Wie schalte ich die internen Lautsprecher am Fernseher aus?

Der Schalter sitzt in den Einstellungen, nicht auf der Fernbedienung. Unter Ton oder Audio steht eine Auswahl für das Ausgabegerät, dort wird statt der eingebauten Lautsprecher das angeschlossene Gerät gewählt. Fehlt so ein Eintrag, hilft es, die Lautstärke auf null zu drehen. Die Stummtaste eignet sich dafür nicht, weil sie bei vielen Geräten auch den Ausgang stumm schaltet.

Warum laufen die TV-Lautsprecher trotz Soundbar weiter?

Meist hängt die Soundbar am optischen Ausgang. Über diesen Weg gehen nur Tondaten und keine Steuersignale, weshalb der Fernseher das angeschlossene Gerät nicht bemerkt. Die Umschaltung muss dann von Hand im Tonmenü passieren. Bei HDMI ARC erkennen sich die Geräte dagegen gegenseitig.

Warum schaltet der Fernseher nach dem Einschalten wieder auf seine Lautsprecher?

Der Fernseher findet das gewählte Ausgabegerät beim Start möglicherweise nicht schnell genug oder speichert die Ausgabe nicht dauerhaft. Eine Soundbar oder ein Verstärker braucht manchmal einige Sekunden zum Hochfahren. Als Test hilft die Reihenfolge: erst das Audiogerät einschalten, dann den Fernseher. Außerdem sollte geprüft werden, ob HDMI CEC beziehungsweise die Gerätesteuerung aktiv ist.

Woher kommt das Echo, wenn beide Lautsprecher laufen?

Externe Geräte brauchen Zeit für die Verarbeitung des Signals, die internen Lautsprecher nicht. Dadurch kommt derselbe Ton zweimal versetzt an. Leiser drehen hilft nicht, weil der Versatz bleibt. Erst wenn die internen Lautsprecher aus sind, verschwindet der Effekt.

Kann ich TV-Lautsprecher und Soundbar gleichzeitig nutzen?

Das hängt vom Fernseher ab. Einige Geräte bieten im Tonmenü eine parallele Ausgabe über interne Lautsprecher und externe Audiogeräte. Bei anderen muss zwischen TV-Lautsprecher, HDMI ARC, optischem Ausgang, Bluetooth oder Kopfhörer gewählt werden. Selbst wenn zwei Ausgänge parallel laufen, kann ein leichter Zeitversatz entstehen, der im selben Raum als Echo hörbar wird.

Set Up & Connect TV

Turn Off Internal TV Speakers

By Faller Audio Editorial Team | Updated on August 24, 2026 | 5 Min. Read Time

Anyone connecting a soundbar, amplifier, or external TV speaker to their TV often only wants to hear the sound from the new device, not additionally from the TV. With many devices, the switchover happens automatically. With others, both sources remain active. In such cases, the sound may appear hollow, doubled, or like an echo.

The setting for this can be found in the sound menu and is named differently depending on the device type. Sometimes it is missing, and sometimes the TV reverts to its own speakers after the next power-on.

The Setting in the Sound Menu

The correct path almost always leads through the TV’s settings, not via the volume button. You need to look for a menu item that determines where the sound goes. This varies from device to device and is often not found in the same place.

The Menu Item in the Settings

In the settings, navigate to the Sound or Audio section. There, you will find a sub-item for Audio Output, also called Audio Out, Speakers, or Sound Output. This item lists the output options the TV recognizes, specifically its own speakers, a device connected to the optical output, a device connected via HDMI, or a paired headphone.

The external device is then selected. The internal speakers usually turn off immediately afterward. On some TVs, the appropriate setting is simply called Off, on others External Audio System or Audio Receiver.

Behavior Depending on Connection

Intervention is not necessary for every connection. If headphones are plugged into the jack, the TV usually switches off the speakers automatically. Via HDMI ARC or eARC, the switchover can also occur automatically if the TV and audio device recognize each other correctly and HDMI device control is active.

This is different with the optical output. A digital audio signal runs via Toslink, but no device control like with HDMI CEC. Therefore, the TV does not reliably detect that an audio device is connected at the other end. Here, the switchover often has to be done manually in the sound menu.

Connection	Internal Speakers	Intervention Needed
Headphone Jack	usually switch off automatically	no
HDMI ARC or eARC	switch off after detection	rarely
Optical Output	continue to run	yes, in sound menu
Bluetooth	varies by device	often yes

Only audio data, not control signals, are transmitted via the optical output. Therefore, the TV does not automatically detect the connected device.

Missing Menu Option

Some TVs do not offer a selection option. They then switch off or over automatically. If you then hear sound from two directions, you need a different approach. These are the following two standard methods that work on most devices.

Volume to Zero Instead of Mute

The volume of the internal speakers can be temporarily set to zero. It is important not to use the mute button first. Depending on the TV, it may only control the internal speakers or also external outputs. The volume control is therefore the better test.

