Every TV today has at least one HDMI port on the side or back. It’s used to stream content from another device to your television—whether that’s a streaming device, tablet, or computer.
However, if you have a newer TV, you’ll likely see “ARC” or “eARC” next to one of the HDMI ports. While most people overlook these labels, they offer significant advantages over a standard HDMI connection. Using them correctly can improve your audio setup and help keep your space cleaner.
You’re plugging into the wrong HDMI port
Though they may look similar, your HDMI ports have different capabilities
On most TVs, every HDMI port looks the same, which can lead to the assumption that they all have the same capabilities. However, that’s not the case, with some ports being designated for specific functions.
One of those functions is audio return, and using the wrong port can limit your setup. The easiest way to tell the difference is by checking the labels next to each HDMI port.
Quiz
HDMI, DisplayPort, and beyond
Trivia challenge
From HDMI to DisplayPort — see how much you really know about the cables and connectors powering your screens.
HDMIDisplayPortConnectorsStandardsVideo Tech
Which version of HDMI first introduced support for 4K resolution at 60Hz?
That’s right! HDMI 2.0, released in 2013, was the first version to support 4K at 60Hz with up to 18 Gbps of bandwidth. HDMI 1.4 could do 4K but only at 30Hz, which felt noticeably choppy for most content.
Not quite — the answer is HDMI 2.0. While HDMI 1.4 introduced 4K support, it was capped at 30Hz. HDMI 2.0 bumped bandwidth to 18 Gbps, finally enabling smooth 4K at 60 frames per second.
What organization developed and maintains the DisplayPort standard?
Correct! VESA, the Video Electronics Standards Association, created DisplayPort and released version 1.0 back in 2006. VESA is the same body behind older standards like VGA and the monitor mounting pattern most people still use today.
The correct answer is VESA — the Video Electronics Standards Association. It’s easy to mix up standards bodies, but VESA has been behind DisplayPort since its debut in 2006, while the HDMI Forum manages the competing HDMI standard.
Which display connector type uses a 20-pin trapezoid-shaped design that cannot be inserted upside down?
Spot on! The standard DisplayPort connector uses a distinctive 20-pin asymmetric trapezoid shape, which means it only fits one way — no fumbling in the dark. This was a deliberate design choice to prevent accidental damage from forced insertion.
The answer is DisplayPort. Its 20-pin trapezoid shape has a notch on one side that prevents upside-down insertion, unlike HDMI which many people have accidentally tried to plug in backwards at least once. It’s one of DisplayPort’s underrated usability wins.
What is the maximum bandwidth supported by HDMI 2.1?
Excellent! HDMI 2.1 supports up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth, enabling features like 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). It’s why HDMI 2.1 became a key selling point for PS5 and Xbox Series X gaming.
The correct answer is 48 Gbps. HDMI 2.0 topped out at 18 Gbps, but HDMI 2.1 nearly tripled that to 48 Gbps. This huge leap unlocked 4K/120Hz gaming and 8K video, making it the standard of choice for next-gen consoles and high-end TVs.
Which older display connector standard transmitted both analog and digital signals depending on the variant used?
Right! DVI came in several flavors — DVI-A carried only analog, DVI-D carried only digital, and DVI-I carried both. This made DVI a transitional standard that could bridge the gap between older analog CRT monitors and newer digital flat panels.
The answer is DVI. VGA was purely analog, but DVI was designed as a transitional format with multiple variants: DVI-A (analog only), DVI-D (digital only), and DVI-I (both). That versatility helped it bridge the CRT-to-LCD transition era of the early 2000s.
DisplayPort supports a feature called Multi-Stream Transport (MST). What does this allow?
Correct! Multi-Stream Transport lets you daisy-chain multiple monitors from a single DisplayPort output on your GPU, as long as each display supports MST passthrough. It’s a powerful feature for clean multi-monitor setups without needing extra ports on your graphics card.
The right answer is daisy-chaining multiple monitors. MST (Multi-Stream Transport) is one of DisplayPort’s most practical advantages over HDMI, letting a single port drive several displays in a chain. HDMI has no equivalent — each HDMI display requires its own dedicated port.
Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 use which physical connector form factor?
That’s right! Thunderbolt 3 and 4 both use the USB Type-C connector, which is why ports are often labeled with a lightning bolt symbol to distinguish them. Thunderbolt 4 can carry DisplayPort 2.0 signals, meaning a single small USB-C port can drive high-res external monitors.
The answer is USB Type-C. Intel’s Thunderbolt 3 moved away from the Mini DisplayPort connector used in Thunderbolt 1 and 2, adopting USB-C instead. This is why modern laptops can use the same tiny port for charging, data transfer, and connecting 4K displays.
