How to Connect External Audio to Your BenQ Projector

BenQ

2020/03/27

Whether using their BenQ projectors to binge watch in the privacy of their bedroom or check out the latest blockbuster in their own home theater, the options available to consumers looking to create their own viewing space is limitless. A major part of that equation is deciding what type of audio setup to use and the follow-up question of how to connect the chosen equipment to the projector.

With that in mind here are some of the options available to users who want to connect external audio to their BenQ projectors:

No External Audio

Connecting a Soundbar

Connecting External Speakers

NOTE: The level of support for the connections described below may vary depending on the model used. Before making the connections please check the product specifications for your particular model and ensure that the features mentioned below are present and/or supported.

No External Audio

If you don’t have any external speakers to connect, you can connect your source device to the projector and use its internal speakers to play the audio.

Connecting a Soundbar

Scenario 1: Connecting a Single Output Source to a Non-HDMI Soundbar

To connect a single output source to a soundbar that does not support HDMI, you can connect the HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast video, and then connect either the SPDIF output port or 3.5mm audio out jack on the device to the soundbar.

NOTE: If your output source does not have a 3.5mm audio out jack or a SPDIF output port, we recommend you use the connection method detailed in Scenario 2, even though you only have a single output source.

Scenario 2: Connecting Two Output Sources to a Non-HDMI Soundbar

To connect two output sources to a soundbar that does not support HDMI, you can connect the HDMI output port on each device to the two HDMI input ports on the projector to broadcast video, and then connect either the SPDIF output port or 3.5mm audio jack on the projector to the soundbar.

Scenario 3: Connecting an Output Source to a HDMI ARC Soundbar

To connect an output source to a soundbar that supports HDMI ARC, you can connect the HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast video, and then connect the HDMI ARC output port on the projector to the HDMI ARC port on the soundbar.

Scenario 4: Connecting an Output Source with Two HDMI Out Ports to a Soundbar

To connect an output source with two HDMI output ports to a soundbar, you can connect one of the HDMI output ports on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast video, and then connect the other HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the soundbar.

NOTE: When you only have a single output source, the connection method detailed in Scenario 5 will be produce better results than Scenario 3, but with a disadvantage that if the projector is connected directly to a different output source, you will not be able to transmit the audio from that source to the external speaker.

Scenario 5: Connecting Multiple Output Sources to an HDMI ARC Soundbar

Because the HDMI input ports on a projector are usually not enough to connect multiple output devices, you will need to connect the HDMI output ports on each output device to an HDMI switch, connect the HDMI output on the HDMI switch to the HDMI input port on the projector, and then connect the HDMI ARC output port on the projector to the HDMI ARC port on the soundbar.

NOTE: Image for connecting instruction purposes only, actual I/O support please refer to the product information.

Connecting External Speakers

Scenario 1: Connecting a Single Output Source to a Non-HDMI Soundbar

Scenario 2: Connecting Two Output Sources to a Non-HDMI Soundbar

Scenario 3: Connecting an Output Source to a non-HDMI AV Receiver and External Speakers

To connect an output source to an AVR that does not support HDMI and external speakers you have two options:

You can connect the HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast video while connecting the SPDIF output port on the AVR to the SPDIF input port on the AVR, and then connect the AVR to the external speakers using speaker cables.

You can connect the HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector, connect the SPDIF output port on the projector to the SPDIF input port on the AVR, and then connect the AVR to the external speakers using speaker cables.

Scenario 4: Connecting an Output Source with Two HDMI Out Ports to an HDMI AVR and External Speakers

To connect an output source with two HDMI output ports to an HDMI AVR and external speakers, you can connect one of the HDMI output ports on the device to the HDMI input port on the projector to broadcast video, while connecting the other HDMI output port on the device to the HDMI input port on the AVR, and then connect the AVR to the external speakers using speaker cables.

NOTE: If the AV receiver’s HDMI input port does not support 4K you can also use the connection methods detailed in Scenario 3 or 4.

NOTE: Image for connecting instruction purposes only, actual I/O support please refer to the product information.

How to Connect External Audio to Your BenQ Projector

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