How do you connect your Samsung soundbar? Do you use a wired or wireless connection?
If you own a Samsung soundbar, chances are that you can connect it to an audio source in more than one way. But in this guide, we will just discuss connecting through a WiFi network.
Connecting through WiFi has several advantages but one of the most obvious reasons has to do with eliminating wire clutter. If you have your Samsung soundbar ready, we will help you easily and successfully use it with your TV and other devices in no time.
Why Choose WiFi Connection
Samsung soundbars give you different options for connecting your devices, but one of the most convenient ways is through WiFi. This is ideal if you have a strong WiFi network signal.
With WiFi, you have a wider or farther range than when you connect using Bluetooth. Bluetooth generally has a range of only 30 feet. WiFi is also better than cable when a wired connection between devices is not practical or even possible.
Apart from that, WiFi also allows you to connect multiple soundbars or speakers to your audio setup. This means that you can use your Samsung soundbar together with a Wireless Audio 360 for an even better sound quality.
WiFi connection is also faster than Bluetooth. Depending on your signal, it is able to handle between 54 and 1300 Mbps.
However, before you finally ditch your cable and decide to connect your Samsung soundbar using WiFi, let’s not forget that if you use this type of connection, you are limited to the strength and quality of your WiFi network or router. If you have a poor WiFi connection, the soundbar may lag or won’t work at all.
It’s a good idea to check your WiFi capabilities first before connecting your soundbar using WiFi. You also need to consider how many people are connecting to the WiFi network at the same time as this can also affect your WiFi speed and bandwidth.
Things to Check Before Connecting your Samsung Soundbar to WiFi
Connecting your soundbar to WiFi should be a breeze but there there are several requirements that you need to meet first to make it work.
First and foremost, check if your TV is able to connect to your WiFi. It should not be a problem if you have the latest model, but if you own an older model, better check first if it can connect to your WiFi.
You also need to ensure that you have a strong WiFi signal. If your signal is poor, you may experience lagging or choppy audio, so the overall quality of the sound also depends on how strong your connection is.
Steps to Connect your Soundbar to WiFi
Now that you have met the requirements we listed above, you can then follow these simple steps to connect your soundbar to WiFi:
- Step 1. Plugin your soundbar into a power source, then switch it on.
- Step 2. At the back of your soundbar, find the ‘Source’ button. You can also find it in the remote control of your soundbar. Simply click the ‘Source’ button then select WiFi mode.
- Step 3. Connect the soundbar to the same WiFi network your TV is connected to. This step is crucial because if the two devices are not on the same network or router, you won’t be able to make it work. So if you have multiple WiFi networks at home, choose the one where you can connect both devices.
- Step 4. Download the Samsung SmartThings app to any of your mobile devices that you’ll use for controlling the soundbar. With this app, you can use your mobile phone or tablet to connect or control multiple devices that are registered in the app more quickly and easily.
- Step 5. Once you have installed the app, open it on your mobile device then tap the plus (+) icon to add your device.
- Step 6. Go to Device which is the first option on the screen. From there, tap AV and choose the right brand of your soundbar, whether Kardon, Samsung, or Samsung Harman. After choosing, tap Soundbar.
- Step 7. Click the Start button then choose the location and room. After doing so, your device will start searching for the soundbar and start connecting to it.
Steps to Connect a TV to WiFi
Your soundbar is now ready to play music but if the sound is still coming from your TV, then you also need to set up your TV before you can enjoy the sound from your Samsung soundbar.
The specific steps depend on the model and brand of your TV, but generally, you’ll have to:
Step 1. Click the ‘Home’ button on your TV remote.
Step 2. Go to Settings then select Sound.
Step 3. From the ‘Sound’ menu, you’ll need to choose Sound Output and look for your soundbar from the options, then select it.
Those are the general steps for the later TV models. For older models, the steps might be slightly different so if in doubt, you can always refer to the user’s manual.
Related Questions
What Samsung soundbar models does the SmartThings app support?
The SmartThings app only supports Samsung soundbars released in 2017 and onwards. If you have an older model, you’ll have to use the Multiroom app instead.
What if my WiFi connection is not smooth, what’s the workaround solution?
If you are connecting to the 5 GHz WiFi band and you are having an issue with lagging, Samsung recommends using the 2.4 GHz bandwidth instead.
Summary
Samsung soundbars are among the popular audio devices available in the market due to their overall performance and versatility. If you own one and are wondering what’s the best way to connect it to your TV or other audio sources, connecting it via WiFi is one of the most convenient and rewarding ways you can do it.
While we have listed multiple steps for both the soundbar and the TV, the entire process should take less than 20 minutes. There are no complicated steps involved, but there are requirements that you need to meet before you can start connecting and enjoying your music via WiFi.