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An older AV receiver usually still has working amplifiers and speakers. What tends to break when you connect it to a new TV is the audio path between the two devices. Whether the receiver can take TV sound depends on whether both products support ARC or eARC on labeled ports, whether the right settings are enabled, and whether the TV has an optical output that the receiver can use as a fallback.
The headline’s claim that this receiver outperforms every new soundbar is a personal judgment. It depends on your room, speakers, and listening preferences, and no controlled comparison is offered here. This guide covers the connection problem, which is the part you can test and fix.
Why the connection breaks
Older receivers were designed around HDMI 1.4-era features. ARC, the Audio Return Channel, lets a compatible TV send its own audio (from broadcast tuners, built-in apps, or a connected player) back to an audio system over one HDMI cable. Sony’s support article on ARC explains that both ends must support the feature and that you must use the labeled ARC ports. A cable cannot add the feature to hardware that lacks it.
New TVs add a second layer. The HDMI version printed on a box or in a sales listing does not tell you which audio formats pass through. Check the actual port labels on the TV and the receiver, then the device manuals for the formats each one accepts. Denon’s manual for its AVR-S760H, a current receiver model used as an example, describes HDMI Control and ARC settings that vary by model, so your receiver’s manual is the reference that matters.
#1 Best Overall
- [📺eSynic Professional ARC/eARC Audio Extractor]----:Our eSynic Professional eARC/ARC to 3.5mm& L/R Audio Extractor Support From HDTV eARC/ARC to 3.5MM Headphone & L/R Stereo Audio System [Only Work With HDTV ARC/eARC Interface and Not Support Others HDMI Devices]
- [🎵Support 192KHz High Sampling Rate] ----:Our eSynic eARC/ARC to RCA Converter Supports High Sampling Rate up to 24bit/192KHz, Ensuring Clean Sound Quality.By Seamlessly Connecting the HDTV to the 3.5mm Audio Speaker , This HDMI ARC Audio Converter Makes the eARC/ARC Audio Extractor an Indispensable Upgrade for Home Entertainment Systems.
- [🔄Support High Quality Audio Formats]---:Our eSynic Professional eARC/ARC Audio Extractor Supports PCM & PCM 2.0Audio Formats to Provide You with High Quality Audio for an Immersive Entertainment Experience.Equipped with Audio Signal Indicators, It is Convenient for You to Accurately Understand the Working Status of the Product and Improve the You Experience. [No Optical/No Dolby-Only for PCM]
- [🔌 + ⚡Plug and Play]---: Our eSynic Professional ARC to 3.5mm Audio Adapter Work With USB Power supply No Software or Drivers are Required. Its Advanced Audio Processing Technology Efficiently and Cleanly Extracts Audio Signals from HDTV (ARC/eARC) Ports, Minimizing Potential Interference or Distortion and Providing You with a Smooth, Lag-free and High-quality Audio Experience.
- [👆 Attention ⚠️]-----:1. Ensure Your HDTV support eARC/ARC function. 2. Ensure the adapter is powered on. 3. Ensure the HDMI ARC Cable is Connected to the HDTV eARC/ARC Interface 4. Ensure the HDTV is in eARC/ARC Audio Output (Use the TV's Remote Control to Turn it on). 5. Please Connect the HDMI port with the eARC/ARC Mark and Make sure the eARC/ARC Function is Enabled on your TV 6. Please Set the Audio Formats to PCM.
ARC, eARC, or optical: which path fits
Use the table to find the best connection your equipment supports. Start at the top row and work down.
| Connection | What you need | Audio it carries | Limits to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| eARC over HDMI | TV and receiver both labeled eARC, on the eARC/ARC ports | Higher-bandwidth formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and uncompressed multichannel audio, per Sony’s eARC article | Both devices must support eARC. Sony gives a bandwidth ceiling of up to 37 Mb/s; that is a specification, not measured throughput in your setup |
| ARC over HDMI | TV and receiver both labeled ARC, on the matching ports | ARC-level audio, limited to ARC specifications when the other end is ARC-only | Exact format limits are not stated in the sources for every model; check both manuals |
| Optical digital audio | Optical output on the TV and optical input on the receiver | Digital audio in the format set on the TV’s digital output | The TV’s output format must be one the receiver accepts; a cable does not change formats |
| Digital coaxial | Coaxial digital output on the TV and coaxial input on the receiver | Digital audio, as set on the TV | Only where both devices have the port; Denon documents it as an option when both support it |
Step-by-step: getting TV sound through the receiver
- Record both model numbers and the exact symptom: no sound, sound that cuts out, stereo only when you expect surround, lip-sync drift, or loss of picture. Model-specific fixes depend on this.
