How to Fix Sony Soundbar Subwoofer Not Working?

Wondering why the Sony soundbar subwoofer not working? We’re here to help!

It could be quite a disappointment to turn on your Sony audio system, only to find that the sound is either gone, or the quality is not what you’d expected.

In this guide, we’ll explore some common causes of Sony soundbar malfunctions, along with the appropriate steps to help you!

When your Sony soundbar and/or subwoofer aren’t working, ensure the subwoofer is linked correctly and check the cables of the system for damages.

Furthermore, adjust the audio settings of the soundbar and execute a Factory Reset on both of the devices.

We’ll now proceed to understand the essential cause of the problem first!

Why My Sony Soundbar with Subwoofer Not Working?

For our methods to be as effective as possible, we must first understand what’s causing the problem with your Sony soundbar/subwoofer.

By identifying the root cause of the problem, we’ll be able to take many advantages, in regard to troubleshooting and approaching the problem.

Here’s why your Sony soundbar/subwoofer has suddenly stopped working:

• There Has Been a Power Outage with the Soundbar/Subwoofer
• The Subwoofer Is Not Linked to the Soundbar
• The Firmware of the Soundbar is Outdated
• There’s a Feature/Settings Problem with the Audio Output!

To receive further association with the troubleshooting, progress further into our guide!

Sony Soundbar Subwoofer Not Working – Proven Methods!

You’re about to find the best methods used for troubleshooting Sony audio systems.

Remain invested in our guide and pay attention to all tips, notes, and alerts, necessary for the solution!

Let’s jump right in!

Method #1 Turn up the Sony Volume!

A rookie mistake when unpacking your Sony audio system and setting it up for the first time is not to adjust the volume.

By default, Sony would leave their soundbar’s volume lowered all the way to “0” so the audio doesn’t start off loudly when it is connected for the first time.

• Simply go over to your soundbar, grip the volume button, and increase!

In the meantime, ensure that the soundbar is connected to an output device and play any audio, video, or media to test the volume out.

If the soundbar’s volume has now been fixed, always remember to check the volume of the device.

Note: The LEDs on the soundbar should change as a result of turning up the volume!

Method #2 Check the Power of your Audio System

Here, we shall inspect the power income of your Sony soundbar and subwoofer.

If the devices are not receiving power, aren’t connected properly or their adapters are loose, neither the soundbar, nor subwoofer will function optimally.

We’ll go through a few simple checks for the power of your audio system, to verify that the setup is installed correctly and that there aren’t any slip-ups in the power installation.

Try some of these tips to verify the power connection of your Sony soundbar/subwoofer:

• Ensure that both the soundbar/subwoofer are properly connected to the power
• Verify that the power cable looks in good condition, and isn’t fried or damaged
• Check the power switch on the back of the subwoofer and flick it to “ON”
• Test the power source of your devices, by plugging in a charger or other appliance

What users expect the least is for the power source to stop working. Though it happens on rare occasions, the power to your Sony audio system will be completely cut if the outlet has no power or there is another wiring issue.

This is why the above inspection is necessary!

Note: After you’ve tried all of the tips above, test your Sony soundbar/subwoofer.

Method #3 Link the Subwoofer to the Soundbar

If there has been a linking problem between your Sony soundbar and subwoofer, it’s likely that one or both of the devices will not be working properly.

For optimal functionality of the audio system, the pairing (Bluetooth) or the physical connection (HDMI ARC or RCA).

Based on your audio system setup, you should determine if the pairing is done by hard-wiring the devices or pairing them via wireless connection (refer to the user manual for info).

Let’s start with linking the subwoofer to the soundbar wirelessly:

Linking Sony Soundbar to Subwoofer (Bluetooth):

1. Verify that both your soundbar and subwoofer are up and running.
2. Hit the “Pairing” button on the back of the subwoofer.
3. Hold the “Pairing” button for a total of 5 seconds.
4. On the soundbar remote, hit the “Input” button for another 5 seconds.
5. Wait for the LED of the soundbar to start flashing.

Linking Sony Soundbar to Subwoofer (HDMI-ARC/RCA):

1. Ensure that your Sony soundbar and subwoofer are turned on.
2. Connect the first end of the HDMI cable to the port on your soundbar.
3. Lead the cable all the way to your subwoofer.
4. Plug the other end of the HDMI into the back HDMI port on your subwoofer.

If your Sony audio system does use a hard-wired method of connecting, verify that the soundbar is set to “HDMI” or “RCA” in the audio mode settings, based on the connection.

If the subwoofer is connected via “HDMI”, but the soundbar is set to “RCA”, there’ll be no audio.

In case that didn’t help, keep reading…

Method #4 Adjust the Sony Audio Settings!

It’s likely that there’s a problem with the current audio settings configuration of your soundbar and subwoofer.

A rather large impact on the functionality of the devices could also have the audio settings on the connected output device (the TV, console, or another compatible unit).

Follow these steps to re-configure the audio settings of your soundbar/subwoofer:

1. Look for a switch on the back of the subwoofer that changes spatial audio. Flick it.
2. Verify that your soundbar is set to “Sub Audio”, thus “Subwoofer Audio”.
3. Set the audio setting of the connected output device to “Soundbar”.
4. Try changing the Audio Channel of your Sony soundbar and then revert it back.

Most Sony audio systems tend to have a major amount of configuration settings to suit every user’s taste in audio and home cinema.

However, this could sometimes make managing the settings rather difficult for non-experienced users, who have their first audio system.

Tip: You could refer to the user manual of the system, to learn about all of the available settings!

Method #5 Move the Soundbar/Subwoofer Closer

If your Sony subwoofer and soundbar are using a wireless connection and are placed too far apart, this will cause problems with the functionality of the devices.

If connected via Bluetooth, the soundbar and subwoofer must be in a particular range to maintain the connection.

• We recommend positioning both units within 10 feet of one another!  

This is the standard range where the Bluetooth connection between the devices will not be interrupted due to distance-related problems.

Even if your Sony audio system could have the subwoofer and soundbar placed far apart more than that, it’ll damage the connection.

Alert: As the Bluetooth connection weakens, there’ll be significant cuts in the audio!

Method #6 Reset the Sony Soundbar!

If the problem wasn’t fixed by now, perhaps there is a major software problem with the Sony soundbar, hence the subwoofer will not be able to connect.

The best way to address software functionality issues with a Sony soundbar is to perform a Factory Reset on the device, to flush all settings and features.

By erasing the content of the entire system, you’ll effectively clear out major bugs with the audio and connection.

To reset a Sony soundbar, follow these instructions:

1. Turn off the soundbar and disconnect it from power.
2. Hold the Power button on the device for about 5 seconds.
3. While continuously holding the Power button, plug the soundbar back in.
4. Release the Power button and wait for the reset to take effect.
5. The reset may take 1 – 3 minutes to complete.
6. Once the soundbar has finished the reset, it’ll power on automatically.
7. Proceed to set up the soundbar…

Notice: By resetting the soundbar, you also reset the subwoofer, as long as it is connected.

Quick Recap:

Whenever the Sony soundbar subwoofer not working, begin by performing a reboot on the entire Sony system and then inspect the audio settings.

The next step is to verify that the subwoofer is connected to the soundbar and if not, reset the Sony soundbar.

We hope that this guide was useful and for more relevant content, check our blog!