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.
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.
- Integrations
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Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Ports
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HDMI, Optical, Ethernet
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.
