Having a smart TV with Bluetooth capabilities comes with many benefits. An apparent advantage is that you don’t have to worry about the hassle of connecting your TV to other devices using wires. If you own a Samsung smart TV, chances are your TV has built-in Bluetooth technology. You can wirelessly pair your TV with Bluetooth headphones, external speakers, soundbars, earbuds, and many other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Connecting Bluetooth devices is super-easy, especially if the devices are from the same brand. In this guide, we have prepared an easy-to-follow guide with step-by-step instructions on how to connect a Bluetooth speaker to Samsung smart TV.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Connecting your speakers to your Samsung TV via Bluetooth is probably not the best idea for two reasons. First, Bluetooth compresses audio before transmitting it from the source device (your TV) to your speakers. This means poorer sound quality compared to wired connections. Second, Bluetooth delivers higher latency than wired connections. In other words, you may experience some audio/video sync issues when watching any kind of video content.
To connect your Bluetooth speaker to your Samsung TV, you need a Bluetooth-enabled TV. Check whether your TV supports Bluetooth.
For the best results, you will need a Bluetooth speaker (or a speaker set) with aptX LL support. Also, you will need a TV with aptX LL support.
Bluetooth-enabled Samsung TVs do not support aptX LL. If you want a perfect TV-watching experience, it might be a good idea to invest in a Bluetooth transmitter with aptX LL support.
To pair your Bluetooth speaker to your Samsung TV, enable pairing mode on your speaker, and then, on your Samsung TV, navigate to Settings > Sound > Sound Output > Bluetooth Speaker List. Find your speaker and select it.
Checking if Your Samsung TV Has Bluetooth Capabilities
We already know that Samsung is the top smart TV brand that produces technologically advanced TVs with innovative features. But not all Samsung TVs have Bluetooth, especially some of the old models. So, how would you know your Samsung smart TV has embedded Bluetooth technology?
You can be sure that your Samsung TV has Bluetooth capabilities if the TV comes with a smart remote – it works with the TV via Bluetooth.
If you buy a Samsung TV with a regular remote, you need to check if the TV accommodates Bluetooth. Do the following steps:
- Get hold of the remote and press the Home button at the center.
- Direct the cursor to the left, where you can see the Settings option, and press the icon.
- Then, choose the Sound option, followed by the Sound Output option.
- The default Sound Output is the TV Speaker. But, if your TV has Bluetooth capabilities, the Bluetooth Speaker List option will appear at the bottom.
Connecting Devices via Bluetooth
While a Bluetooth connection avoids the hassle of connecting wires, some people prefer a wired connection because Bluetooth can pose several issues. Make sure you read the following points regarding Bluetooth connection before deciding to use Bluetooth-enabled devices:
- Bluetooth pairing is only for one device at a time.
- It’s not possible to use it jointly with other sound features.
- Many Bluetooth devices are not compatible with the TV.
- The Bluetooth signal range is not that great. You may lose contact if the device is placed further out.
- The Bluetooth connection is susceptible to electrical interference from other common devices like microwaves, baby monitors, or security cameras.
- Bluetooth connection delivers much higher latency (audio lag) than a wired connection.
Note: Generally speaking, using Bluetooth headphones and speakers for movie or TV watching is not the best idea, mostly because of the audio lag. The only exceptions are Bluetooth headphones/speakers with aptX LL support. However, even with aptX LL support, Bluetooth speakers and headphones will deliver higher latency than wired speakers and headphones.
AptX LL Demo
Choosing Your Audio Device
You may be wondering what type of speakers are best for your home entertainment setup. We picked up two popular devices – a speaker system and a soundbar.
Soundbar
A soundbar is what its name suggests – a bar that produces sound. It’s a long rectangular-shaped speaker that normally lies nicely underneath a large TV. It often comes with a separate subwoofer, but sometimes it’s built-in.
The majority of soundbars on the market have Bluetooth but without aptX LL support. They are meant to be connected to your TV via HDMI ARC or via optical cable. The only soundbar that we know of with aptx LL support is Avantree Torpedo Plus, but this thing is more of a portable speaker or a hearing aid than an actual soundbar.
Avantree Torpedo Plus – Portable Mini Soundbar with aptX LL Support
Speaker Set
A set of speakers is box-like sound equipment capable of producing superior sound. You can place the speakers in various places around the TV area to produce pristine surround sound to enhance the TV viewing and gaming experience.
