Question Correct soundbar for Hisense TV

[oldtimer114]

I have a Hisense model 43A4GV TV that I would like to get a soundbar for. However, the question of connections has come up. The TV has an Optical Audio port (Is this the same as an OPT port?), an HDMI ARC port and a USB1 port. However the manual only mentions the Optical Audio as available for external audio. But it has an ARC port (HDMI 1) as well as a regular HDMI port (HDMI 2). The manual also says the TV has a 3.5mm earphone jack. But I'll be darned if I can find it.
Using only the Optical Audio port severely limits the number of soundbars available to choose from. If I can use the ARC port, that greatly increases my choices.
And what the heck is the USB1 port for? Can you even drive a quality soundbar thru USB1 ?
Hisense offers soundbars but I understand their sound quality is not good for their price range. I'm pretty sure I can do better for the same money.

 

[COLGeek]

Page 7 of the manual will describe what the USB port is used for (not sound playback).

https://assets.hisense-canada.com/assets/ProductDownloads/293/3291633e59/A4GV_UserManual_English.pdf

Optical is actually quite good, as is ARC. With a previous Samsung soundbar I had, I had fewer audio synch issues with optical.

What is your budget?

 

[oldtimer114]

Really? You've had synch issues with any sort of direct connection? Guess I'll have to watch for that.
I thinking my budget is in the $100 to $300 range. I can't imagine anything in the sub $100 would be an improvement in the TV's speakers. I looked at a $50 bar on Amazon and it had all the controls built into one rocker button. No thank you! That's just beggin' to break. And over $300 is really out of my affordable price.
I don't know if I really need a subwoofer or not. I don't stream that much music thru the TV. Got an old, but very good Marantz analog stereo system for that. What I do listen to on the TV are the free web radio apps found on Roku.