So, you’ve got a Bluetooth speaker you love—and a TV that’s about as wireless as a brick. No built-in Bluetooth. No fancy streaming features. Just good old-fashioned inputs and outputs. Don’t worry, you’re not stuck listening to tinny built-in TV speakers forever. You’ve got options. And no, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to make them work.
Let’s talk through your best bets to get that speaker and your TV working together, even if the two were never “meant to be.”
Option 1: The Bluetooth Transmitter Trick
This is the go-to move for most folks. If your TV doesn’t have Bluetooth, just give it Bluetooth.
Here’s what you need:
A Bluetooth audio transmitter—basically a tiny gadget that plugs into your TV and beams audio to your speaker wirelessly. They’re cheap, easy to use, and widely available online.
How it works:
- Most TVs have a 3.5mm headphone jack, RCA audio out, or a digital optical (TOSLINK) port. You’ll match the transmitter to the kind of output your TV has.
- Plug the transmitter into the TV.
- Power it up (some get power via USB, others use a wall plug).
- Put it in pairing mode and connect your Bluetooth speaker just like you would with your phone.
Done.
Quick tip: If you’re watching anything where timing matters—like movies or gaming—go for a transmitter that supports aptX Low Latency. Otherwise, you might see lips moving and hear words half a second later. Super annoying.
Why this option rocks: It keeps your setup wireless and clean. No cables running across the room. And once it’s paired, you’re good to go.
You’ll want to double-check that your speaker can automatically reconnect too, because not all of them do it well with transmitters. Some budget speakers need you to hit the Bluetooth button every time, which is less than ideal for a TV setup. If you’re buying a new transmitter, many of the better ones can also pair with two devices at once, which is perfect if you want to switch between your TV and your phone without unpairing.
And if your TV only has optical output but your transmitter only takes analog (3.5mm or RCA), you’ll need a digital-to-analog converter to bridge the gap. These aren’t expensive, but they’re one more piece in the chain, so make sure you check your TV’s ports first.
Option 2: Use a Streaming Device That Does Have Bluetooth
Now, if you’re already using something like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or a Google Chromecast with Google TV, you might not need any extra gear at all.
Here’s the rundown:
- Fire TV Stick: Yes, it supports Bluetooth audio. You can pair your Bluetooth speaker in the settings. Pretty painless.
- Apple TV: Also supports Bluetooth speakers. Works beautifully with AirPods too, if that’s your jam.
- Chromecast with Google TV: Bluetooth capable. It’s tucked in the settings, but it’s there.
- Roku? Eh… maybe. Some Rokus only support Bluetooth through their mobile app, and it’s clunky.
So if you’re already using one of these for streaming Netflix or YouTube, you might be able to connect your speaker directly through the device, bypassing the TV altogether.
Here’s what’s great about this approach: it’s seamless. The device handles the streaming and the audio, and you don’t have to worry about weird sync issues or routing sound through a second gadget. The only catch is that some of these devices treat Bluetooth pairing as a per-user setting, so if you switch users or restart the system, you might need to reconnect. But it’s rare.
If you’re using your TV for cable or gaming—basically anything that isn’t being streamed through that device—then this method won’t help. The audio signal has to go through the streaming device to make this work. But for most people these days, that covers 90% of what they’re watching anyway.
And just to clarify: if you’re using a basic Chromecast (the old-school one without a remote), you’re out of luck. That version doesn’t have native Bluetooth support. It’s only the newer Google TV edition that gives you the pairing option.
Option 3: Old-School Hardwired Connection
Sometimes simple is best. If your Bluetooth speaker has an AUX input (a 3.5mm jack, usually), you can skip the wireless drama and just plug it in.
You’re gonna need:
- A 3.5mm male-to-male AUX cable, or
- An RCA-to-3.5mm cable if your TV has red/white audio output instead of a headphone jack
Plug one end into the TV, the other into your speaker, and boom—instant audio upgrade.
This is also the best workaround if you’re dealing with a speaker that just won’t play nice with a transmitter. Some Bluetooth speakers are picky, and while they’ll pair fine with a phone, they struggle with third-party gadgets like transmitters. In that case, going wired can save you a lot of frustration.
Keep in mind that your TV might automatically mute its built-in speakers when you use the headphone jack. So if you’re planning on switching between your external speaker and TV sound frequently, it could be a bit of a hassle. Some TVs also lock the volume control when an external speaker is plugged in, which means you’ll need to control volume on the speaker itself. That’s fine if your speaker has volume buttons, not so great if it’s one of those slick minimalist models with touch controls or a companion app.
If your TV doesn’t have any analog audio out at all and only offers digital output (like TOSLINK), you’ll need a digital-to-analog converter to make this work. It sounds more complicated than it is. Plug your optical cable into the TV, plug an AUX cable from the converter to your speaker, and plug in the power. That’s it. Just make sure the converter supports the right formats—your TV’s audio output should be set to PCM for compatibility.
Also, measure your cable needs before you buy anything. AUX and RCA cables come in wildly different lengths, and nothing kills the vibe like realizing your speaker cable is three feet too short.
So, Which Option Should You Pick?
Let’s break it down:
- Want to stay wireless? Get a Bluetooth transmitter.
- Already using a smart device like Fire TV or Apple TV? Try pairing your speaker through that first—it might already do what you need.
- Don’t mind a wire and want the most stable sound? Go old-school and plug that speaker in directly.
All three methods work, and none of them are that complicated once you know what to look for. You don’t need a tech degree or a pile of adapters—just a little know-how and the right connection.
Whether you’re setting up a home theater, upgrading your bedroom TV, or just trying to get through a few episodes of your favorite show without awful tin-can audio, there’s no reason your Bluetooth speaker has to sit on the sidelines. Give it the job it deserves—and give your ears a break.
