A method and a device for managing the operating mode of a device includes transferring an audiovisual source and reproducing an audio signal, the device being connected to a television set of an HDMI connection. A device: attributes to itself an audiovisual source logic address, sends a request for obtaining the version of the HDMI specification of the television set, operates in an adapted operating mode if the version of the HDMI specification implemented by the television set is lower than a version of the HDMI 2.0 specification, attributes to itself an audio system logic address, sends a request for obtaining the version of the HDMI specification of the television set, operates in an operating mode according to the HDMI specification version HDMI 2.0 if the television set has responded to each request, and operates in the adapted operating mode if the television set has not responded to each request.