How to Connect a Subwoofer to a Soundbar? (With Troubleshooting)

Your goal for this year is to create the most stun-worthy audio setup for your home entertainment room. You’ve invested in the highest quality smart TV on the market, complete with an amazing soundbar to match. 

However, you want to go even bigger. So, after some research, you’ve decided to add a subwoofer to the setup. 

But, how can you connect a subwoofer (both wired and wireless) to a soundbar? What steps should you take if your subwoofer isn’t working correctly? 

Keep reading to find out! 

How to Connect a Subwoofer to a Soundbar? 

The instructions to connect a subwoofer to a soundbar will vary depending on if the subwoofer is wired or wireless, and its brand. 

Wired Subwoofer

To connect your subwoofer to a soundbar, you will need a monaural (mono) audio cable, like the Syncwire 3.5mm Aux Cable. These cables have 3.5mm audio connectors on both ends.

Instructions

Step 1: Head to the back of your soundbar and look for a port labeled Subwoofer Out. Then, plug one end of your AUX cable into the port, ensuring it’s securely connected. 

Step 2: Now head to the back of your subwoofer and plug the other end of your AUX cable into its INPUT port.  If you’ve yet to set up your soundbar, you can learn how to do so by reading our article How to Connect a Soundbar to a Smart TV with HDMI ARC?

Wireless Subwoofer

If you want to create a sleek and wireless setup, follow the steps below to connect a wireless subwoofer to a soundbar. 

Samsung

Step 1: Connect your soundbar to your TV and ensure it’s connected to power. Then, plug your subwoofer into power as well. 

Step 2: Power your soundbar on and turn your attention to the subwoofer’s blue LED indicator light. The LED light will flash when looking for a connection, and then become a static blue once it’s connected to your soundbar. 

LG 

Step 1: Set up your soundbar and plug it into a wall outlet before connecting your subwoofer to power. 

Step 2: Turn your soundbar on and wait a few seconds for your subwoofer to pair to it. 

Sony

Step 1: Connect your soundbar and subwoofer to power. 

Step 2: You’ll know your subwoofer has automatically connected to the soundbar when its LED light turns a solid green. 

Troubleshooting

Connecting your subwoofer to a soundbar should be a seamless process, but if your subwoofer won’t connect, isn’t playing audio, or is playing audio too low, it’s time to try some troubleshooting steps. 

Follow our solutions below to solve your subwoofer mishaps in no time!

1. The Subwoofer Won’t Connect to the Soundbar

Wireless subwoofers should automatically connect to soundbars, but if they don’t, you may need to manually connect them. 

Before manually connecting your subwoofer to your soundbar, ensure: 

• The subwoofer is placed no more than 15 feet away from the soundbar.
• The soundbar and subwoofer are both securely connected to a stable power source. 
• The subwoofer is properly ventilated. 

Once you’ve checked that your subwoofer is properly set up and powered, you can try to connect it to the soundbar manually by following the brand-specific instructions below. 

Samsung

Step 1: With both devices connected to power, turn your soundbar off before gently pressing the subwoofer’s ID SET button. 

Step 2: Keep the ID SET button pressed down until the subwoofer’s red STANDBY light turns off and the blue LED indicator light (labeled LINK) begins to flash. 

Step 3: Long-press the subwoofer remote’s UP button for five seconds until ID SET pops up on the soundbar’s display. 

Step 4: The subwoofer’s LED indicator light should turn a static blue, indicating the devices have paired. If the light is still flashing blue, turn both devices off and try this process again.

LG

Step 1: Turn the soundbar’s sound down to the minimum.

1. If the model has a full display, you will see VOL MIN on-screen. 
2. If the model has a partial display, the soundbar’s LED light will be a solid red. 

Step 2: Next, long-press the soundbar remote’s Mute button for three seconds. 

1. If the model has a full display, WL RESET, Remate, or something similar will appear on-screen. 
2. If the model has a partial display, the solid red LED indicator light will begin to flash. 

Step 3: Next, find and long-press your subwoofer’s Pairing button until its LED light starts flashing. 

Step 4: Unplug your subwoofer and soundbar for at least 30 seconds before re-connecting them to power. Turn them on and see if they connect automatically. 

Step 5: If the devices still do not pair, repeat these steps once more. 

Sony

Step 1: Power the subwoofer off. 

