How to listen to your TV through headphones and the TV speakers, soundbar, or another audio device at the same time

IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

Simultaneous TV audio output

Connections may differ depending on the devices used. Your TV Help guide provides additional information for connecting your TV to an audio system, soundbar, and headphones. Check your device manuals model-specific information.

• Output sound from both your speakers and your external audio device:

  Connect your external audio device to the digital optical port of your TV using a digital optical cable (not supplied).

  Note: If you connect your external audio device to the TV headphone jack, the HDMI ports, or through a Bluetooth® connection, the TV can't output sound from both the TV speakers and the audio device at the same time.

• Output sound from both your wired headphones and external audio system/soundbar:

  Connect your wired headphones to the TV headphone jack (only applies to TV models that have a headphone jack) and your external audio system/soundbar to the digital optical port of your TV using a digital optical cable (not supplied).

  Note: If you connect an external audio system/soundbar to the HDMI ports or through Bluetooth, the TV can't output sound from both the headphones and external audio system/soundbar at the same time.

• Output TV sound from both your Bluetooth headphones and speakers from an external audio system/soundbar:

  Connect your BT headphones to the TV and then make sure your external audio system/soundbar is connected to the digital optical port of your TV using a digital optical cable (not supplied).

  Notes:

  • An alternative solution is to connect the TV to a cable/satellite box, optical or HDMI, and to source audio from that device to RF headphones (WHRF400, WHL600, MDRRF995RK).
  • Connecting any audio device via BT or HDMI takes audio away from the TV’s speakers (only one audio output device is supported), so the optical connection must be used to output the TV audio to an external device (Home theater system, soundbar, etc.).