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Many people want to know more about how to Use HDMI ARC. We all have TVs with more than one HDMI port, which we use with a variety of devices. We might also want to use sound solutions, which usually require a lot of cables. Various devices need to be connected to the sound solution by cables. The HDMI-ARC port is a way to fix the huge mess that is one’s entertainment set-up. Even though people don’t pay much attention to it, it can really clean up your home theater setup by reducing the number of cables you need.
With HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel), a single HDMI cable can send and receive audio. This means that you can connect your Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and game consoles to your TV. The TV will then send all the audio outputs to the sound bar or home theater system that is connected to HDMI-ARC. HDMI-ARC can also send high-resolution audio, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio formats. Even though the picture quality of the best smart TVs seems to get better every year, the internal speakers of these increasingly thin, beautiful screens don’t really do these vivid images justice.
This is why you want to connect a soundbar. And it’s not surprising that soundbars, which can add almost movie theater-quality sound to tinny TV sounds, seem to be getting more popular every year. If you’re planning to upgrade your home theater, you want to make sure you get all the thrills you paid for. Here’s our guide on how to connect a soundbar to a TV and what you should know about HDMI vs. optical cables. We mentioned below are the steps how to Use HDMI ARC.
How to use earc
- HDMI ARC (High-Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel) is a feature that allows you to connect your audio source, such as a TV, to an audio receiver or soundbar using a single HDMI cable.
- First, check if your TV and audio device support HDMI ARC. Look for the HDMI ARC label or consult the user manuals.
- Locate the HDMI ARC port on your TV. It is usually labeled as ARC or HDMI ARC. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to this port.
- Locate the HDMI ARC port on your audio receiver or soundbar. It is also typically labeled as ARC or HDMI ARC. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to this port.
- Turn on both your TV and audio device.
- On your TV, navigate to the settings or menu and find the Audio or Sound settings.
- In the Audio or Sound settings, look for an option related to HDMI or audio output. Select the HDMI ARC option.
- Adjust the volume settings on your TV and audio device to ensure they are synchronized.
- Test the connection by playing audio or video content on your TV. The sound should now come from your audio receiver or soundbar.
- If you encounter any issues, make sure you have the latest firmware updates for both your TV and audio device. You can also try using a different HDMI cable or consult the user manuals for troubleshooting steps.
How to connect hdmi arc
- Check if your TV and audio device support HDMI ARC. Look for the HDMI ARC label on the HDMI ports of your TV and audio device.
- Identify the HDMI ARC port on your TV. It is usually labeled as “HDMI ARC” or “ARC.”
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI ARC port on your TV.
- Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI ARC port on your audio device.
- Turn on both your TV and audio device.
- Access the settings menu on your TV. This can usually be done by pressing the “Menu” or “Settings” button on your TV remote.
- Navigate to the audio settings. Look for an option related to HDMI ARC or audio output.
- Select the HDMI ARC as the audio output option.
- Adjust the audio settings on your audio device if necessary.
- Test the audio connection by playing a video or audio file on your TV. Make sure the sound is coming from the audio device connected via HDMI ARC.
What is HDMI Arc
“Audio Return Channel,” or “ARC,” is a feature that people often forget about. Since the HDMI 1.4 standard came out, ARC has been making its way into new TVs, soundbars, and A/V receivers. This protocol lets two devices talk to each other in both directions over a single HDMI connection. The HDMI ARC port basically lets you use HDMI as both an input and an output for audio.
Since it came out in 2009, ARC has become a very common standard. All of the best TVs and soundbars we’ve reviewed, from the Devialet Dione to the Sonos Arc, have it. ARC should work with anything that works with the HDMI 1.4 standard, but you should check the documentation for your devices to be sure. Even though most TVs came out after HDMI 1.4 became the standard, not all of them support ARC. However, almost all of them do.
EARC VS ARC
What is ARC?
Imagine the situation. You have an HDMI cable connecting your set-top box, game console, and Blu-ray player to your TV. Or, maybe your smart TV has a built-in app like Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video that lets you watch videos. Either way, you don’t want to use your TV’s speakers for sound. Instead, you should use a soundbar or an AV receiver to hear everything.
Before, you had to connect an optical cable from the back of your TV to an optical input on your audio device. But that’s not a good answer. This problem can be solved by HDMI ARC. HDMI ARC lets you send audio “downstream” from a compatible HDMI port on your TV to a compatible HDMI ARC port on a soundbar or AV receiver. This means you don’t need an optical cable.
What is eARC?
The next version of ARC is called Enhanced Audio Return Channel, or eARC. It is a part of the latest HDMI 2.1 specification. The biggest benefit of eARC is a big increase in speed and bandwidth. This lets you send audio from your TV to a soundbar or AV receiver in a better quality. eARC could send up to 32 channels of audio, including eight-channel, 24bit/192kHz, uncompressed data streams at speeds of up to 38Mbps.
This means that all high bitrate formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and object-based formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which are currently available on Blu-ray discs, 4K Blu-rays, and some streaming services, will be compatible. But it’s up to the manufacturers if they want to help all of them. On paper, HDMI eARC also makes the handshake between compatible devices much smoother and eliminates the need to turn on HDMI CEC, which doesn’t always work right. This means that using multiple products shouldn’t require any extra steps to get things up and running.