While it may look exactly the same as the other HDMI inputs, you may be asking yourself if you need a special HDMI cable for HDMI ARC, you’re not the only one. There is no such thing as an HDMI ARC cable. Any HDMI cable will work universally for HDMI and HDMI ARC/eARC ports.
Can I use a standard HDMI cable for HDMI ARC?
Using HDMI ARC does not require a new HDMI cable. Any HDMI cable should be able to cope with the requirements – it’s only when we move on to eARC this could (potentially) become an issue.
Are all HDMI cables ARC enabled?
Most HDMI cables should work with ARC. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the ARC-capable HDMI input in your TV and the other into the ARC-capable output on your soundbar or receiver.
Can I use a standard HDMI cable for HDMI ARC?
Using HDMI ARC does not require a new HDMI cable. Any HDMI cable should be able to cope with the requirements – it’s only when we move on to eARC this could (potentially) become an issue.
How can you tell if an HDMI cable is ARC?
What do I do if my TV doesn’t have an HDMI ARC?
If the TV has no ARC label on its HDMI ports, connect the HDMI cable to any HDMI ports on the TV and to the HDMI OUT (ARC) on the home theatre system or home audio system. Then connect an optical cable to the optical output port of the TV and the DIGITAL IN (TV) port on the home theatre system or home audio system.
What HDMI cable is needed for ARC?
HDMI ARC is supported in HDMI 1.4 and newer HDMI versions, while eARC is only supported in HDMI 2.1 cables. Since ARC is part of the standards and specifications of those HDMI versions, there are no different HDMI cables specifically with or without ARC support.
Do I need HDMI ARC for soundbar?
If you want to connect your soundbar using HDMI, your TV will need to support ‘HDMI-ARC’ – it stands for ‘Audio Return Channel’ and means the audio can travel in both directions along the cable.
Do regular HDMI cables support eARC?
Not all HDMI cables can let you experience the full capacity of eARC. Some HDMI cables do not have enough bandwidth to carry high-frame-rate video and high-bit-rate audio channels. However, high-speed HDMI cables with Ethernet are enough to support eARC, just like the next generation Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cables.
Can you use a regular HDMI cable for soundbar?
Yes, you read it correctly: a standard HDMI cable will not work to connect a soundbar to a television. You must have HDMI ARC or (High Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel) to connect the soundbar to your TV, as a simple TV HDMI port is just for ‘input’ and does not support ARC.
How do I connect my soundbar to my TV without HDMI ARC?
When you connect an external device to TV (without ARC) and Sound Bar, connect the HDMI cable (sold separately) from the external device to the TV. Then, connect the external device to the Sound bar using an optical cord (sold separately). If you want to connect to just the TV, then the HDMI connection is unnecessary.
Can I use a standard HDMI cable for HDMI ARC?
Using HDMI ARC does not require a new HDMI cable. Any HDMI cable should be able to cope with the requirements – it’s only when we move on to eARC this could (potentially) become an issue.
Are all HDMI cables ARC enabled?
Most HDMI cables should work with ARC. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the ARC-capable HDMI input in your TV and the other into the ARC-capable output on your soundbar or receiver.
How do I connect my soundbar to my TV without HDMI ARC?
When you connect an external device to TV (without ARC) and Sound Bar, connect the HDMI cable (sold separately) from the external device to the TV. Then, connect the external device to the Sound bar using an optical cord (sold separately). If you want to connect to just the TV, then the HDMI connection is unnecessary.
Do all HDMI cables support eARC?
Not all HDMI cables can let you experience the full capacity of eARC. Some HDMI cables do not have enough bandwidth to carry high-frame-rate video and high-bit-rate audio channels. However, high-speed HDMI cables with Ethernet are enough to support eARC, just like the next generation Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cables.
Do older TVs have HDMI ARC?
Normally, the best way to connect a soundbar to a TV would be to use HDMI ARC. But your older TV most likely does not have an HDMI ARC port. The good news is you can probably still get both of the devices to connect.
Does HDMI splitter work with ARC?
Splitters can NOT support ARC (audio return channel) and HEC (HDMI over Ethernet) as the properties of these features require that the source device be dedicated to a single TV. Splitters can generally be used up to 50ft from the splitter location to the TV providing that high-quality HDMI cables are used.
Is HDMI ARC cable different from HDMI cable?
While a regular HDMI connector is only able to transmit video images, ARC has an added function that allows you to transmit audio from a TV back to the source, like a receiver or soundbar. This means you only require a single 2.0b cable in order to transmit both video and audio signals.
Are all HDMI cables the same?
Although there are different HDMI standards, with HDMI 2.0 being the most recent, there are only two HDMI cable standards: Standard and High Speed. Standard is out-of-date now and supports lower resolutions; High Speed supports everything, including the HDMI 2.0 standard, which gives you 4K TV at 60fps (Ultra HD).
What is better HDMI ARC or optical?
HDMI ARC is a better option. It supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, and up to 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio while Digital Optical only supports Dolby Digital and up to 5.1 channels of uncompressed audio.
What HDMI cable do I need for a soundbar?
Most soundbars and TVs have an HDMI port. Keep in mind you need to use an HDMI ARC or eARC cable and port. If you don’t have this, you’ll need an optical cable in addition to an HDMI cable. With an HDMI 2.0b cable, you can transmit the sound of your television to your soundbar.
Can I use normal HDMI port for soundbar?
If your audio device, such as a soundbar, does not support eARC, it will simply use the regular version of ARC, and you’ll still be able to receive audio. Remember, a high-speed HDMI cable is recommended for eARC, a regular HDMI cable can be used for the normal version of HDMI ARC.
