ARC is short for Audio Return Channel. This is a technology that’s used for some HDMI connectors and most HDMI 2.0b cables. 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.
Can I use regular HDMI cable for ARC?
Any HDMI cable will work universally for HDMI and HDMI ARC/eARC ports. Only a few very outdated HDMI cables could potentially struggle with some of the higher quality audio formats with eARC, but this is unlikely to happen.
Is an HDMI cable an ARC cable?
One of the best and yet least-understood HDMI features is ARC, or Audio Return Channel. It’s a feature that enables you to simplify your system and is compatible with most TVs, receivers and soundbars. In its most basic form, ARC uses an HDMI cable to send audio from a TV back to a receiver or soundbar.