- Find the ARC or eARC labels on the TV’s HDMI ports and on the receiver’s HDMI output or monitor port. Connect those matching ports. Do not use a generic HDMI input or output.
- Use the cable class the manuals call for. Sony specifies a High Speed HDMI cable for ARC. Denon specifies High Speed HDMI with Ethernet for ARC/eARC on the AVR-S760H. An expensive cable is not a general cure.
- Enable the TV’s external audio setting. In the TV’s sound or audio output menu, select the external audio system. If the TV offers an ARC or CEC-style control option, turn it on when your manual calls for it.
- Enable the receiver’s HDMI Control and ARC settings where the receiver manual calls for them. Menu names differ by brand and model, so search the manual’s index for “HDMI Control” and “ARC.”
- Power-cycle in order. Turn off the TV and receiver, switch the receiver to the input connected to the TV, then turn the TV back on and play a live broadcast or an app that uses TV speakers.
- If ARC is not available, use optical. Connect the TV’s optical output to the receiver’s optical input, select that receiver input, and set the TV’s digital output to a format the receiver accepts.
When there is still no sound
Work through these checks before assuming the receiver has failed.
Rank #2
- 【4K HDMI Audio Converter】This hdmi audio extractor supports extracting audio from HDMI sources to HDMI monitors, optical 5.1CH devices, L/R stereo audio or 3.5mm AUX audio devices. It supports use by connecting only the optical audio output, L/R stereo audio out or the 3.5mm stereo audio output without connecting the display. A Type-C 5V cable must be connected to provide power for proper operation(Note: Do not connect a TV as a signal source directly to the HDMI IN port or it will not work)
- 【HDMI ARC Audio Extractor】In ARC mode(Backward compatible with ARC), connect your TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port to the “HDMI OUT” port to send audio to external speakers. (Tips: Enable CEC on your TV, set the DIP switch to “TV” mode, and use an HDMI cable with ARC/eARC support.)
- 【Triple Operating Modes】1. PASS Mode: Automatically mirrors your TV’s native audio. Optical output supports all multi-channel formats.(Note: Analog R/L & AUX ports support 2.0 PCM only; non-PCM inputs will cause digital buzz/noise); 2. R/L Mode: Universally downmixes all formats (PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD) into standard 2.0 PCM. Delivers synchronized stereo sound across R/L, AUX, and Optical ports simultaneously; 3. SPDIF Mode: Dedicated multi-channel surround sound mode. Optical output supports all premium bitstream audio formats. (Note: Analog ports require PCM input to function; other formats will result in a static hum).
- 【4K@60Hz High Resolution】Supports up to 4K@60Hz with 24-bit, 30-bit, and 36-bit color. Backward compatible with 4K@60Hz 4K@30Hz, 2K@120Hz, and 1080P. Please make sure your source, monitor, HDMI cable all support 4K60Hz resolution in order to finally achieve the highest 4K60Hz resolution
- 【Wide Compatibility】Works with Blu-ray/DVD players, TV boxes, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, PS3/4/5, Xbox, PC, laptops, and more HDMI devices. Contact us anytime—our support team is available 24/7.(Supports HDR, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, DTS 7.1/5.1CH, HLG, VRR and other functions.)
- Output format mismatch. Sony’s support guidance notes that DTS or Dolby Digital incompatibility can cause silence with some broadcast or video formats. Changing the TV’s digital audio format to a PCM or stereo option is a common test, provided the receiver accepts it.
- Wrong receiver input. The receiver must be on the input that carries the TV audio, not a game console or Blu-ray input.
- Control signaling problems. Sony notes that a CEC-less HDMI cable or adapter may help in some cases where control signaling interferes. Treat this as an advanced step for specific devices, not a first purchase.
