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ARC sends audio from a TV back to a soundbar or AV receiver over HDMI. eARC is the enhanced version: it supports substantially more audio bandwidth, including uncompressed multichannel and high-bitrate formats that standard ARC cannot pass. To use either, connect the receiver to the TV’s specifically labeled ARC/eARC HDMI port, then select the external audio output in the TV’s settings. Whether eARC makes a difference depends on the formats your source, TV, and sound system actually support.
What ARC and eARC do
HDMI normally carries picture and sound from a source—such as a console, Blu-ray player, or streaming device—to a TV. The Audio Return Channel, or ARC, lets the TV send audio back through that HDMI connection to a soundbar or AV receiver. That avoids needing a separate audio cable between the TV and audio system.
ARC was introduced in 2009, according to HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. (HDMI LA). The socket that supports it is marked “ARC,” “eARC,” or “ARC/eARC.” A regular HDMI input on the TV may not return audio, even if it looks identical to the ARC socket.
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ARC vs. eARC at a glance
| Feature | ARC | eARC |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Returns TV audio to a soundbar or AV receiver over HDMI. | Returns TV audio over HDMI with a higher-bandwidth connection. |
| Bandwidth | Lower bandwidth. TCL describes ARC as approximately 1 Mbps; this is manufacturer guidance, not a guaranteed figure for every implementation. | HDMI LA states a maximum audio bandwidth of 37 Mbit/s in its 2025 guidance. |
| Audio formats | Can carry standard Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM, according to TCL’s manufacturer guidance. It cannot pass the uncompressed and higher-bandwidth audio formats that require eARC. | HDMI LA lists support up to 192 kHz, 24-bit audio; uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1; 32-channel uncompressed audio; DTS-HD Master Audio; DTS:X; Dolby TrueHD; and Dolby Atmos. |
| Ports | The TV and soundbar or receiver must connect through their ARC-labeled ports. | Use the eARC-labeled ports when available. A TV setting may also need to enable eARC. |
| Compatibility | Works for the audio formats supported by the connected equipment and the ARC link. | An eARC TV connected to an ARC-only soundbar falls back to ARC capabilities; the link does not gain eARC audio support from the TV alone. |
| Control and device discovery | HDMI-CEC can provide basic device control, such as using the TV remote for volume, but names and behavior vary by manufacturer. | HDMI LA describes built-in discovery of multiple components for eARC. HDMI-CEC remains relevant to basic control and can vary by brand. |
| Cable decision | Choose the cable based on the system’s video needs as well as the connection. | Choose a certified cable class that supports the video capabilities of the complete system; eARC audio alone does not determine the required video rating. |
The 192 kHz, 24-bit capability is cited by HDMI LA in 2021 and reaffirmed in 2025. The listed formats describe what eARC can carry, not what every TV, app, source, or soundbar will output or decode.
When eARC is useful—and when ARC is enough
eARC is useful for high-bitrate or uncompressed audio
Consider eARC when your setup is intended to pass formats such as Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, or uncompressed multichannel PCM from a source through the TV to a soundbar or receiver. The TV, source path, and receiving device all need to support the relevant format. If one part of the chain cannot provide or handle it, eARC’s extra capacity cannot make that format available.
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eARC can also simplify the wiring: HDMI LA says audio originating from cable, satellite, streaming, or source devices can be sent from the TV to an AVR or soundbar through one HDMI cable. That convenience does not guarantee a particular app or service supplies a high-bitrate track. An app may provide compressed audio even when every connected device supports eARC.
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If your sources provide audio formats ARC supports and your soundbar or receiver handles them, ARC may do everything you need. For example, a system using standard Dolby Digital, DTS, or PCM audio may not gain a noticeable capability merely because the TV has an eARC socket. The decision should follow the actual source formats and the receiving system, rather than the port label alone.
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eARC does not create Atmos or lossless audio
A wider audio channel is a transport capability, not an audio source. eARC cannot create Dolby Atmos, lossless sound, or additional channels if the source, app, TV, or soundbar does not supply or decode them. Check the format supported by each component and confirm the chosen content is available in that format. If the source is connected through the TV, the TV must also pass the desired format to the audio system.
What you need for an ARC or eARC connection
- A TV return-channel port: Find the socket marked ARC, eARC, or ARC/eARC. HDMI LA specifically advises using the TV’s labeled eARC port for eARC.
- A soundbar or receiver return-channel port: Use its ARC/eARC HDMI output, often labeled “HDMI OUT (TV).” An ordinary HDMI input is not the same connection.
- A suitable HDMI cable: Select the cable class for the video capabilities of the devices and the path the cable serves. For a new purchase, look for an officially certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable when the system needs that capability.
- Compatible format support: Verify the source, TV, and soundbar/AVR support the audio format you want to use.
- Correct settings: The TV must route audio to the external system, and eARC may need to be enabled separately. HDMI-CEC or the manufacturer’s equivalent may be needed for remote control and device discovery.
Choose how to connect your sources
Option 1: Connect sources to the TV
Connect consoles, streaming boxes, or other sources to the TV’s HDMI inputs. Then connect the TV’s ARC/eARC port to the soundbar or receiver’s ARC/eARC output. In this arrangement, the TV acts as the hub: it receives source video and returns source audio to the audio system over the return channel.
