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HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) lets a TV send audio over an HDMI cable to a connected soundbar or AV receiver. It avoids a separate audio cable for that connection. Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) is the newer, higher-bandwidth version, designed to carry audio formats ARC cannot.
What HDMI ARC means
ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. An HDMI connection normally carries audio and video from a source device to a TV. ARC adds a path in the other direction: the TV can send audio “upstream” to an HDMI-connected soundbar or AV receiver using the same cable.
That is useful when the TV itself is producing or playing the sound—for example, audio from a TV broadcast or an app on the TV—and you want to hear it through an external audio system. HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. defines ARC as a way for an HDMI-connected TV to send audio data to an AVR or soundbar without a separate audio cable. See the HDMI Specification 1.4b explanation of ARC.
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eARC means Enhanced Audio Return Channel. It increases the audio return channel’s capacity, allowing compatible equipment to pass higher-bandwidth and uncompressed audio formats that standard ARC cannot carry in the same way. HDMI Licensing Administrator lists formats including DTS Master, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos in its eARC guidance. Its TV sound guidance also explains that eARC supports higher-bandwidth audio than ARC.
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| Feature | ARC | eARC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Audio Return Channel | Enhanced Audio Return Channel |
| Purpose | Sends TV audio to a connected soundbar or receiver over HDMI | Does the same with greater audio bandwidth |
| Audio formats | Lower bandwidth; cannot pass the same higher-bandwidth and uncompressed formats as eARC | Supports higher-bandwidth formats, including those listed in HDMI Licensing Administrator’s eARC guidance |
| Compatibility | Requires ARC support on the relevant devices | Requires eARC support for eARC operation; backward compatibility with ARC is not guaranteed by the specification |
| Cable | Check the equipment documentation for its cable requirements | HDMI says Ultra HDMI Cables are designed to support eARC; other cable types may work but are not certified for eARC operation |
HDMI Licensing Administrator says eARC is “not defined to be backwards compatible with ARC.” In practice, some manufacturers make devices that support both, but do not assume an eARC port will work with an ARC-only device in ARC mode. Check the specifications for both the TV and the soundbar or receiver. Read the official eARC compatibility and cable FAQ.
What you need to use ARC or eARC
- Compatible HDMI ports on both devices: The TV and soundbar or receiver must support the same return-channel feature you want to use. Look for “ARC” or “eARC” in the port label or device specifications.
- An HDMI cable that meets the devices’ requirements: For eARC, HDMI Licensing Administrator identifies Ultra HDMI Cables as designed to support it. A different cable may work, but it is not certified for eARC operation; consult the device manuals and cable specifications.
- The correct connection: Connect the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port to the soundbar’s or receiver’s ARC/eARC port. A different HDMI port may not carry return-channel audio.
ARC, HDMI-CEC, and remote control
HDMI-CEC is a separate HDMI feature that can let connected devices coordinate controls. Depending on how the TV and audio system implement it, CEC may allow volume adjustment or operation with one remote. ARC carries the audio; CEC can help control the connected devices. Neither feature guarantees identical behavior across brands, so check the equipment documentation if a control function matters. RTINGS’ ARC/eARC explainer discusses these common use cases.
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