eARC vs. ARC: what the HDMI return channel does

A modern TV sends picture to a screen, but plenty of people also want its sound to come out of a soundbar or receiver. The Audio Return Channel, or ARC, solves that by letting audio travel back out of the TV through an HDMI port. eARC is the improved version.

What ARC does

Normally a cable carries sound and picture one direction, from a source into the TV. ARC adds a path in the opposite direction on the same cable. If your streaming apps live inside the TV, or your cable box is connected to it, the TV can push that audio to your soundbar with a single HDMI connection and no extra optical cable. Controls also tend to be simpler, because the soundbar can follow the TV remote.

What eARC improves

HDMI.org describes eARC as an advancement over ARC that simplifies connectivity and gives users more ease in discovering multiple components and optimizing audio. Its list of supported audio is the headline: high-bitrate sound up to 192kHz at 24-bit, uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 channels, and 32-channel uncompressed audio. The same page says eARC supports DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos.

That matters because Dolby Atmos, which places sounds around and above the listener as individual objects instead of fixed channels, is what a growing share of soundbars advertise. On Dolby's own site, Atmos is described as letting creators place each sound where they want it to go. A soundbar that connects over eARC is the cleanest way to make sure the TV passes that signal along unchanged.

What this means when you shop

Look at the labels. Both ends need to be the eARC-labeled ports. On a TV, only one HDMI input is usually the eARC port, and it is often marked on the panel. On the soundbar, the output labeled eARC or ARC connects to that TV port. What Hi-Fi's guide to Atmos soundbars lists the connections for each recommended model; for example, the Sonos Arc Ultra connects with a single HDMI eARC output, which matches Sonos's own description of a simple HDMI eARC setup.

Think about passthrough. TechRadar points out that some top soundbars have no HDMI passthrough. That is fine if all your devices plug into the TV, but it is an issue if you want to connect a game console straight to the bar. Some soundbars include extra HDMI inputs with 4K 120Hz passthrough, others do not. Count your devices before you buy and use our HDMI 2.1 explainer to understand which ports matter for gaming.

Plan the chain. In most homes the order is: console, streamer or cable box into the TV, then TV into the soundbar via eARC. That keeps your TV as the hub, and the soundbar receives audio from whatever you are watching.

Soundbar pages on this site include the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Samsung HW-Q990H. See also the soundbar buying guide.

Setup steps

1. Connect the soundbar's eARC or ARC output to the TV's eARC-labeled HDMI port with a certified Ultra High Speed cable.
2. In the TV's sound settings, choose the HDMI eARC or external speaker output. Menu names vary by brand, so check your TV's manual.
3. Sonos describes controlling its eARC-connected soundbar with the TV remote, and other brands offer similar control options. Look for an HDMI control setting in your TV's menus, since each brand names it differently.
4. Play something with surround or Atmos sound and check the soundbar's app or display to confirm it is receiving the format you expect.

When ARC is fine

If you mainly watch regular TV and streaming in stereo or basic surround, standard ARC will often work well. The jump to eARC matters most when you want uncompressed or object-based formats, or when you run an AV receiver with many speakers.