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This is a straightforward layout when the TV has the inputs and video capabilities you need. The audio-return feature does not determine the TV’s video passthrough capabilities. Check video support separately if a source needs a particular resolution or refresh rate.
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Connect sources to HDMI inputs on the soundbar or receiver, then connect its HDMI output labeled ARC/eARC or “HDMI OUT (TV)” to the TV’s ARC/eARC port. HDMI LA identifies this as a popular arrangement for wall-mounted TVs. It can be useful when the audio system has the inputs and format support your sources require.
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In either layout, confirm that the soundbar or receiver can pass the source’s video requirements to the TV. ARC/eARC describes the audio return path; it does not by itself establish which resolutions, refresh rates, or other video features the receiver’s HDMI passthrough supports.
Set up ARC or eARC step by step
- Locate the TV port. Inspect the labels next to the TV’s HDMI sockets and identify the one marked ARC, eARC, or ARC/eARC. Do not assume all HDMI inputs return audio.
- Connect the audio system. Run an HDMI cable from that TV port to the soundbar or receiver port marked ARC/eARC or “HDMI OUT (TV).” Make sure both ends are in the return-channel ports.
- Select the external audio system on the TV. Open the TV’s sound or audio settings and choose HDMI ARC/eARC, an external audio system, or the manufacturer’s equivalent option. Menu labels and paths vary by brand.
- Enable eARC if offered. Some TVs provide a separate eARC control in the audio settings. Turn it on when using an eARC setup; HDMI LA notes that enabling eARC in TV settings may be necessary.
- Set the audio output format appropriately. If you want the TV to pass a source format to the receiver, select passthrough, bitstream, or the equivalent option offered by the TV. The exact label differs between manufacturers. Do not choose a setting on the assumption that it creates a format the source does not provide.
- Select the TV return input on the soundbar or receiver. Choose its TV ARC/eARC input or equivalent. A receiver left on another HDMI input may not play audio returned from the TV.
- Check device control if needed. Enable HDMI-CEC or the manufacturer’s equivalent if the TV does not discover the soundbar or the TV remote cannot adjust its volume. Names and reliability vary by brand.
- Verify the format end to end. Test with content known to provide a format your source, TV, and audio system all support. If the system does not receive the expected format, check the source and TV output settings before concluding that the cable is at fault.
How to choose an HDMI cable
For an eARC setup, cable choice should be based on the entire system’s video requirements, not just on the audio return feature. HDMI LA’s 2025 guidance says Premium High Speed cables can support configurations up to 18 Gbps and Ultra High Speed cables up to 48 Gbps. Its current cable guide, accessed in 2026, describes Premium High Speed as certified for up to 18 Gbps and 4K60-class features, and Ultra High Speed as supporting up to 48 Gbps for systems including 8K60 and 4K120.
| Cable class | HDMI LA capability cited | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Premium High Speed HDMI | Certified for up to 18 Gbps; HDMI LA describes support for 4K60-class features. | Use when the video requirements of the connected path fit this class. |
| Ultra High Speed HDMI | Supports up to 48 Gbps; intended for systems including 8K60 and 4K120. | Look for the official certification label on the packaging and cable jacket, and choose the needed connector length. |
HDMI LA says either Premium High Speed or Ultra High Speed can provide the best audio performance when the cable supports the system’s video capabilities. That is why a cable adequate for the audio return may still be inadequate for a high-refresh-rate video path elsewhere in the setup.
For a new cable purchase, “certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable” is a useful category-level search phrase if your system needs that video class. Check for the official certification label on the packaging and cable jacket. Do not treat the words “HDMI 2.1” on their own as proof that a cable is certified Ultra High Speed.
Why your soundbar may not be getting the expected audio
No sound from the TV
- Check that the cable connects the TV’s ARC/eARC socket to the soundbar or receiver’s ARC/eARC output, not to ordinary HDMI ports.
- Confirm the TV audio output is set to the external audio system or HDMI ARC/eARC option.
- Check that the soundbar or receiver is set to its TV ARC/eARC input.
- If the devices are not discovering each other, enable HDMI-CEC or the manufacturer’s equivalent and check whether the TV has a separate eARC setting.
The system plays sound but does not receive the desired format
- Confirm the source, TV, and audio system all support that format. A format listed as supported by eARC is not automatically supported by every device in the chain.
- Check whether the TV’s digital audio output is set to passthrough, bitstream, or the equivalent mode when the goal is to send the source format onward.
- Use a known supported source and format to distinguish a compatibility issue from an app that provides only compressed audio.
- If the TV supports eARC but the soundbar or receiver supports only ARC, expect ARC-level capabilities on that connection.
Video works, but audio return is unreliable
A cable can carry video and still be connected to the wrong socket for audio return. Recheck the port labels at both ends. If the ports are correct and the cable is old or uncertified, try a certified cable whose class matches the system’s video needs. For high-refresh-rate or higher-bandwidth video, assess the complete video path rather than choosing a cable only for eARC.
Quick Recap
Practical decision checklist
- Choose ARC if your source formats and audio system are adequately served by ARC and you do not need eARC’s higher-bandwidth formats.
- Choose eARC when you want a return path capable of carrying supported uncompressed multichannel or high-bitrate formats, and every relevant component supports the format.
- Before buying or rewiring, check the labels on the TV and audio system, their format support, and the TV’s audio output settings.
- Select a certified cable class that meets the video requirements of the connected path; do not infer certification from a version number printed in a product description.
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