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Use HDMI ARC when both your TV and receiver or amplifier have matching ARC/eARC ports. It carries the TV’s sound over one HDMI cable and may also enable linked volume and power control. If ARC is unavailable or incompatible, use an optical digital connection. If neither digital option is possible, connect a matching analog stereo output and input, such as a TV headphone jack to an amplifier’s RCA input.
The correct connection depends on the ports actually labeled on both devices. This guide shows the cable path, the settings to change, and the checks that restore sound when the system is silent.
Which connection should I choose?
Choose the highest option in this table that your two devices support. ARC is the preferred route, optical is the digital fallback, and analog is the option when matching analog ports are all you have.
| Method | TV port | Receiver or amplifier port | What it provides | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI ARC or eARC/ARC | HDMI input explicitly labeled ARC or eARC/ARC | HDMI OUT labeled ARC or eARC/ARC | TV audio over HDMI; compatible HDMI control features can link volume and power | Both devices support ARC and the required settings |
| Optical digital audio | OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT | OPTICAL IN or DIGITAL AUDIO IN | Dedicated digital audio connection | ARC is missing or incompatible, but both devices have optical ports |
| Analog stereo | Analog audio output, commonly a stereo mini/headphone jack or RCA output | Matching analog audio input | Two-channel analog audio; cable type depends on the actual sockets | Digital connections are unavailable and the output-to-input ports match |
One ARC-capable device is not enough. The television and the receiver must both support the feature, and the cable must run between the specifically labeled ports. Sony’s connection guidance places ARC first, optical second, and analog third.
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How do I connect a TV to a receiver with HDMI ARC?
Connect the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC socket to the receiver’s HDMI OUT ARC/eARC socket, then enable ARC and HDMI control in both devices. Select the external audio system on the TV and the TV/ARC input on the receiver.
1. Identify the correct HDMI sockets
Look at the labels printed beside the ports, not merely the number of the socket. On the TV, the required port is an HDMI input marked ARC or eARC/ARC. On the receiver, use the HDMI output marked ARC or eARC/ARC. A regular HDMI input on the receiver is not the return-audio connection.
2. Use the right cable and connect it directly
Plug one end of a High Speed HDMI cable into the television’s ARC port and the other into the receiver’s HDMI OUT ARC port. Sony Support states: “A High Speed HDMI Cable is needed to enable the ARC function.” During diagnosis, use a known-good cable and avoid adapters, extenders, and unusually long cable runs.
3. Turn on ARC and HDMI control
Open the HDMI or external-device settings on both products and enable ARC. If the menus include HDMI Control, CEC, or a manufacturer-specific name for linked HDMI control, enable that as well when you want the TV remote to operate the receiver. Menu wording and the available controls vary by model, so use each device’s manual for the exact path.
4. Select the external audio system on the TV
In the TV’s sound or speaker menu, change the output from the internal speakers to Audio System, External speakers, or the equivalent label. The TV must be instructed to send sound out through ARC; simply inserting the HDMI cable does not guarantee that change.
5. Select the TV/ARC input on the receiver
Use the receiver’s input selector to choose TV, TV Audio, ARC, or the model’s equivalent. Start playback from a TV source and raise the receiver’s volume. If the connection is working and HDMI control is supported by both products, the TV remote may also adjust the receiver and coordinate power behavior.
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How do I connect the TV by optical digital audio?
Run an optical cable from the TV’s OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT to the receiver’s OPTICAL IN or DIGITAL AUDIO IN, select that input on the receiver, and configure the TV’s digital-audio format if necessary.
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The television must have an optical digital output, and the receiver must have an optical input. Optical sockets may be protected by a small flap or removable cap. Do not insert an optical plug into an HDMI, USB, or analog socket.
2. Connect the cable in the correct direction
- Remove any protective caps from the optical cable.
- Connect one end to OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT on the TV.
- Connect the other end to OPTICAL IN or DIGITAL AUDIO IN on the receiver.
- Choose that optical input with the receiver’s input control.
Denon’s AVR-S760H owner manual directs owners of televisions without ARC/eARC compatibility to use optical for TV audio. The same routing applies to other receivers when their labels and manuals identify an optical TV-audio input.
3. Set the TV’s digital output format
If the receiver remains silent, open the TV’s Digital Audio Out setting. Select PCM when the receiver does not support the format currently being sent, such as a selected DTS or Dolby Digital mode. The exact menu path and available choices depend on the television.
