How do I connect soundbars and external devices to the Samsung Frame TV (HDMI ARC, eARC and optical)?

by Jordan Keats · Published 27/01/2026 · Updated 05/02/2026

Applies to: Samsung The Frame TV (models with One Connect Box, HDMI ARC/eARC and Optical Audio)
Last updated: 27 January 2026

Problem

You have mounted your Samsung Frame TV and want to connect a soundbar, games console, Blu ray player or set top box, but you are unsure which ports to use on the One Connect Box. Audio may not be coming through the soundbar, surround sound formats may not work, or devices may not appear correctly. You need a clear explanation of HDMI ARC, eARC and optical audio, and how to connect everything so sound and picture work as expected.

Solution

All external devices connect to the One Connect Box rather than directly to the TV panel. For audio, HDMI ARC or eARC is the preferred method because it allows sound to travel from the TV to a soundbar or AV receiver using a single HDMI cable. Optical audio is a reliable fallback if ARC or eARC is not supported. By choosing the correct HDMI port, enabling the right audio settings and selecting the proper sound output, you can get clean, reliable audio from your Samsung Frame TV and connected devices.

Step-by-step instructions

Understand the ports on the One Connect Box

Locate the HDMI ports on the One Connect Box. One of them will be labelled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.
Identify any additional HDMI ports for external devices such as consoles or media players.
Find the Optical Audio Out port if your model includes one.
Note that all audio and video connections go through the One Connect Box, not directly into the TV screen.

Connect a soundbar using HDMI ARC or eARC

HDMI ARC or eARC is the recommended connection for most modern soundbars.

Use a good quality HDMI cable. For eARC, use a high speed or ultra high speed HDMI cable.
Plug one end of the cable into the HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC port on the One Connect Box.
Plug the other end into the HDMI port on your soundbar labelled ARC or eARC.
Power on the TV and the soundbar.
On the Samsung Frame, press Home on the remote.
Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Output.
Select Receiver (HDMI) or HDMI ARC depending on the wording used by your model.
Confirm that sound now comes through the soundbar.

If sound does not play immediately, continue to the audio settings section below.

Enable correct audio settings for ARC or eARC

On the TV, go to Settings > Sound > Expert Settings.
Set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto if your soundbar supports eARC.
Set Digital Output Audio Format to Auto or Pass Through.
Disable TV Speaker output if it remains selected.
Test sound using built in TV apps such as Netflix or YouTube.

These settings allow the TV to pass audio formats such as Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos to the soundbar when supported.

Connect a soundbar using optical audio

Use optical if your soundbar does not support HDMI ARC or if HDMI audio is unreliable.

Plug an optical audio cable into the Optical Audio Out port on the One Connect Box.
Connect the other end to the Optical In port on the soundbar.
On the TV, open Settings > Sound > Sound Output.
Select Optical or Audio Out Optical.
Set Digital Output Audio Format to PCM or Dolby Digital, depending on what your soundbar supports.

Optical connections do not support advanced formats such as Dolby Atmos, but they are stable and simple.

Connect external devices like consoles and media players

Plug each external device into a standard HDMI port on the One Connect Box.
Use one HDMI port per device for best compatibility.
Turn on the device and switch the TV to the correct HDMI input.
Rename the input if prompted to improve device recognition and control.
For consoles, enable game mode if available to reduce input lag.

All audio from these devices will be routed through the TV to your soundbar or speakers using the chosen audio output method.

Troubleshoot common audio connection problems

If you have no sound or inconsistent audio:

Confirm the soundbar is set to the correct input (HDMI ARC or Optical).
Try a different HDMI cable, especially if using eARC.
Power cycle the TV, soundbar and One Connect Box by unplugging them for 30 seconds.
Check Settings > Sound Output again to ensure the correct option is selected.
Disable and re enable HDMI eARC Mode to force a handshake refresh.
Update firmware on both the TV and the soundbar if updates are available.

Optional methods or tools

Using an AV receiver
If you have a full surround system, connect the AV receiver to the HDMI ARC or eARC port on the One Connect Box, then connect all devices to the receiver instead. This centralises audio switching and decoding.
Universal remote or HDMI CEC
Enable HDMI CEC in TV and soundbar settings so volume and power can be controlled with a single remote.
Cable labelling
Label HDMI cables at the One Connect Box to make future troubleshooting or device changes easier.

Best practices or tips

Always use HDMI ARC or eARC where possible for the best audio quality and simplest cabling.
Keep HDMI cables as short as practical and avoid cheap or damaged cables, especially for eARC.
After connecting or changing audio devices, restart both the TV and soundbar to refresh the connection.
Use the TV’s built in streaming apps for initial testing, as they remove external devices from the equation.
If you frequently switch devices, keep a note of which HDMI port each one uses to speed up troubleshooting.

Connecting audio and external devices to the Samsung Frame TV is straightforward once you understand that everything runs through the One Connect Box. Using HDMI ARC or eARC allows the TV to send sound back to your soundbar or receiver without extra cables, keeping the setup clean and reliable. With the correct sound output and expert audio settings enabled, most modern soundbars will work seamlessly with the Frame.

If you encounter audio issues, they are usually related to cable quality, incorrect sound output selection or HDMI handshake problems. Working through the connection order and settings step by step almost always restores sound. Once set up properly, the Samsung Frame TV can handle multiple devices and high quality audio formats while keeping the wall mounted display looking minimal and uncluttered.