- Mixed-generation equipment. An eARC TV connected to an ARC-only receiver will not deliver eARC formats. Lower-tier audio is expected in that case, and it is not a fault.
- Video loss, not audio loss. A 15-year-old receiver may not pass video and HDMI features the way a new TV expects. Check the receiver’s manual for supported video pass-through and the sources you use before blaming the cable.
Cables and accessories: what helps and what does not
A High Speed HDMI cable, or High Speed HDMI with Ethernet where the manual specifies it, is worth checking when the devices already support ARC or eARC and the current cable is old or faulty. An optical cable is worth buying only when both ends have matching optical ports and you have confirmed that optical is the fallback you need. In neither case does the cable create ARC support, eARC support, or missing video features.
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Is the receiver still worth keeping?
The receiver remains worth keeping when it provides the amplification, channel count, and speaker connections you use, and when the connection path above works for your sources. Replacing it is justified only when the limit is confirmed. The most likely limits are missing ARC or eARC ports, unsupported audio formats you need, or video features your sources require. Those can be checked against the receiver’s manual in a few minutes.
Rank #3
- HDMI ARC Audio Converter: HDMI Audio Extractor can return the sound from ARC-enabled TVs to the optical, coaxial, L/R channel and 3.5mm headphone jacks of the adapter through the HDMI ARC interface, which is a perfect solution to the compatibility problem of the interface between the TVs and audio systems.
- Digital to Analog Audio Converter: Featuring coaxial and optical (Toslink/SPDIF) digital audio inputs, this converter transforms digital PCM/LPCM signals into analog audio output, compatible with various audio devices. Through the switching key on the panel of the device, you can quickly select the input mode, easy and convenient operation. (Note: DAC only supports PCM input format, does not support decoding function)
- Simultaneous Audio Output: ARC Audio Extractor simultaneously outputs audio from the optical, coaxial, L/R, and 3.5 mm headphone ports. Please set the audio output to PCM or LPCM before use.(Note: Not compatible with Dolby AC3/Dolby Digital Plus, etc.)
- High Sampling Rate Support: Supports up to 192kHz audio sampling rate, compatible with 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz sampling rates, as well as 24-bit SPDIF input bitstream to ensure high-fidelity audio output and bring a clear and detailed sound quality experience.
- Wide Compatibility: Compatible with HDTV with ARC function and standard HDMI source devices. No driver or software required, plug and play, compatible with Amplifier/Sound bar/ DVD/ HD player/ Blu-ray/, cable/satellite box, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC/laptop and more.
The Bottom Line
For most setups, the fix is a matching ARC or eARC port pair, the manufacturer-specified cable, and the right HDMI Control and ARC settings. Optical is the fallback when those are not available. Replace the receiver only after you confirm a specific missing feature.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 【HDMI Audio Extractor】The HDMI audio extractor can extract audio from HDMI signal and transmit it to AV receiver through optical or 3.5mm Cable.(Note: Devices do not support ARC and eARC.TV is not supported as the input source，otherwise product doesn't p video.)
- 【3 modes】2.0CH, 5.1CH and PASS mode. Select 3.5mm stereo output, please use 2.0CH mode. Select optical output, please use 5.1CH mode. When you use the first and two modes and find that no audio and video signal is output, use the pass mode.
- 【4K Ultra-HD with HDMI 1.4V】HDMI audio converter up to 10.2G bandwidth, support HDCP1.4,4K@30Hz RGB / YUV4:4:4 Ultra high definition image quality. The optical output supports DTS 5.1. The 3.5mm output supports PCM2.0. The audio splitter does not support 7.1 channels.Note: Fire TV, Apple TV, PS4/5 etc. only support 1080p format signals and do not support 4K
- 【Low energy consumption】HDMI audio splitter has a low energy consumption,only requires the USB port to be connected to the 5V-USB port of another device to work. Or use your other 5V-USB power adapter
- 【Wide Compatibility & Plug and Play】Suitable for various HDMI source devices without dedicated audio output as well as Blu-ray/ DVD/ HD player, cable/satellite box, Amazon Fire TV, PS4,PS5, Xbox, PC/laptop etc
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