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ray set-up to TCL tv ( Hdmi ? or optical ) how ??

  • October 31, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 73 views
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Subject: Help Connecting Sonos Ray to TCL TV - Setup Questions
Hello Sonos Community,
I recently purchased a Sonos Ray soundbar and need some help connecting it to my TCL TV.
Setup Details:
    •    Product: Sonos Ray soundbar
    •    TV: TCL TV
    •    Connection method: Optical cable 
My Questions:
    1.    I want to confirm the proper connection process using the optical cable that came with the Ray
    2.    What audio settings should I configure on my TCL TV for optimal performance?
    3.    Will I be able to control the soundbar volume with my TV remote, or do I need to use the Sonos app?
    4.    Are there any specific audio format settings (PCM vs Dolby Digital) I should select on my TV?
I initially thought the Ray had HDMI ARC but learned it only has optical connectivity. Just want to make sure I set everything up correctly for the best sound quality.


Any guidance from the community or Sonos support would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance for your 

6 replies

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • October 31, 2025

What options are available? In general, you want pass through, or Dolby Digital.

You’d want to set all devices that feed the TV via HDMI to be Dolby Digital as well. Not Dolby Digital Plus, or Atmos, but it will depend on the device as to what is available. 

If you set up the remote to be IR (InfraRed) rather than any other wireless format, via settings usually on the TV (check your manual for the TV), it should control the Sonos Ray. If you leave it on any setting other than IR, it won’t control the Ray.

Set and listen to both Dolby Digital and PCM, choose whichever one sounds better to you. There is no ‘correct’ answer, it’s all the same data, just slightly different volume levels. Your preference is paramount, not what anyone else ‘tells’ you. 

Sonos support doesn’t work here in these community forums, only very few Sonos moderators. If you want to talk to Sonos support, you need to call them. 

Bruce
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  • Nikkispots
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • October 31, 2025

Confused . I guess the ray doesn’t have HDMI so I can only connect tcl to Sonos Ray by optical cord . What is the other cable input on the ray ? Can you suggest a cable to connect this unit to the tv or how I use the optical to connect - step by step 

 

thank you 

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  • nik9669a
  • Senior Virtuoso
  • October 31, 2025

Confused . I guess the ray doesn’t have HDMI so I can only connect tcl to Sonos Ray by optical cord . What is the other cable input on the ray ? Can you suggest a cable to connect this unit to the tv or how I use the optical to connect - step by step 

 

thank you 

Have you read any of the specifications for your Ray, or the User Guide? Correct: the Ray does not have HDMI - it is optical input only. The guide also shows you the control buttons and the connectors on the rear. It’ll tell you that your mystery input is for Ethernet cable. 
 

If you need step-by-step setup help for your tv: which model tv do you have? 

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • October 31, 2025

If I’m not mistaken, the other ‘cable input’ on the Ray is for the other cable that comes with the speaker, a power cable that is used to provide energy to the Ray. 

Bruce
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  • nik9669a
  • Senior Virtuoso
  • October 31, 2025

Connector panel

1

Join button

Press to connect during setup.

2

AC power (mains) input

Use only the supplied power cord (using a third-party power cord will void your warranty).

3

Optical port

Use to connect the soundbar to your TV.

4

Ethernet port

Use an Ethernet cable if you want to connect to a router, computer, or network-attached storage (NAS) device (optional).
Airgetlam
Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • October 31, 2025

Ah, forgot about the Ethernet connector. Should have checked the manual, like you did ;)

Bruce
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