Step 2: Reset the soundbar by turning it on before simultaneously long-pressing the Power, Input, and Vol- buttons. 

Step 3: Stop pressing the buttons once you see RESET pop up on the soundbar’s display. 

Step 4: Then, disconnect the soundbar from power for 30 seconds. 

Step 5: Reconnect the soundbar to power and turn it on. 

Step 6: Now you can pair your soundbar to your subwoofer by hitting the soundbar remote’s AMP MENU button. 

Step 7: Go to WS and hit the Enter key.

Step 8: Head to LINK or S. ON., and press the Enter key again. 

Step 9: When START pops up on-screen, hit the Enter button once more to prompt your soundbar to look for devices to link to. You’ll know your soundbar is actively looking for devices to connect to when SEARCH pops up on the display. 

Step 10: Use a pointed object, like a SIM card ejector, to activate the subwoofer’s LINK or SECURE LINK button. 

If the subwoofer successfully pairs with the soundbar, its LED light will turn green. OK or SUCCEED will only show up on the soundbar’s display. Close the menu on-screen by hitting the AMP MENU button again. 

If the soundbar displays FAILED instead, repeat these steps once more. 

2. Though Connected, There’s No Sound from the Subwoofer

Try the solutions listed below if your subwoofer’s LED light is a solid blue, indicating it’s connected to the soundbar, but it’s not playing any sound. 

1. Test the subwoofer’s sound by playing some bass sound. While the sound is playing, ensure the source’s (e.g. TV) volume is high enough.
2. Something may have gone wrong when you initially pair your subwoofer to the soundbar. So, try reconnecting them. 
   • If you’re using a wired connection, unplug the mono audio cable for a second before reconnecting it. 
   • If you’re using a wireless connection, reset the soundbar and subwoofer before manually pairing them by following the steps listed in the above section.
3. Soft reset both devices by leaving them unplugged for at least 20 seconds, then plugging them back into power. 

3. The Subwoofer Sound Is Too Low

If your subwoofer’s sound is a little too quiet for your taste, try raising the bass sound. Subwoofers enhance the overall bass sound and deepen the low-frequency sound. 

Samsung

• Increase your subwoofer’s volume by hitting the right side of your remote’s Woofer button.
• Check your soundbar’s firmware version and update it if needed.

Step 1: Turn your subwoofer off. 

Step 2: On your soundbar remote, hit the Sound Control button, marked by a gear icon. 

Step 3: Hit the Sound Control button again, this time holding it for 20 to 30 seconds. 

Step 4: Look for the firmware version on your display, which will start with the letter B. 

Step 5: If needed, update your soundbar by: 

1. Transferring the update file via a flash drive. (Your soundbar must have a USB port for this method.)
2. Connecting your soundbar to the SmartThings app (available on Android and iOS) and updating it over the internet.  

LG

Step 1: Press the remote’s Sound Effect button until the soundbar goes into BASS BLAST+ mode.

Step 2: Press the remote’s Woofer + button. If your remote doesn’t have this button, keep hitting the Sound Tuning key until it shows WF (which stands for Woofer), before pressing the Volume + button to turn up the subwoofer’s volume.

The remote may look different depending on your soundbar model. Visit the LG website to learn about their different soundbar remotes’ functions.

Sony

Step 1: Increase the subwoofer’s volume by hitting the plus (+) button of the SW (which stands for subwoofer), subwoofer volume, BASS, or something similar. 

Step 2: Ensure Night mode is turned OFF. If you’re unsure how to adjust your soundbar’s Night mode, consult its user manual. 

Wrapping Things Up

When connecting a subwoofer to a soundbar, you have the option of choosing a wired or wireless connection. 

Wired connections use a mono audio cable and only take a moment to set up. If you opt for a wireless connection, your soundbar and subwoofer should connect automatically once they’re plugged in and turned on. 

However, if they don’t, you may need to reset them before trying to connect them again. 

If your subwoofer is connecting to your soundbar but isn’t playing any sound, try playing some bass sound, and reconnecting and soft resetting them. 

Should your subwoofer’s volume be too low, adjust your soundbar’s settings, update its firmware, or increase the bass volume. 

What’s your experience connecting a subwoofer to a soundbar? Did you opt for a wired or wireless connection, and why? 

Let us know in the comments below!