Just like soundbars, most powered speaker sets are designed for wired connections. If you want to connect speakers wirelessly (via Bluetooth) to your TV, you will need a set of speakers with aptx LL support.
| Best Bluetooth Speakers with AptX LL Support | |
|
Kanto YU
|
Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT
|
A Soundbar/Speaker Pros and Cons Comparison
| SOUNDBAR | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|
| PROS | |
| Enhances the TV sound | Superior and more immersive surround sound |
| Small and sleek – look nice with the TV | Upgradable – you can add sound-improving equipment at a later stage |
| A solo device (sometimes with a subwoofer) | Flexible – you can re-arrange the position of various speakers to adjust the sound quality. |
| CONS | |
| Not as good as speakers since the sound comes from a single device | More difficult to set up since it consists of multiple units, and takes more space |
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a simple but effective sound as an enhancement to the standard TV speaker, go for the soundbar. But if you’re more of an audiophile, you should go for a speaker system A soundbar might be good enough for most people to enjoy movies and games but, as discussed, our suggestion is to connect your soundbar to your Samsung TV using wires (HDMI, optical, AUX).
Connecting a Bluetooth Speaker to Samsung TV
If you have your Bluetooth speaker ready in front of your Samsung TV, let’s get started and pair them using the following straightforward steps:
- Hook up your Bluetooth speaker and switch it on.
- Take your Samsung TV remote and press the Home button.
- Shift across to the left side of the TV screen until you can see the settings button/option.
- Move up and then right to the Sound Output option.
- Hit the up arrow on the remote until you find the Bluetooth Speaker List, and press OK.
- Wait until your speaker pops up on the screen. If it takes a long time, you can go back and repeat. Alternatively, press the Refresh button on the right.
- When it appears, select your speaker’s name.
- When it says “Pair and connect“, it means your speaker and TV are ready to pair. Press OK to proceed.
- That’s it; your speaker and Samsung smart TV are connected so that you can watch the TV and the sound will come through your external Bluetooth speaker.
- Once paired, the TV will remember your speaker, and you don’t have to repeat the pairing process the next time you want to pair.
- In the future, the TV will automatically prompt you to connect; all you need to do is tap Connect.
Connecting a Bluetooth Speaker to Samsung TV
Note: If your Samsung TV doesn’t support aptX LL, you may not get the best experience. Even if your headphones support aptX LL, you may notice some audio lag. The best way to fix this issue is to buy a Bluetooth transmitter with aptX LL.
| Best AptX LL Transmitters | |
|
Avantree Oasis Plus
|
Sennheiser BT T100
|
Troubleshooting Bluetooth Speaker Connection Issues
While connecting your Bluetooth speaker to the TV seems pretty straightforward, there may be instances where the process doesn’t work. Here are the probable causes and the possible actions to fix them:
- There is no Bluetooth on your Samsung TV – As mentioned above, not all Samsung TVs have built-in Bluetooth. You can fix it by using a simple Bluetooth transmitter that you can connect to your TV.
- It may seem obvious, but sometimes you forget to turn on the pairing mode on the speaker. In addition, occasionally, you may not see your speaker name on the Bluetooth speaker list. You may need to wait for a while before it comes out, or you can always try to press the pairing button a few times.
- Your speaker is not working or malfunctioning – to confirm it, you can try connecting another speaker or Bluetooth device. If the other device works, you know your speaker has issues.
- Your speaker is too far from the TV – make sure the devices are within 30 feet of each other. The closer they are, the better reception you get.
- Your devices are not upgraded to the latest software version – ensure all devices are updated so that they can pair without issues.
- Sometimes, if the connection doesn’t work, you may just need to restart all devices and repeat the pairing process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Do I have Bluetooth technology on my Samsung smart TV?
Answer: You may or may not. Old models normally come without Bluetooth capabilities, but most newer Samsung smart TV models already have Bluetooth.
Question: How to add Bluetooth to my Samsung TV?
Answer: No Bluetooth? No problem! Get a Bluetooth transmitter (dongle) and follow this procedure:
- Firstly, ensure your TV has an audio out jack.
- Plug in the Bluetooth transmitter to a power source and switch it on.
- Connect it to your TV’s audio out jack with the cable provided.
- The transmitter is in pairing mode when the light is on.
- On your Samsung TV, go to Source > Settings > Connection Guide > Speaker > Bluetooth. The TV is now in pairing mode and ready to pair with other devices.
Connecting a Bluetooth Transmitter to a TV
Question: What is the 123 button on my Samsung remote?
Answer: The button is used to activate the On-Screen Remote – simply press the MENU/123 button, and your TV screen will display the On-Screen Remote. The top bar has several functions and feature buttons you can select to control your TV programs.
Conclusion
While you can expect your Samsung smart TV to produce high-quality sound from its built-in speakers, connecting the TV to an external speaker will give you an enhanced audio experience.
Firstly, we gave you an overview of what kind of speakers you can consider pairing. If you need a simple sound upgrade, you may want to consider a soundbar for its simplicity and aesthetic. A speaker system, on the other hand, will fit your needs if you want a more refined audio output.
Then, with easy step-by-step instructions, you can connect your favorite Bluetooth speakers to your Samsung smart TV in a flash. You can also find some valuable tips on how to troubleshoot your connection if you cannot pair the devices.
