Roku TV No Sound Through Soundbar Over ARC: How to Fix It

No soundbar audio from a Roku TV over HDMI ARC is almost always the audio output not set to ARC, CEC switched off, or the wrong port — the TV defaults to its own speakers until you route it. Roku's menus are specific, so here's exactly where to look.

Fix it

1. Use the eARC/ARC port — both ends. The cable goes from the Roku TV's HDMI port labeled ARC/eARC to the soundbar's HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC). A regular input won't carry return audio.
2. Set the audio output to ARC. Settings > Audio > S/PDIF and ARC > Audio mode, and set the HDMI ARC output to the soundbar (Auto / Dolby D). This is the Roku-specific step people miss — CEC being on doesn't switch it.
3. Enable CEC. Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) — turn on 1-touch play and System audio control. Enable CEC on the soundbar too.
4. Set the right format. In S/PDIF and ARC, choose Auto passthrough / Dolby D for surround, or PCM to test. A format the bar can't decode plays silent.
5. Power-cycle in order. Unplug TV and soundbar for at least 30 seconds, power the soundbar first, then the TV.

If you have sound but no Atmos

The link is on ARC, not eARC. ARC carries compressed audio only; eARC carries lossless Atmos — the full difference between ARC and eARC explains which one you need. Use the eARC port (only some Roku TVs have true eARC), set the format to Auto/passthrough, and use a certified cable.

Still silent

• Optical test: connect the bar to the TV's optical out. If sound returns, the fault is on the HDMI/ARC/CEC side, not the bar.
• Swap the HDMI cable — a marginal one passes video but drops the ARC return.
• Update firmware on the Roku TV and the soundbar — ARC handshake bugs get patched.
• If sound comes back but trails the picture, that's a separate audio sync problem, not a no-sound fault.

FAQ

Picture's fine but the soundbar is silent on my Roku TV. The audio output isn't set to ARC, or CEC is off. Go to Settings > Audio > S/PDIF and ARC and route to the soundbar, then enable CEC (Control other devices).

Where's the audio output setting on a Roku TV? Settings > Audio > S/PDIF and ARC > Audio mode. Set it to the HDMI ARC output.

I enabled CEC but still no sound. CEC doesn't switch the audio output — set it in Settings > Audio > S/PDIF and ARC.

Sound works but no Atmos. You're on ARC. Use the eARC port (higher Roku TV models), set the format to Auto/passthrough, and use a certified cable.