How to Set Up a Samsung HW-J8500R Soundbar

This guide will walk you through the basic setup of your Samsung HW-J8500R curved soundbar and wireless subwoofer.

Placement and Power

1. Place your soundbar centered under your television, and the subwoofer nearby (it does not need to be centered).
   
2. Connect the power cable to your soundbar.
   
3. Connect the power cable to your subwoofer.
4. Install the battery in your remote.
   1. Use a coin to turn the battery cover on the back of the remote.
      
   2. Insert the included battery, with the + facing up.
      
   3. Line up the black dots, then use a coin to turn the battery cover, securing it in place.
      

Audio

Your soundbar can make a connection to your television in 5 different ways.

• Optical connection
  • Optical works for most televisions and is the most common, and best supported way to make the connection to your soundbar.
• HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
  • HDMI ARC is not used frequently, but allows you to pass audio over an HDMI cable to your soundbar.
• HDMI Pass-Thru
  • HDMI pass-thru allows you to enjoy your soundbar with only one device, such as your cable box, or your Blu-Ray player, but only the one device.
• Aux connection
  • This allows you to use either an RCA-to-minijack or minijack cable to connect to your television.
• Samsung TV SoundConnect
  
  • This is specific to higher-end Samsung televisions only.

Optical

Optical allows you to use a simple, single-wire connection from your television to your sound bar to enjoy all your media with your new soundbar automatically.

1. Connect one end of the optical audio cable to the back of your television, and the other end to the back of your soundbar.
   
2. Push the Power button on your remote to turn on your soundbar.
   
3. Push Source button on your remote till D.IN is displayed.

Your soundbar can be connected to your home network, allowing you to use the Samsung Wireless Audio Multiroom App on your smartphone to play music to it from anywhere in your home.

You do not have to make this connection now to start using your soundbar for it's main purpose.

1. Launch the Play Store on your smartphone.
   
2. Select the search bar at the top.
   
3. Type in "samsung multiroom" at the top, and select Wireless Audio-Multiroom from the list.
   
4. Select Install.
   
5. Select Open to open the app.
   
6. A message letting you know the app needs extra permissions will appear. Select OK.
   
7. For Location, select Allow.
   
8. For Storage, select Allow.
   

Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Port

1. Acquire an Ethernet cable.
2. Take one end of the cable and plug it into your router/modem's Ethernet port.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into your soundbar's Ethernet port.
4. Return to the app, and follow the instructions on screen to complete setup.

1. Press the Source button on the remote.
   
2. BT should then be displayed on your soundbar.
   

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory manual for the correct PIN or passkey.

Depending on what device (Smartphone or Tablet) and which generation you have, the menu theme and options might look slightly different on your screen. However, the steps should be similar to all Android devices and generations.

Use one of the following connection methods:

• Method 1 - The Drop Down Menu
• Method 2 - Settings

Drop down menu

1. Swipe down from the top of the device screen if it's a phone or up from the bottom of the device screen if it's a tablet to access the menu.
2. Locate the Bluetooth icon.
   
3. Press and hold the Bluetooth icon.
4. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
5. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
6. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
   
   
   
7. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

Android menu settings

1. Locate and tap the Apps Menu.
   
2. Locate and tap the Settings icon.
   
3. Select the Bluetooth. You may need to select Connections first.
4. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
5. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
6. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
   
7. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its information manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory documentation for the correct PIN or passkey.

From any iOS device (iPod, iPad, iPhone):

1. Open Settings
   
2. Then Bluetooth.
   
3. Set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
4. Wait for your iOS device to display the detected Bluetooth accessory.
   
5. Select the Bluetooth accessory to pair it with the iOS device.
   • If there is a passkey, put it in.
   • If there is no passkey then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

1. Select New Setup.
   
2. Select Soundbar at the bottom.
   
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Select Yes to continue.
   
