The 3 Most Common Problems With TCL Soundbars (And How to Fix Them)

TCL initially burst onto the home theater scene as a budget-friendly TV alternative to big brands like Sony, Samsung, and LG. The quality of these TCL TVs has steadily improved over the years, causing their popularity to skyrocket as they began to compete with the competition at a cheaper price.

To complement its home theater offering, TCL has developed a range of soundbars, ranging from a simple single bar setup to a full surround setup including a bar, subwoofer and rear speakers. Like their TV counterparts, these soundbar systems have rivaled some of the best soundbars available today.

Despite the brand’s commitment to quality, TCL soundbars can experience the same common issues that accompany many soundbar systems. Some of these issues include audio cutting in and out of your favorite shows, a subwoofer or rear speaker of the system not working fully, or even the soundbar itself not delivering any sound. Although frustrating, there is usually a simple solution to the heart of these common problems. Here’s a look at some typical TCL soundbar issues and the best ways to get things back on track.

Most modern TVs automatically send audio signals to a connected soundbar, especially when connected via HDMI ARC or eARC. So, after installing a new soundbar system, one of the most numbing experiences is turning on your TV and hearing… nothing. Sometimes there’s a clear indication that something is wrong, like a flashing light on the soundbar. This is a common problem that can happen to any soundbar brand, not just TCL. Most often this is related to a connection issue or an audio setting that doesn’t match both the TV and the soundbar.

To resolve this issue, it is first important to check your connections. For example, if you’re using HDMI ARC or eARC, make sure your HDMI cable is connected to the correct ports on both devices. Once the connections are aligned, check that the soundbar input is correct. Most TCL soundbars have dedicated inputs for options like HDMI, optical, and Bluetooth.

It’s best to make sure the soundbar is set to the cable or connection you’re using. If you still don’t hear sound, you may need to adjust your TV’s audio settings. This varies depending on the brand of your TV, but find the TV’s sound settings and switch its audio output setting to external speakers, HDMI ARC, or optical.

If you are indeed receiving sound from your new TCL soundbar, another common problem is sound from the bar randomly coming in and out. This problem can be mind-boggling because it doesn’t necessarily follow a pattern when it occurs. You can get a solid episode of television with no issues, then be tormented by it the next time you sit down to stream something.

The most likely cause of this problem is the connection of your bar to the TV. If your soundbar is paired to your TV via Bluetooth, try switching to a wired connection instead. Although Bluetooth technology has evolved significantly over the years, it remains the most susceptible type of connection to signal interference. In other words, the likelihood of audio cutting out or out of sync is higher than with other connection options.

That said, if you’re switching to HDMI or optical and still having audio issues, check that the cables are fully secure in the respective ports on the soundbar and TV. Additionally, if the cables themselves are physically damaged in any way, consider replacing them to help resolve the problem.

TCL has greatly streamlined its setup process with its comprehensive surround sound system packages. Indeed, once the soundbar, rear speakers and subwoofer are plugged into power sources, they should automatically identify and pair with each other. However, parts of the whole sometimes struggle to make this seamless connection. If you can’t hear the bass in the music or movies you’re watching, or if there’s no sound coming from your rear speakers, it’s likely that they aren’t paired with your soundbar.

The simplest solution is to unplug everything, then methodically reconnect each part of the system. Turn on the soundbar first, as it effectively functions as the brain of the system. Then move on to the subwoofer and finish the process with the rear speakers. If they still don’t connect, you may need to manually pair each part according to the instructions included with the soundbar.

This differs slightly from system to system, but usually involves holding down the reset button on the subwoofer or speakers while you plug them into the mains. Finally, if you’re still experiencing connection, audio, or other issues with your TCL soundbar, it may be worth contacting TCL’s customer support team for further troubleshooting.