The Firestick is a great tool for your entertainment center. The simplicity of having everything you need in one small stick is hard to beat, but connecting a firestick to a soundbar can elevate your audio experience.

How to connect a Firestick to a soundbar: To get the audio from your Firestick to a soundbar, you'll want to connect the Firestick to the soundbar directly, and then connect the soundbar to your TV. You may need to change the TV or soundbar's output settings.

With all the different input options on the back of your TV, it may not be super clear how to get the audio off of the device. You may have a whole assortment of ports, and just plugging the soundbar in may not work automatically. Let's talk a little more about how to get this figured out.

Key Takeaways

• Setup Process: All that's needed is the USB power adapter and an HDMI cable. Connect your Fire TV Stick (on Amazon) to the soundbar's HDMI input, and then connect the soundbar to the TV using the HDMI OUT/ARC port.
  
• Essentials to Remember: Enhance your Firestick audio by easily controlling it with its remote or your smart TV, and consider choosing the best compatible soundbar for the best sound experience.
  
• Troubleshooting Steps: If problems occur, reconnect HDMI cables and adjust source settings on both devices. For soundbars without ARC, connect the Fire Stick directly to the TV and manage audio through an alternative output.

How To Connect Firestick to a Soundbar

If you have your soundbar, your Firestick, and your smart TV all close by, you're ready to get started. Connecting all these devices is a simple process that shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes.

And if you're wondering what other options are great for your home audio setup, look at our guide on connecting Bluetooth speakers to the Firestick.

1. Use a USB Adapter to Plug the Firestick into an Outlet

First, make sure your Firestick is powered on. The Firestick should come with a thin cord. One end is designed to plug into the stick and the other fits almost all USB adapters. Then take the USB adapter and plug it into a nearby power source. The electrical outlet needs to be close to your soundbar(by the way, we explain more about the kind of power a Firestick needs in our guide).

You can bypass this step and connect the Firestick directly to your soundbar’s USB port but this usually causes problems with power. While Fire Sticks are versatile, there are things you should know, as we've said before, about their compatibility including with things like non-4K TVs. Additionally, there might not be enough power from your soundbar for the Fire Stick to work properly..

Most streaming sticks require 5v 1A of power to work properly. Check the specs of your soundbar to see if it can provide this much power. If not, then you should probably connect it to a standard power outlet.

2. Connect the Fire Stick to the Soundbar’s HDMI Input

On your soundbar, typically in the back, you’ll find one or more HDMI inputs. Connect the Fire Stick to one of the HDMI inputs. If it's a more modern unit like the Sony HT-S350 2.1 Channel Home Theater Soundbar (on Amazon) it will have several inputs, but only one output labeled “ARC”, and that's the one that needs to go to the TV later. Don't plug the Fire Stick into the ARC port.

For now, just focus on picking the right port for your Fire Stick. And if you don't see a bunch of HDMI ports on your soundbar, don't worry, we'll address that below.

3. Connect an HDMI Cable From the Soundbar to the TV

Using the HDMI OUT/ARC port, connect the soundbar to the TV's HDMI ARC input. Using this port allows for the devices to communicate in a more advanced way, and allows you to control all of the devices connected with a single remote.

4. Change the Input Source on the Soundbar

You’ll need to go to the soundbar’s settings menu to change the input source. If you don’t, the signal from the Fire Stick will not be received by the soundbar.

Switch the source setting to the one that corresponds with the HDMI input the Fire Stick is plugged into. The number of input options will depend on how many are on the soundbar.

5. Change the Input Source on the TV

It’s just as important to change the source settings on your TV. You’ll have to go into the settings menu to find the HDMI input. In the settings menu, this should be called out as “HDMI ARC.”

Once you’ve found the corresponding HDMI input the soundbar is connected to, select that setting so the TV receives the signal from the soundbar.

6. The Fire Stick Content Should Appear on the TV

After you’ve connected the Fire Stick to a power source with the USB adapter, and connected the HDMI cable to the correct input and output, you should be able to watch content on your TV.

As simple as this sounds, sometimes there are problems. Your Fire Stick content doesn’t always work seamlessly with your other components.

Firestick Flicks And Soundbar Tricks

Once you've connected your Firestick to a soundbar, get ready for a more awesome surround sound experience. In this section, we'll share some key things you should know, so that your audio experience is even better.

How to Control Your Firestick

Controlling your Firestick is essential for a seamless viewing experience. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to control Firestick:

• Use the Firestick Remote: The Firestick comes with a dedicated remote control. Ensure the remote has batteries and is paired with the Firestick for basic navigation and volume control. You can also use this remote to control your soundbar.
  
• Sync with Smart TV Remotes: Many smart TVs allow you to sync your Firestick with the TV's remote control. Check your TV's settings to find options for syncing external devices.
  
• Utilize HDMI-CEC Technology: If your TV and soundbar support HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), enabling this feature (in the TV's settings) allows you to control multiple devices with a single remote. This includes controlling the Firestick through your TV's remote.

Best Amazon Soundbars Compatible With Firestick

When it comes to enhancing your Firestick experience, integrating a compatible soundbar can significantly elevate the audio quality of your entertainment setup. Here's a guide on choosing and connecting a soundbar to your Firestick:

For more tips, jump over to our article on using a Firestick and Roku on one TV.

Troubleshooting Common Firestick Issues

Unfortunately, even when you follow the directions perfectly you can still run into problems. If you need to address issues with your Firestick connections and settings, especially for audio streaming or connectivity, there's a solution that doesn't require purchasing new audio equipment or cables.

Additionally, take a look at our related article explaining how long Firesticks last.

Firestick Connections And Settings

If you are experiencing any connection issues, start by unplugging all of the connected HDMI cables going from the soundbar to the TV. Once the cables are disconnected, turn both components off.

Leave the soundbar and TV off for a few seconds. You want to give it time for the power cycle to finish. Before turning any component on, reconnect the HDMI cable to the output on the soundbar and the input on the TV. Once this is done, plug the Fire Stick back into the Soundbar’s HDMI input.

Turn the components on, and recheck the source settings on both. Often problem could be due to incorrect source settings. After troubleshooting, you should be able to enjoy your Fire Stick content on the TV.

What if My Soundbar Doesn't Have ARC?

If you have an older soundbar or one that just doesn't have ARC for whatever reason, you can still connect your Firestick to the soundbar, then the order of operations is a little different.

While you will still need to play with the inputs as described above, you'll want the Firestick to be plugged into the TV, not the soundbar. From there, you'll manage the audio through the TV, outputting to the soundbar from an optical out port or other audio-out option.