The TV does not output sound through the DIGITAL AUDIO (OPTICAL) OUT jack

IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

The following situations may cause this issue:

• The connected home theater system, audio receiver, or soundbar isn't set to properly decode the digital signal.
• Your TV isn't set to a digital channel, or playing a video that is encoded in 5.1 audio.
• The optical cable isn't securely connected.
• The optical cable may be faulty.
• Your TV isn't updated with the latest software version.
• The connected third-party sound bar, or home theater system may not be compatible with your TV.

The optical jack is designed to output sound when the video you're watching contains digital audio (PCM or Dolby Digital® technology). This feature is available on certain digital broadcasts and streaming video, and isn't supported on standard cable or analog stations.

If the video doesn't contain a digital audio signal, you won't hear sound through this connection. In this case, you would need to use a secondary analog connection to pass the audio signal.

Sound sent to the TV through an HDMI® connection, or other input, may not output through the optical jack. In this case, you should connect the optical jack from the source device (Blu-ray Disc™ player, DVD player, etc.) directly to the home theater or stereo system to get sound.

Troubleshoot no sound through the Optical output

Check if you can hear sound after you complete each step.

1. Set the home theater or stereo system to the appropriate input and mode for the optical connection.
2. Securely connect one end of the optical digital cable to the optical out on your TV.
3. Connect the other end to the optical in on your home theater or stereo system.
   • The optical cable works properly if you see a red light on both ends.
4. Try changing the channel on your TV to another digital broadcast.
5. Go into the Sound or Speakers menu of the TV, and select External Speakers or Audio System.
   • Some TVs require that the internal speakers be turned off before outputting the audio signal to another device. This step turns off the internal speakers.
6. For Android TV™ models, set the Digital Audio Out settings to PCM. Perform the steps below if your audio system isn't compatible with Dolby Digital or DTS.
   1. Press the HOME button.
   2. Select Settings.
   3. Under the TV category, select Sound, Display & Sound or BRAVIA Settings.
   4. Select Audio output.
      • If you don't find this option, go to the next step.
   5. Select Digital audio out → PCM.
7. Update your TV to the latest system firmware. Downloads are posted on your model support page.
8. Try a different optical cable.
9. If the issue still occurs, disconnect the optical cable and use an analog connection to output the sound from the TV to the audio system.
   • If the signal comes from a source device, such as cable set-top box, satellite receiver, or DVR, you can also use an optical cable from the Optical Out on the source device to the Optical In on the audio receiver and then connect a video cable from the Video Out on the source device to the Video In on the TV.

     

10. Perform a factory reset.