How To Connect Audio to Projectors: Wireless and Wired | Guide 2021

You are just a few steps away from connecting your projector to an external speaker, soundbar, AV receiver, home theater, Bluetooth speaker, or any other audio device you have. Simple steps to get sound from any projector to speakers.

James K. Brownlee
connect audio to projector

Have you ever watched a movie without audio? Impossible right? For instance, if you were a soccer fan, how do you feel watching a football match with no commentary. Boring right? Hence, that reflects the importance of sound. Consequently, it is crucial to know how to connect audio to your projector. Sound has to coincide with the moving pictures. Moreover, you would love the cinematic experience when the sound sync with the action displayed on your projector. 

You can connect different audio devices like a home theater sound system, Bluetooth speaker to your projector. However, series of projectors accept various audio connections. 

For instance, some projectors cannot connect to a Bluetooth speaker because they don’t have Bluetooth connectivity. So, you must get the correct audio connection device that will link the speaker to your projector.

This article will guide you through the different audio devices to connect to your projector. 

Let’s proceed. 

Connecting Audio Devices to Your Projector 

Recent projectors have audio options with an inbuilt speaker that plays sound from your projected video or movie. Audio also goes through the High Definition TV (HDTV) connected to a cable box. There are also other options available. These several options give you flexibility. 

Now let’s go through the different ways to get sound from your projector to audio devices. Even though it will vary in various devices and brands, you will have the idea at least. 

So take a look at the two common types of audio connections: a wired and a wireless connection

A wired connection between projector: 

  1. Stereo speaker
  2. Soundbar
  3. AV Receiver
  4. Home theater sound system

A wireless connection between:

  1. Projector and smart external audio device using Miracast
  2. Projector and Bluetooth speaker

1. How to connect a projector to a stereo speaker? 

Most speakers connect to one audio port with a single connector. However, others have their audio connectors. The audio jack splits between them. 

For projectors with inbuilt speakers, connect the projector to the stereo speaker with a 3.5 mm audio-out jack. 

But if your media source device doesn’t have its speakers, then stereo speakers are a must-have.

2. How to connect a projector to a soundbar Amplifier?

A soundbar amp enhances sounds from the inbuilt speakers of a projector. The amp is a speaker that is shaped like a bar, producing sound. 

Unlike speakers or headphones, an amplifier doesn’t mute your projector’s speaker or HDTV and PC – making a sole sound come from the amp. However, it amplifies the sound as it keeps the original speakers and soundbar switched on.

For a soundbar, it works similarly to the left and right stereo speakers but with fewer plugs. Here, you can use the available ports and cable connectors to create the audio connection between stereo speakers and projectors. You can also use the 3.5 mm phone jack to HDMI to link your projector and speaker.

3. How to connect a projector to an AV Receiver?

An AV receiver (or called an AVR) is simply an electronic component used to receive video and audio signals from multiple sources. The AVR processes and amplifies the signal to drive loudspeakers while routing the video signals to display on projectors.

However, before you make any connection, turn off the devices. Then, in a case where an AVR connects to an output source that does not support HDMI and external speakers, you have two (2) options. 

First, plug the HDMI output port on the media source device into the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast videos. Then, connect the SPDIF output port of the media source to the input port of the AVR. After that, link the AVR to the external speakers with speaker cables.

The second option is to connect the HDMI output port on the media source device to the HDMI input port on the projector. Then, the SPDIF output port on the projector to the SPDIF input port on the AVR, and link the AVR to the external speaker with speaker cables.

After you make all these connections, press the ‘source button’ on the projector remote control to make the “Aux” appear on the control panel. Once an alert or a sound comes from the projector through to the AVR, then you would know you have done these steps correctly.

4. How to connect a projector to a Home Theater Sound System?

It can get complicated when connecting your projector to a home theater system, unlike linking projectors to soundbars and Bluetooth speakers. You connect the audio devices by putting up the left and right speakers for a single soundbar or Bluetooth speaker for mono sound. Using a home theater sound system comes with some variation. 