Which display connection standard was specifically designed as a royalty-free replacement for VGA in computers, and explicitly prohibited from being used in consumer electronics like TVs?
Spot on! DisplayPort was intentionally designed for the PC market and its specification originally prohibited use in consumer electronics — a deliberate market split from HDMI. It’s royalty-free for manufacturers to implement, which helped drive its adoption across PC monitors and laptops.
The answer is DisplayPort. VESA designed DisplayPort specifically for the PC ecosystem as a royalty-free alternative to VGA and DVI, and the original spec actually barred its use in televisions and consumer AV gear — that territory was left to HDMI. This market split largely still holds today.
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If you’ve gotten a new TV in the past couple of years, there is a good chance that next to an HDMI port, it says ARC or eARC. Even though both have mostly the same acronyms, they offer different capabilities.
ARC, or Audio Return Channel, allows your TV and soundbar to communicate with each other in both directions. With it, a single HDMI cable can send audio from your TV directly to your audio device, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable.
eARC, on the other hand, stands for Enhanced Audio Return Channel and functions similarly to ARC but supports higher-quality audio standards. This feature is built into newer HDMI ports and allows your TV to send higher-quality audio back to a connected sound system.
The purpose of eARC is to support more modern audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos, which standard ARC cannot handle.
As previously mentioned, you can find the labels ARC or eARC next to the port that supports each format. However, if you don’t see them, you can check your TV’s audio settings or the manual that came with it to confirm which ports support these features.
If you plug your soundbar or receiver into the wrong port that isn’t eARC-enabled, the sound may become compressed or downgraded. Everything will still work, but you’ll miss out on the full quality your setup can deliver.
What eARC actually does and why it matters
It can transform your viewing and listening experience
Unlike a standard HDMI connection, which sends audio to the TV, eARC sends audio back to your audio system. Think of it as a two-way street, where each device can send signals to the other.
This is especially important for built-in apps, which rely on your TV to pass audio externally. These can include any streaming apps that came preinstalled or were downloaded after setting up your TV.
As mentioned earlier, eARC offers better sound quality and a more immersive experience, while ARC still supports the basics. It can handle standard surround sound, but its limited bandwidth can result in compressed audio.
eARC, on the other hand, increases bandwidth, enabling lossless formats and high-quality surround sound like Dolby TrueHD and Atmos.
However, not only is audio quality improved, but eARC can also simplify your setup. Since it uses a single HDMI cable that carries both audio and video, it reduces the need for a separate optical audio cable to your soundbar, which in turn helps cut down on cable clutter.
While soundbars benefit from eARC, so do other devices, such as AV receivers (AVRs), which can process full, uncompressed surround sound formats from your TV. The same applies to streaming apps on your TV, which can then be sent to your sound system in the highest possible quality.
No matter which audio system you have, eARC delivers the best performance for most home theater setups. As high-end audio formats become more common, eARC serves as the bridge that keeps your system up to date.
Without it, even expensive equipment built to upgrade your home theater may not reach its full potential due to lower-quality supporting ports.
The right ways to set up your HDMI devices
Different devices may have different setups to get the most out of them
Using the eARC port is great for achieving a surround sound experience with compatible speakers, making your setup more immersive. This is especially useful for gaming.
If you have a modern gaming console or streaming device, you should connect it directly to your TV so it can take advantage of features like 4K resolution and high refresh rates—if your TV supports them.
Additionally, plugging consoles directly into the TV rather than a soundbar helps avoid bandwidth limitations from some audio equipment. This preserves gaming features and sound effects while delivering high-quality audio via the eARC connection.
However, to make all of this work, you need to make sure the correct settings are enabled. Even with the right cables, without proper configuration, your TV won’t send the correct signals to your sound system.
Go to your television’s sound settings and make sure eARC is enabled so everything is properly set up. Furthermore, to ensure your cable is compatible, use a high-speed HDMI cable rated at 18 Gbps or, for best results, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. This information is usually printed directly on the cable itself.
You should also make sure CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is enabled. While it is not required for eARC, it allows HDMI devices to communicate over a single cable, reducing the need for multiple remotes by letting you control everything with one.
The right way is the easy way
Many setups don’t work as intended because people route everything through the soundbar and leave settings on default. However, these small missteps can quietly downgrade the experience without obvious signs.
Making these adjustments and understanding what to expect will give you a better home theater setup than you may already have but weren’t fully taking advantage of. The steps are simple, but the improvement is noticeable.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
