Very simple. AirPods operate via bluetooth. BT works as a transmitter -- Receiver pair. The AirPod is a BT RECEIVER, so u need BT transmitter on the other end. I bet Soundbar does not have a BT transmitter, and TV I dunno, u look up the manual see what it says. U can, in certain cases, availability of audio outputs, add an external BT transmitter to just about anything.