If you now gradually turn down the volume and pay attention to the external device, you will quickly notice a difference or no difference at all. If the sound remains constant, the control is separate.

Check Accessibility Menu

On some TVs, a second setting is hidden in the Accessibility or Assistive Technologies section. There is often an option for simultaneous output via speakers and headphones. If this is active, the internal speakers remain on, even if everything is set correctly in the sound menu.

Reverting to Internal Speakers

A common pattern is that the switchover works but is only maintained until the next power-on. After that, the sound comes from the TV again. The reason for this can be that the external audio device is not recognized quickly enough at startup, or that the TV does not permanently save the last selected output.

Possible Causes

When starting, the TV searches for the last selected output device. If it does not report quickly enough, for example, because the soundbar is still booting up, the TV reverts to the internal speakers. From the TV’s perspective, this is the safer option, because without feedback, there would be no sound at all.

Remedies

A possible first test to verify this is the power-on sequence. First turn on the audio device, then the TV. This way, the receiver is already active when the TV searches for an external output device. If both devices are operated via a power strip, this can be difficult to control. Tip: Providing a separate power supply solves the problem in many cases.

If the problem persists, resetting the connection often helps. All devices should be disconnected from power for a few minutes. Then, the audio device must be turned on first, followed by the TV. For HDMI, it is also recommended to switch the device control on both sides off and on again.

Double Sound, Echo, and Foreign Voices

If the sound comes from two sources, it often sounds hollow or reverberant. Sometimes, two voices can also be heard in parallel.

Time Offset Between Two Sources

External devices require time for processing. A soundbar decodes the signal, and a wireless speaker transmits it additionally. The internal speakers are already ready for use during this time. The offset is often only milliseconds, but it is enough for the sound to appear washed out. Therefore, simply turning down the internal speakers does not help. As long as they are running, the offset remains audible. They must be turned off.

Audio Description as a Cause

If you additionally hear a voice describing scenes and actions, it is not due to the speakers. In that case, a second audio track, known as audio description, is active. It is part of the broadcasters’ accessibility offerings and can be turned off via the audio track button or in the menu under Accessibility.

It is often confused with the TV’s text-to-speech function, which announces menu items. However, these are two separate things that can be controlled in two different places in the menu.

Sound on Two Paths Simultaneously

Sometimes, the speakers are explicitly not meant to be turned off. For example, if one person is listening via headphones and the other wants to continue hearing the normal output sound. There are various setting options for this.

Parallel Output in the Menu

Some TVs allow simultaneous output via internal speakers and a second output. This option is usually found in the sound menu directly next to the output selection or under Accessibility. If it is missing, it is not available and unfortunately cannot be retrofitted.

Using Two Separate Outputs

Another setting option may involve two separate outputs. For example, one device is connected to the HDMI return channel, and a second to the optical output or the jack. Whether both outputs remain active in parallel, however, depends on the TV. Some devices allow this combination, while others switch off individual outputs when changing the audio output. The offset remains.

Tapping Before the TV

If the TV does not release a second output, the signal can also be branched off before it. An HDMI audio extractor sits between the source device and the TV. It passes through the picture and additionally outputs the sound via jack, RCA, or Toslink. This works independently of the TV menu, but only for the sound of the connected source device. The regular TV program via the tuner and apps directly on the smart TV bypass this.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off the internal speakers on the TV?

The switch is in the settings, not on the remote control. Under Sound or Audio, there is a selection for the output device; there, the connected device is chosen instead of the built-in speakers. If such an entry is missing, turning the volume to zero helps. The mute button is not suitable for this, as it mutes the output on many devices as well.

Why do the TV speakers continue to play despite the soundbar?

Usually, the soundbar is connected to the optical output. Only audio data, not control signals, are transmitted via this path, which is why the TV does not detect the connected device. The switchover must then be done manually in the sound menu. With HDMI ARC, however, the devices recognize each other.

Why does the TV revert to its speakers after being turned on?

The TV may not find the selected output device quickly enough at startup or may not save the output permanently. A soundbar or amplifier sometimes needs a few seconds to boot up. As a test, the sequence helps: first turn on the audio device, then the TV. In addition, it should be checked whether HDMI CEC or device control is active.

Where does the echo come from when both speakers are playing?

External devices need time to process the signal; internal speakers do not. This causes the same sound to arrive twice with a delay. Turning down the volume does not help because the delay remains. The effect only disappears when the internal speakers are off.

Can I use TV speakers and a soundbar simultaneously?

That depends on the TV. Some devices offer parallel output via internal speakers and external audio devices in the sound menu. With others, you must choose between TV speakers, HDMI ARC, optical output, Bluetooth, or headphones. Even if two outputs run in parallel, a slight time delay can occur, which becomes audible as an echo in the same room.