the other RCA port into your soundbar.

Once you plug the optical cable into your Roku TV and soundbar, you must go to settings to enable it. I explained the process in simple steps for your clear understanding.

[1] The first is to connect the Roku TV to your soundbar using an optical fiber cable and turn it on.

[2] The next step will be to go to the settings in your home side menu. Select Control other devices.

[3] Now, you have to choose the input connection Optical, but if it’s not visible, select TOSLINK or SPDIF.

[4] Then, go to the system audio and enable your chosen connection type. Do that and return to the home menu, and you are done.

How to Connect VIZIO Soundbar to Roku TV via Bluetooth

For all the minimalistic enthusiasts and cable management freaks, we have a way to connect your Vizio without any cable clutter. You can also directly connect the Bluetooth Soundbar to the Roku TV without an HDMI cable.

Note: If your Roku TV is not Bluetooth-enabled, you can connect a Bluetooth receiver externally to your Roku TV.

[1] Grab your Roku remote and press the Home button.

[2] Navigate to Settings and select the Remotes & devices option.

[3] Choose the Wireless Headphones option. This might seem inappropriate, but the Speaker option is only available for Roku devices like Roku Wireless Soundbar.

[4] Then, tap Add new wireless headphones and wait for your TV to search for nearby Bluetooth devices.

[5] Once done, select your Vizio Soundbar from the list to get paired with your Roku TV.

[6] Now, you can play the media files on Roku TV and stream the audio on Vizio Soundbar.

How to Connect VIZIO Soundbar to Roku TV Using The Roku App

We did not make this a separate method because you will need your phone whenever you want to use your speakers. Not quite seamless, isn’t it? But still, if you want to use your speaker for occasional purposes, you might find it helpful.

[1] First, download the Roku app from the Play Store or App Store.

[2] Connect your Roku TV to WiFi, which should be the same as your smartphone. Meanwhile, put your Vizio Soundbar in the pairing mode.

[3] Turn on Bluetooth on your mobile and select the Vizio Soundbar to pair it with your smartphone.

[4] Now open the Roku app and sign in to your Roku account. Then, tap Devices.

[5] Click Search and look for your Roku TV in the list of available devices. Choose your Roku TV from the list.

[6] On the Roku app, select the Remote tab. After connecting the Vizio soundbar to the Bluetooth adapter, tap on the Headphone icon on the Roku app.

[7] Now, select your Vizio soundbar listed in the list of available devices.

After these steps, play anything on your Roku TV, and your soundbar will function as your audio support.

How to Connect Vizio Soundbar to Roku Using Shared Wi-Fi Connection

Now, we did help you get connected via Bluetooth for your cable-free setup, but we can do something better. Using shared WiFi helps you not to get any receiver. Luckily, the Vizio Soundbar is compatible with WiFi.

The first thing is connecting your Roku TV and Vizio soundbar to the same Wi-Fi network. Put your Vizio Soundbar into WiFi configuration mode first. Tap the Menu button on your Vizio remote. Locate the WiFi setup by tapping the arrows after hitting the Menu button. Then, press the Play/Pause button to choose the required option.

[1] In your Roku TV, go to Settings, find Control other devices, and add the soundbar so that the TV recognizes it.

[2] If not, you will find that in the System Audio Control.

And you are pretty much connected via Wi-Fi sharing.

Now, with all the above-mentioned steps, connecting your Vizio Soundbar to your Roku TV will most likely not be a hassle.

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