Sony Soundbar Optical Audio Not Working — Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Sony soundbar optical audio not working is usually caused by the wrong input being selected, the TV digital audio output set to Off or Auto, or an optical cable not fully inserted. Select the TV Audio (Optical) input and set TV digital audio to PCM.

How to Fix It

Select the Optical input on the soundbar
Set TV digital audio output to PCM
Check the optical cable is fully seated
Ensure the TV optical output is active
Test with a different optical cable
Power cycle the soundbar

Frequently Asked Questions

Sony soundbar Optical input selected but still no sound?

Confirm the TV digital audio output is PCM (not Off or Auto). Also verify the optical cable is undamaged and fully inserted at both ends with the dust cap removed.

Sony soundbar optical works with some sources but not others?

Some devices (game consoles, Blu-ray players) output surround formats via optical that the soundbar cannot decode. Change the source audio output to PCM stereo.

Is HDMI ARC better than Optical for Sony soundbars?

Yes. HDMI ARC supports higher-quality formats including Dolby Atmos and allows TV volume control via remote. Optical is limited to PCM stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1.