The smartest way to connect your soundbar and gaming console is to use HDMI 2.1 ports the right way.
Plug the console into the TV’s high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 slot for smoother gameplay, and connect the soundbar through the TV’s HDMI eARC port for lossless Dolby Atmos audio.
On a modern TV like the Haier New M92 Series 164cm(65) Google TV, this setup unlocks high frame rates, rich sound, and seamless switching between content without juggling cables.
Now, let’s expand this into something more useful.
Because in most Indian homes, the TV isn’t only a screen.
It’s the living room anchor.
The place where cricket meets console gaming.
Where family time blends with solo unwinding.
Where a quiet moment after dinner suddenly becomes movie night.
So the real question becomes
How do you create an audio visual setup that feels effortless, organised, and future ready?
And that’s where connecting your soundbar and gaming console like a pro stops being a technical exercise and becomes a lifestyle upgrade.
Why these connections matter more today
Walk into any modern Indian home and you’ll notice a shift.
People aren’t just buying devices.
They’re building ecosystems.
A soundbar isn’t just sound.
A gaming console isn’t only entertainment.
And a TV isn’t merely a display.
Every device has to blend into a rhythm.
The rhythm of weeknight gaming.
The rhythm of loud family gatherings.
The rhythm of that one Sunday blockbuster you’ve been waiting to watch since college.
Which is why the invisible wiring between devices matters as much as the devices themselves.
Good connections remove friction.
Great connections disappear entirely.
Start with the most important question
Where is the HDMI eARC port on your TV?
This single port determines whether your soundbar receives high quality audio or a compressed version of it.
On the Haier New M92 Series 164cm(65) Google TV, the dedicated HDMI 2.1 eARC port sits right on the back, purpose built for lossless audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD.
Why does this matter?
Because connecting a soundbar to eARC allows:
- Uncompressed Dolby Atmos passthrough
- Better sync between sound and video
- Fewer cables
- Simpler switching between inputs
It’s the cleanest, most elegant way to let your TV act as the central hub for all your devices.
The core principle: One input for gaming, one output for sound
Think of your setup like a busy Indian kitchen during dinner prep.
Multiple dishes happening at once.
One stove is for the main work.
Another is for finishing touches.
Your TV behaves the same way.
The console is the main input.
The soundbar is the main output.
Once you understand this relationship, everything else falls into place.
Step-by-step: The pro-level connection for gaming consoles
Most people plug their console into any empty HDMI port.
Pro users don’t.
They look for the highest bandwidth port.
On the Haier M92 Series 164cm(65) TV, the HDMI ports support 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, ALLM, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro essential for reducing lag and tearing when gaming on devices like the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Here’s the optimal path:
1. Connect the gaming console to HDMI 2.1 (non eARC)
Why this port
- It handles high frame rates
- It reduces latency
- It unlocks VRR and ALLM
- It prepares your console for fast motion scenes
This is what makes games feel fluid, responsive, and alive.
2. Connect the soundbar to HDMI eARC
This ensures your soundbar receives:
- Full bandwidth Dolby Atmos
- Multi channel audio
- Perfect lip sync
- Auto switching based on the TV source
Your TV becomes the brain.
Your soundbar becomes the muscle.
3. Change TV settings once, enjoy forever
On most modern systems:
- Game Mode will enable automatically (ALLM)
- Variable refresh rate will activate when needed (VRR)
- The TV will route audio to your soundbar over eARC
Nothing extra needed.
Connections that stay invisible are the ones you remember.
What if you want the simplest setup possible?
There are three clear options, each with a different cost and benefit.
One option is to route everything through the TV
Console → TV HDMI
TV → Soundbar via eARC
Benefit:
Clean, simple, future ready.
Cost:
Requires a good TV with eARC and HDMI 2.1 (you’re covered with the M92 Series).
The second option is to route everything through the soundbar
Console → Soundbar
Soundbar → TV
Benefit:
Useful when the TV lacks eARC.
Cost:
Not ideal for gaming because soundbars rarely support VRR, ALLM, or 144Hz passthrough.
The third option is a hybrid setup
Console → TV
Soundbar via Optical Audio
Benefit:
Works with older equipment.
Cost:
No Dolby Atmos.
Limited audio precision.
Feels like bringing a spoon to eat biryani.
The pattern is clear.
Better hardware simplifies the entire system.
Which is why the combination of a high refresh rate HDMI 2.1 TV and an eARC soundbar feels like a professional setup without the professional effort.
Why households with kids, gamers, or movie lovers care about this
Because a good connection is not about tech.
It’s about experience.
Think of these scenarios:
A teenager racing on Forza
They turn a corner.
The image stutters.
They miss the apex.
A 144Hz panel with VRR removes that stutter.
And suddenly, they feel like a better driver.
Parents watching a winter cricket match
The ball leaves the bowler’s hand.
The crowd roars.
The bat meets the ball.
A Dolby Atmos soundbar lets that collective sound swell through the room.
You don’t watch the match.
You feel it.
A couple unwinding with a streaming show
Lights off.
Dinner is done.
A quiet moment at home.
The picture is sharp.
The sound is warm.
The experience becomes a ritual.
Connections amplify emotions.
Checklist: The quickest way to confirm you’ve set up your system correctly
- TV audio output set to eARC
- Console video output set to 4K 120Hz or 144Hz where supported
- Game Mode turned on (usually automatic)
- Soundbar set to HDMI input
- Dolby Atmos enabled on streaming apps
- No lip sync issues
- No video tearing or frame drops
- Remote controls switching seamlessly
Every checkbox strengthens your home setup.
Every adjustment moves you closer to a pro level experience.
When should you upgrade cables?
The unseen hero of every setup is the cable.
Use:
- Ultra High Speed HDMI cables for console and TV
- A certified HDMI eARC cable for the soundbar
Why?
Because high refresh rate gaming and Dolby Atmos audio rely on bandwidth.
When bandwidth improves, everything feels faster.
A small note on cable management
Professional setups look effortless because they hide effort.
Use:
- Velcro ties
- Wall channels
- TV stands with cable grooves
A clean living room feels bigger.
A tidy setup feels more intentional.
Sometimes the most powerful upgrade is the one you never see.
What this teaches us about home technology
Every device in your home wants to work together.
But they need hierarchy.
The TV sits at the centre.
The console feeds video.
The soundbar carries emotion.
When you wire them thoughtfully, the whole living room transforms.
This is why appliances today aren’t judged only by the specs written on their boxes.
They’re judged by how they fit into a day.
A season.
A family.
A modern TV like the Haier New M92 Series 164cm(65) QD-Mini LED Google TV is built exactly for this kind of integrated lifestyle.
HDMI 2.1 eARC for soundbars.
144Hz for smoother gameplay.
VRR and ALLM for responsiveness.
Dolby Atmos for depth.
AI Ultra Sense processing for clarity.
It sits quietly in the room until the moment it matters most.
Good technology disappears.
Great technology elevates everyday life.
The bigger idea
Connecting a soundbar and gaming console like a pro is really about solving a timeless problem:
How do we build homes that work beautifully without demanding more effort from us?
The answer is simple.
Create systems that:
- Reduce friction
- Increase clarity
- Let each device do what it does best
- Keep your living room future ready
When your connections are correct, every night feels like an upgrade.
When your setup is seamless, you start looking forward to the moments that light up your home.
And when sound, picture, and experience combine the right way, your living room becomes exactly what it was meant to be.
A place where life slows down.
A place where joy gathers.
A place where technology quietly supports the things that matter.