JBL Soundbar Keeps Turning Off? Try These Easy Fixes!
Your JBL soundbar keeps turning off, and you’re looking for a solution? You’ve just found it!
The periodic reboots and power losses of the JBL soundbar are often related to a problem with the power supply or the A/C equipment.
However, particular TV functions such as HDMI-CEC or even the digital audio output can cause the JBL soundbar to power off at any given moment.
If the JBL soundbar keeps rebooting, perform a “forced” reset, use an alternative power outlet, and inspect the power adapter’s connections.
If the problem persists, turn off the TV’s “HDMI-CEC” feature and perform a soundbar factory reset.
There’s much more, so keep reading!
Why Does My JBL Soundbar Keep Turning Off?
Here’s why the JBL soundbar is periodically turning off by itself:
To discover the respective solutions for the aforementioned issues, continue reading ahead!
JBL Soundbar Keeps Turning Off – Solved in 8 Easy Steps!
Quick Note: Have you tried rebooting the JBL soundbar using the remote control?
1. Force Reboot the JBL Soundbar
A highly effective solution against inconsistent soundbar power supply is to “force” reboot the hardware.
Also known as a soft reset, this method requires unplugging the soundbar from the power supply for at least 60 seconds to take effect and stabilize the voltage from the AC source.
Follow these instructions to “force” reboot the JBL soundbar in easy steps:
- Ensure the soundbar is plugged in and power on the device.
- Hold the “Power” button on the soundbar for 10–15 seconds.
- Release the button after your soundbar shuts down and wait.
- After 1–2 minutes, press the “Power” button for 2–3 seconds.
- Wait until the JBL soundbar turns on and test the functionality.
Tip: Verify the connections of the soundbar’s power adapter while disconnected from power!
2. Unplug the Soundbar’s Power Cable
The periodic rebooting of the JBL soundbar is one of the most common indications of underlying power-related issues with the device.
You can address inconsistencies in your electrical supply by temporarily disconnecting the power cable of the JBL soundbar from the electrical wall outlet.
Here’s how to power cycle the JBL soundbar in easy steps:
- Press the soundbar’s “Power” cable to turn the device off.
- Disconnect the power adapter from the supplying outlet.
- Next, wait for 60 seconds while the cable is disconnected.
- Reconnect the power cable to the same supplying source.
- Press Power to turn on the JBL soundbar and start testing.
While the soundbar is powered off and disconnected from the outlet, ensure the cord is securely connected to JBL’s power port and inspect it for damage.
3. Turn off the TV’s “HDMI-CEC” Feature
Well, if you’ve activated “HDMI-CEC” on your TV, particular TV remote control functions will also influence the connected JBL soundbar.
As long as JBL is connected over HDMI to your TV, you will be able to adjust the soundbar’s volume or turn the unit on/off using the television’s remote.
Here’s how to deactivate the “HDMI-CEC” feature on most TV systems:
- Press “MENU” or “HOME” on your TV’s remote control.
- After that, scroll down to the “System” or “Settings” tab.
- Next, enter the “HDMI,” “Input” or “Display and Sound.”
- Highlight the “CEC” or “HDMI-CEC” tile within the section.
- Lastly, press “OK” on the remote to set the feature to “off.”
Once the feature is disabled, you will no longer be able to operate HDMI devices along with the TV using a single remote, including the JBL soundbar.
Note: If this doesn’t fix your problem, you can re-enable the HDMI-CEC feature!
4. Set the TV’s Audio Output to “PCM”
Using an incompatible output audio format may periodically cause your JBL soundbar to unpair or lose connection with the TV.
- “PCM” is a two-channel digital audio format, perfectly compatible with any type of soundbars and home theater systems.
The PCM format provides a high-quality sound with low distortion and wide dynamic range for flexibility of the soundbar’s playback.
| How to Change Digital Audio Format On TV? | |
| TV Model: | Instructions: |
| Samsung | Go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Expert Settings” → “HDMI Input Audio Format.” |
| Sony | Press “HOME” and go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Digital Audio Out.” |
| Philips | Go to “Settings” → “Sound” → “Digital Output.” |
| Hisense | Press “HOME” and go to “Settings” → “Advanced Settings” → “Digital Audio Out.” |
| LG | Navigate to “Sound” → “Sound Out” → “Wired Speaker” → “Digital Audio Format.” |
The “Digital Audio Format” menu of each TV will have “Dolby Digital” and “PCM,” so make sure to select “PCM” and apply the changes to the menu.
Tip: If you were unable to find the digital audio format, check the exact settings online or in the user manual.
5. Connect JBL In a Different A/C Outlet
There’s a possibility that the soundbar is repeatedly powering off due to an inconsistent power supply of the electrical outlet.
The next step is to relocate the soundbar and the power supply equipment to test JBL’s functionality on a different A/C outlet.
To determine if the previous outlet of the soundbar is defective, you can plug in a low-voltage electrical appliance or attempt to charge your smartphone.
If the outlet is defective or does not deliver a sufficient amount of power supply, contact a technician to conduct an inspection.
Tip: Test an outlet located in a different room, since if you have a faulty fuse, all outlets in a given area of your home won’t work.
6. Remove Third-Party/External Equipment
Well, defective third-party equipment, such as extender cords or outlet connectors, can impact the direct AC supply of the soundbar and cause it to reboot.
To determine if ongoing fluctuations are caused by the JBL soundbar itself, the next step is to connect the unit’s power cord directly!
Remove the following equipment from the power setup of the soundbar:
- Outlet connectors or extension cords for the adapter.
- Surge protectors, power strips, or A/C power dividers.
- Third-party A/C cords, belonging to a different device.
After ensuring no external equipment is present in the setup of your JBL soundbar, the next step is to test the power supply by turning on the unit and waiting.
Note: Verify that the connectors of the power cable are plugging all the way into the AC source!
7. Factory Reset the Soundbar’s System
Well, if the JBL soundbar stays on for long enough, you will be able to conduct a factory reset by holding a combination of buttons simultaneously.
So, unlike other soundbars that require an application to reset, almost all JBL soundbars are reset identically.
Here’s how to perform a factory reset on your JBL soundbar:
- Ensure the soundbar is plugged in and power the unit “On.”
- Next, press and hold the “SOURCE” and “POWER” buttons.
- Release the buttons after 3 seconds to initiate the process.
- Wait until the JBL soundbar powers off and wait 10 seconds.
After the soundbar has completed the reset, it will turn on and re-establish the wired connection with your TV.
Wait for at least 2 minutes to see whether the unit is still powering off or restarting.
Notice: The factory reset must be conducted while the JBL soundbar is turned on!
8. Replace Soundbar’s Supplying Cable
If your JBL soundbar is still powering off or rebooting, chances are that the power adapter is no longer reliable and causes fluctuations.
Hence, the next step is to test the JBL soundbar with a brand-new cable and determine if the proven power supply will stop the random shutdowns.
The JBL soundbar uses a two-prong power brick with a secondary power barrel connector that is easy to come across and usually comes at a low price.
Before purchasing a brand-new adapter, test the soundbar with a compatible cord from another device if possible.
Nowadays, most TVs use the same two-prong power adapter, hence you can easily test the JBL soundbar.
Quick Recap
If the JBL soundbar keeps turning off, force reset the device, connect to a different outlet, and turn off the TV’s “HDMI-CEC” feature.
If the issue persists, remove third-party or external power equipment and factory reset the soundbar’s system.
We hope this guide was helpful, so follow us for more JBL soundbar troubleshooting!
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.