Using an AVR or a similar device, you can reroute the audio and video signals to their proper channels and connect to different switches, matrix switches, or splitters. 

The function of a splitter is to allow you to increase the number of media source devices you can connect to a projector. The connection of a media source is between two displays or between a displaying device and an audio device. 

On the other hand, you use a switch to increase the number of media sources you can connect to a projector. However, a matrix switch combines the functions on a splitter and switches to handle complex connections. 

An AVR is similar to a matrix switch. It works as an audio matrix switcher of its own and splits the video signals to the display devices (projector) and sends the audio signal to the sound system connected. It can serve as part of a matrix switcher set up to make it easier to link sound to your speakers.

In addition, when you have a projector with no sound, a VGA port, and cable, then connect to use the media source to the speakers. You can also split the HDMI signal from the media source to video and audio feeds through an HDMI splitter converter or splitter.

How to connect your Projector to audio devices wirelessly?

Having gone through five (5) different ways to connect the audio to a projector, let’s make an observation. If you look closely, you would observe that wired connections are the most highlighted in this article. Such as projectors to stereo speakers, AVR, or even soundbar. 

They all have wired connections. However, you can connect audio to projectors wirelessly. So, not only can you connect with Bluetooth, but you can also link projectors to audio wirelessly with a Wi-Fi connection. That brings us to the Miracast and Bluetooth technology. 

What is Miracast? How can you use it for connecting your audio device wirelessly?

Miracast is a technology for sharing content on a projector or other display devices from a media source (such as PCs, mobile phones) with wireless connections. 

In other words, it wirelessly mirrors what is on one screen to another screen. In addition, though, the videos shared with wireless connections are streamable to up to UltraHD. 

How to connect a projector to a Bluetooth speaker? 

Linking your smartphones or tablets to projectors only applies if your projector is smart. What does that mean anyway? Such projectors can connect to the internet and support Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, and other audio/video connections. But, of course, it has to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. 

Otherwise, linking your Bluetooth speaker to the projector won’t work. So you will probably only use it with a PC that has Bluetooth connectivity.

Let’s go on to the steps on how to connect a projector to Bluetooth speakers. 

First, turn on the Bluetooth for both devices. On the settings of the projector, you can put on its Bluetooth. It will automatically detect the speakers, which are close to it. Although, ensure there is no other Bluetooth device turned on while the speakers and projector are connecting. 

However, there are situations when the projector may fail to connect with the Bluetooth speaker. When this happens, switch off and turn on the Bluetooth to cause a reset. You can also do the same for the speakers. Switch it off and turn it on again.

When the projector finally connects with the speakers successfully, you would hear a sound. It signals a confirmation that a connection has happened. 

Different Audio Connection Interfaces on Projectors

We now know the different external audio devices linked to projectors depend on the ports available on the projector. So wireless connections, an easier option, is inclusive. 

So, here are the different audio connection interfaces where external audio devices connect to the projectors: 

1. Composite or Component Audio

These include stereo audio. It has a plug for the left and right speakers. You can identify the connectors, which are red and white. (L and R respectively)

2. TOSLINK or Optical

HDMI precedes TOSLINK and optical cables. Regardless, TOSLINK transmits high-quality audio streams from media source devices like PCs, DVDs to an AVR.

3. Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology permits wireless audio transmission popularly for smartphones and projectors. Therefore, it allows you to link two devices (Examples: projector and PC) with Bluetooth functionality. 

 4. 3.5 mm audio jack

This is the most common way we connect speakers to our projectors. The 3.5mm looks like the headphone jack on smartphones. It allows you to link projectors to different audio devices.

Conclusion: Still want to know how to connect your projector to an external audio device? 

In summary, there are several ways to connect audio to projectors. Nowadays, projectors have various connection types for transmitting audio, as highlighted in this article. 

The wired and wireless connections are available options depending on the ports on your projector. 

Although for wireless connections, you don’t need available ports on the projector. Instead, your unit and the connecting media source device need to have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi function. 

Therefore, connect the projector to audio with the available options your particular unit can accommodate.

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