Best TCL Roku TV Sound Settings – (100% Tested)

Wondering what the TCL Roku TV sound settings do and how to set them up? Stay with us!

If you reach into the menu of your TCL Roku TV and go to “Audio” you’ll discover many sound settings, most of which you probably don’t understand.

Well, in this quick guide, we’ll walk you through all the audio options on a TCL Roku TV, explain what they do, and how to set them up.

Let’s get started with configuring the audio settings!

How to Configure the Best TCL Roku TV Sound Settings?

Quick Tip: To reach the menu with audio settings go to Home Screen → Settings → Audio!

1. Audio Output (Auto)

The Audio Output setting is where you want to hear the sound from your TV. 

There are quite a few options for different setups, hence based on the installment, the best opinion here depends.

Let’s walk you through and explain each of the audio outputs:

1.1 ARC (HDMI 1,2,3)

The ARC (Audio Return Channel), is an audio output that allows your TCL Roku TV to send the audio output to an AV receiver or ARC-enabled speaker via HDMI cable.

In most cases that is a soundbar or external speaker with an HDMI input, where you can connect a TV via HDMI cable.

1.2 TV Speakers

The “TV speakers” are the default audio output on any TCL Roku TV.

This option utilizes the built-in TV speakers to output the audio from the content currently being played.

• It does not matter whether you have input video through HDMI or are playing TV content (app/satellite).

1.3 Optical

This option enables the optical output port on the back of your TCL Roku TV, allowing you to send audio to an optical-enabled device such as a soundbar/receiver.

This setup requires an optical cable and delivers exceptionally high-quality audio, compatible with surround sound.

1.4 Auto

The “Auto” option might be your best setting here as this feature allows your TCL Roku TV to automatically detect devices and switch the audio output.

For instance, if you have an HDMI cable connected to a receiver or soundbar, the TV will automatically unlock the HDMI out port.

2. HDMI (Auto-Detect)

If you have manually selected “ARC” (HDMI 1,2,3) under the Audio Output tab, you’ll be provided with a few options.

It’s good to know what each of them represents, so let’s check them out:

2.1 Auto-detect

Perhaps the best option for your HDMI audio output is “auto-detect,” since this feature prompts the TV to detect and select the best HDMI audio format.

So, when you have an AVR receiver or a soundbar connected via HDMI to the TV, auto-detect will thoughtfully use the best audio format.

2.2 PCM-Stereo

To explain this concisely, let’s say that the PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) is an uncompressed audio format.

This is a standard, 2-channel audio output, which is compatible with devices that can’t manage multi-channel audio formats such as “DTS” or “Dolby Digital” avoiding compression.

Tip: Sometimes using “PCM-Stereo” can help you avoid sound distortions with some devices!

2.3 DD (Dolby Digital)

The Dolby Digital (DD) surround sound under compression, and uses 5.1 channels, making it perfectly compatible with home theater systems.

The prime example of a 5.1 setup would be a subwoofer with 5 speakers, which can decode the DD audio output format for immersive audio.

2.4 DD+

The Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) is just an upgraded version of the standard Dolby Digital, which can support up to 7.1 channels.

It also delivers higher-quality sound and better compression.

2.5 DD, DTS

An alternative for 5.1 is the Dolby Digital (DD) + Digital Theater Systems (DTS), which works very well with equipment that supports both formats.

When selected, this option allows your TCL Roku TV to choose the preferred format based on the content that you’re currently watching.

2.6 DD+, DTS

As self-explanatory as it can be, the DD+, DTS used the enhanced version of the Dolby Digital format with a combination with Digital Theater Systems (DTS).

This option is mainly used when your audio output equipment supports both, Dolby Digital Plus and Digital Theater Systems. 

3. Menu Volume (Medium)

The menu volume is not something you need to worry about too much, as this is the volume of your menus, especially when selecting and switching from one tab to another.

The best option here depends on whether you want to hear the menus and how loud you want them to sound.

There are four options at your disposal:

• High
• Medium
• Low
• Off

Tip: For most users, the “Medium” option here is the best choice!

4. Audio Preferred Language

The audio preferred language is an option allowing you to select which language you would like to hear by default when playing content with multi-language support.

The default option here is “English”, but this is entirely up to you, hence you can switch the language at any given time.

5. Preferred Streaming Format (Auto)

The preferred streaming audio format is a setting that automatically or manually adjusts the audio format when viewing apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others.

We have already gone through explaining what these formats do, so based on your preference you can choose.

• Auto
• Dolby
• DTS

Tip: The best option here is “Auto” allowing your TCL Roku TV to choose the best audio format based on what the viewed content supports.

6. Digital Output Format (Auto)

One of the most important TCL Roku TV sound settings is the digital output format option!

The digital output format option is meant for the user to select what type of audio output should the TCL Roku TV send to externally connected devices.

This means devices connected over HDMI ARC, Optical cable, or other digital output connections such as AV receivers/soundbars.

Let’s go through the available options and what they mean:

6.1 Auto 

If you select the Auto option, this will automatically choose the best format (Dolby Digital, DTS, or PCM) based on the capabilities of your connected device.

This is the best option to select and leave permanently, as you’ll always have the best digital output format as per your devices.

6.2 Passthrough

The Passthrough mode is especially useful when you have high-end audio output equipment, and you don’t want your TV to handle the decoding.

This will directly send audio from the TV to the output device without any modifications, allowing your equipment to handle the decoding.

6.3 Stereo

The Stereo mode will send the standard 2-channel (right/left) audio signal in the PCM format.

This digital output does not support multi-channel or surround sound and is compatible with the simplest audio setups, especially if your equipment does not support any of the aforementioned.

6.4 Custom

The Custom option will allow you to manually select a digital output format (Dolby Digital, DTS, or PCM) based on your equipment’s capabilities and your preference.

• We don’t recommend this if you’re not very knowledgeable, instead selecting “Auto” will provide you with the best format.

Those were the best sound settings for TCL Roku TV. We hope you’ve learned something new!