Soundbar setup in Exeter
Professional soundbar setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Soundbar connected and actually working. All devices play through it, subwoofer paired, TV remote controls volume. Proper setup, not guesswork.
Your TV Sounds Like a Tin Can
Bought a soundbar to improve TV audio? Excellent purchase. Except you've plugged it in and either there's no sound, or it only works sometimes, or the volume control is a nightmare, or the subwoofer just flashes a red light and won't connect.
Soundbars are brilliant when set up properly - massively better audio than TV speakers. But "properly" means knowing about HDMI ARC, optical cables, TV audio settings, device pass-through, and subwoofer pairing. Get one thing wrong and either nothing works or you're juggling three remotes.
💡 Pro tip: HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is the best way to connect soundbars. One cable, TV remote controls volume, all devices work automatically. But it needs the right HDMI port and correct TV settings.
Common Problems
| ✅ Set Up Properly | ❌ What Usually Happens |
|---|---|
| All devices play through soundbar | Only TV apps work, Sky box doesn't |
| TV remote controls volume | Need soundbar remote for volume |
| Subwoofer paired and working | Subwoofer won't connect or no bass |
| Clean cable routing | Cables everywhere, looks messy |
| Sounds noticeably better | Hardly different from TV speakers |
What I sort out:
- Connection method (HDMI ARC, optical, or both)
- TV audio settings (enable ARC, disable TV speakers)
- Device routing (Sky, Blu-ray, console all through soundbar)
- Subwoofer pairing and positioning
- Volume control setup (TV remote or soundbar remote)
- Sound modes explained
- Wall mounting if requested
- Cable management
What's Included
🔊 Complete Soundbar Setup
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Connect | Best cable choice for your TV, connections made |
| Configure | TV audio settings, device routing, ARC setup |
| Subwoofer | Pair wireless sub, position for best bass |
| Remote | Get TV remote controlling volume if possible |
| Test | Check all sources work with proper audio |
| Mount | Wall mount soundbar if requested |
📦 You're Left With
- Noticeably better TV sound
- All devices playing through soundbar
- Simple operation (ideally TV remote does everything)
- Understanding of sound modes and settings
Pricing
| Setup Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Soundbar only, simple connection | 1 hr | £60 |
| Soundbar + subwoofer with full setup | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Wall mounting + full cable management | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Wall mounting adds time for drilling and cable concealment.
Perfect For...
✅ New soundbar - Just bought it, want it set up right first time
✅ Can't get it working - Tried yourself, something's not working
✅ Multiple devices - Sky, console, Blu-ray all need to work
✅ Subwoofer won't pair - Flashing light, no connection, no bass
Why Choose Us for Soundbar setup in Exeter?
Connected properly (HDMI ARC or optical)
All devices playing through soundbar
Subwoofer paired and positioned
Remote control programmed and explained
What to Expect
Step 1: Connection
I check your TV's HDMI ports (find the ARC one) and connect soundbar using best method. HDMI ARC is ideal but not all TVs support it - sometimes optical cable is needed instead or as well.
Step 2: Configuration
TV audio settings get changed (enable ARC, disable TV speakers, select correct audio output). Test all your devices (TV apps, Sky box, games console) to ensure audio routes through soundbar.
Step 3: Subwoofer & Training
Pair wireless subwoofer (this can be fussy - I know the tricks), position it for best bass without overwhelming the room. Show you volume control, sound modes, and basic troubleshooting. Wall mount if requested.
🔧 DIY Tips
Having a go yourself? Here's the process:
🔌 Connection method
- Best: HDMI cable from soundbar to TV's HDMI ARC port (check port label)
- Alternative: Optical cable from TV to soundbar
- Old TVs: Might only have 3.5mm headphone jack (not ideal but works)
- Some soundbars take HDMI inputs too (devices connect to soundbar, soundbar to TV)
📺 TV settings
- Go to TV audio settings
- Change audio output to "External speakers" or "HDMI ARC" or "Optical"
- Disable TV speakers (otherwise you get echo)
- Enable HDMI-CEC (lets TV remote control soundbar volume)
- Some TVs call this "Anynet+", "Bravia Sync", "Simplink" - same thing
🔊 Subwoofer pairing
- Plug in subwoofer, turn on
- Press pairing button on back of subwoofer (usually tiny button)
- Press pairing button on soundbar (or in soundbar settings)
- Wait 30 seconds - should connect and stop flashing
- If it doesn't work: unplug both, wait 10 seconds, plug in subwoofer first, then soundbar
- Try pairing again - sometimes takes multiple attempts
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Using wrong HDMI port on TV (needs to be the ARC one)
- Not enabling HDMI-CEC in TV settings
- TV speakers still on (creating echo or fighting with soundbar)
- Subwoofer too far from soundbar (wireless has limits)
- Soundbar in wrong sound mode (try "Standard" or "Movie")
- Forgetting to change TV audio output setting
💡 Pro trick: If HDMI ARC isn't working, try: unplug soundbar power for 30 seconds, check you're using HDMI ARC port on TV, check HDMI-CEC is enabled in TV settings. If still no joy, use optical cable instead - works every time, just can't control volume with TV remote.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎬 Wall mounting? Soundbar should go directly below TV (or above if TV is low on stand). I can drill and mount it, run cables behind wall for clean look (if your wall allows), or use cable covers if not. Mention 'wall mount' when booking.
ARC vs eARC: Newer soundbars might support eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) which allows better quality audio like Dolby Atmos. Needs eARC port on TV too - not all have it. ARC is fine for most people.
Soundbar position matters: Best sound with soundbar at ear level when sitting down. If it's way below or behind other furniture, quality suffers. Sometimes raising TV is better than lowering soundbar.
Multiple HDMI devices: If your soundbar has HDMI inputs, devices can connect directly to soundbar (Sky, console, Blu-ray), then one cable from soundbar to TV. This is actually better than relying on ARC but requires more cables.
Bluetooth music: Most soundbars do Bluetooth for phone music. I'll pair your phone if you want, show you how to switch between TV and Bluetooth modes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need help setting up a soundbar?
Because 'just plug it in' rarely works. You need to know about HDMI ARC vs optical, TV audio settings to change, how to get sound from Sky/Netflix/games console all playing through the soundbar, and which cables go where. Plus subwoofer pairing if you've got one. It's more involved than it looks.
Will it work with my Sky box and games console?
Yes - that's the point of proper setup. All your HDMI devices should play audio through the soundbar automatically. This needs HDMI ARC configured properly, or all devices connected to soundbar if it has pass-through. I make sure it all works before leaving.
Can you wall mount the soundbar too?
Absolutely - soundbars usually come with brackets. I can mount it below your TV (or above if TV is low), run cables neatly, and make it look clean. Mention 'wall mount' when booking so I bring the right tools.
Do I supply the cables or do you?
You supply them - most soundbars come with cables but not always the right ones. I'll advise what you need (HDMI, optical, or both) once I know your TV and soundbar models. Then you order and I'll connect them properly.
What if the subwoofer won't pair?
That's really common - subwoofer pairing is temperamental on some brands. I know the tricks for getting them to connect (power cycles, pairing modes, distance from soundbar). If it's genuinely faulty, I'll tell you - but usually it's just the pairing process being fussy.
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