4. Press the SPK ADD button on back of your speaker. The app will locate it, and automatically set it up on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
   

1. Open the App Store.
   
2. Search for Wireless Audio: Multiroom, then select Get.
   
3. Launch the Multiroom app.
   
4. Select OK to allow the Multiroom app access to your media players.
   
5. Carefully read the Privacy Policy, then select Agree when ready.
   

Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Port

1. Acquire an Ethernet cable.
2. Take one end of the cable and plug it into your router/modem's Ethernet port.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into your soundbar's Ethernet port.
4. Return to the app, and follow the instructions on screen to complete setup.

1. Select New Setup.
   
2. Select Soundbar at the bottom.
   
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Select Yes to continue.
   
4. Press the SPK ADD button on back of your speaker. The app will locate it, and automatically set it up on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
   

1. Press the Source button on the remote.
   
2. BT should then be displayed on your soundbar.
   

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory manual for the correct PIN or passkey.

Depending on what device (Smartphone or Tablet) and which generation you have, the menu theme and options might look slightly different on your screen. However, the steps should be similar to all Android devices and generations.

Use one of the following connection methods:

• Method 1 - The Drop Down Menu
• Method 2 - Settings

Drop down menu

1. Swipe down from the top of the device screen if it's a phone or up from the bottom of the device screen if it's a tablet to access the menu.
2. Locate the Bluetooth icon.
   
3. Press and hold the Bluetooth icon.
4. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
5. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
6. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
   
   
   
7. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

Android menu settings

1. Locate and tap the Apps Menu.
   
2. Locate and tap the Settings icon.
   
3. Select the Bluetooth. You may need to select Connections first.
4. Swipe the switch to your right to set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
5. A list of nearby devices and previously paired devices will be shown.
6. In the list of Available Devices, choose the Bluetooth accessory you wish to pair with.
   
7. If you are prompted for a passkey, put it in. If there is no passkey, then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

Some Bluetooth accessories are configured with a PIN or a passkey that is often listed in its information manual. Check your Bluetooth accessory documentation for the correct PIN or passkey.

From any iOS device (iPod, iPad, iPhone):

1. Open Settings
   
2. Then Bluetooth.
   
3. Set the Bluetooth accessory in pairing/discovery mode.
4. Wait for your iOS device to display the detected Bluetooth accessory.
   
5. Select the Bluetooth accessory to pair it with the iOS device.
   • If there is a passkey, put it in.
   • If there is no passkey then your Bluetooth accessory should be paired now.

HDMI ARC

HDMI ARC allows you to use a single HDMI cable from your television to your soundbar. It tends not to be widely available, but is simple provided your television supports it.

1. Using a High-Speed HDMI with Ethernet cable, connect the cable to the back of your television in the HDMI ARC port, and the HDMI Out (TV ARC) port on your soundbar.
2. Set your television to use HDMI ARC or SIMPLINK for sound. Consult your television's manual for help locating this setting.
3. Push the Power button on the remote.
4. Push Source button on your remote till D.IN is displayed.

HDMI Pass-Thru

HDMI Pass-Thru is easy to setup, though limited to working for just the one device connected. You can't connect both a cable box and Blu-Ray player, for example. Also, it requires you have 2 HDMI cables to make the connection.

1. Connect an HDMI cable from your source's output (your cable box, for example), to the HDMI IN port on your sound bar.
2. Connect a second HDMI cable from the HDMI OUT on the sound bar, to your television.
3. Push the Power button on the remote.
4. Push Source button on your remote till HDMI is displayed.

Aux Connection

Aux connection allows you to use RCA or minijack from your television to your soundbar.

1. Connect either the RCA-to-minijack or minijack-to-minijack audio cable to the back of your television, and the other end to the back of your soundbar.
2. Push the Power button on your remote to turn on your soundbar.
3. Push Source button on your remote till AUX is displayed.

Samsung TV SoundConnect

Samsung TV SoundConnect is specific to some higher-end Samsung televisions, and allows a wireless connection to your soundbar from your television.

1. Push the Power button on the remote.
2. Push Source button on your remote till TV is displayed.
3. A message on your television will pop up, asking if you want to connect to the sound bar. Select Yes.