4. Understand the control limitation
Optical carries audio only. An optical-only hookup does not carry HDMI control functions, so TV-remote volume control and automatic power interlock may not be available through this connection. Use the receiver’s remote or front-panel controls unless your particular equipment provides a separate control method.
How do I connect analog stereo audio?
Use an analog output on the TV and a compatible analog input on the receiver. The cable must match the sockets at both ends, and the signal must travel from the TV’s output to the receiver’s input.
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Common cable arrangements
- Stereo mini-to-RCA: a 3.5 mm stereo or headphone-style plug at the TV end and two RCA plugs at the receiver end.
- RCA-to-RCA: left and right RCA plugs at both ends when the TV provides RCA audio out and the receiver provides the corresponding analog input.
These are examples, not interchangeable rules. Check that the TV jack is marked as an output and that the receiver sockets are marked as inputs before plugging anything in. A similarly shaped connector can still have the wrong signal direction.
Connect and select the input
- Locate the TV’s analog audio output, such as a stereo mini/headphone jack or red-and-white RCA output.
- Locate a matching analog input on the receiver, such as an RCA input assigned to an available source.
- Connect the cable without forcing the plugs; match left and right RCA channels where applicable.
- Select the receiver input used for the cable.
- In the TV’s sound settings, choose the available external, line, or analog output option if the model requires one.
Analog is the fallback when the digital ports do not exist or cannot be used. Because the output level and menu behavior differ among televisions, consult the TV manual if the receiver input is selected but no signal arrives.
What settings must be changed after connecting?
A working cable still produces silence if the TV is sending sound to its own speakers or the receiver is listening to another input. Check these controls in order.
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- TV speaker output: choose Audio System, External speakers, or the equivalent instead of Internal TV speakers.
- Receiver input: select TV/ARC for HDMI, the named optical input for optical, or the analog input used for the stereo cable.
- ARC and HDMI Control: enable both on the TV and receiver when using ARC and when linked control is required.
- Digital audio format: for ARC or optical silence caused by a format mismatch, try PCM.
- Source test: test a TV broadcast, streaming app, or another known-audio source so you can distinguish a connection problem from a source-specific problem.
Why is there no sound over HDMI ARC?
Most ARC failures come from an incorrect port, incomplete compatibility, disabled control settings, or a cable problem. Work through the checks in this order.
Check compatibility and labels
Verify ARC support in both manuals and inspect the labels on both devices. A TV with ARC connected to a receiver without ARC cannot establish a return-audio path. Likewise, a receiver with ARC connected to a normal TV HDMI input will not receive the TV’s sound through that socket.
Verify the cable path
Reseat both ends and confirm the path is exactly TV HDMI ARC/eARC → receiver HDMI OUT ARC/eARC. Replace the cable with a known-good High Speed HDMI cable. Sony advises avoiding adapters, extenders, and long cables while troubleshooting because each adds another possible point of failure.
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Enable the required controls
Open both devices’ settings and turn on ARC. Turn on HDMI Control or CEC if the model requires it for ARC operation or linked remote functions. Some products expose these as separate switches, so enabling only one may not be sufficient.
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Set the active speakers and input
Set the TV to Audio System or external speakers and set the receiver to TV/ARC. If either device remains on an internal-speaker or unrelated-source setting, the cable can be electrically connected while the system remains silent.
Power-reset the system
Turn off both units, disconnect them from power briefly, then reconnect and power them on again. Recheck the ARC settings and input selection after the restart. If other HDMI devices are attached, temporarily isolate the TV and receiver from them while testing; this removes competing HDMI-control interactions from the diagnosis.
Try PCM for a format mismatch
If ARC is recognized but no audio is heard, change the TV’s Digital Audio Out format to PCM and test again. A receiver may not decode the DTS or Dolby Digital format selected on the TV, while PCM can provide a compatible signal. Menu names differ by television model.
How do I troubleshoot optical audio with no sound?
Optical troubleshooting is mostly about direction, input selection, and the TV’s output format.
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- Choose the receiver input assigned to that optical socket; selecting TV/ARC will not listen to an optical source unless the model specifically maps it that way.
- Check that both optical plugs are fully seated and that protective caps were removed.
- Set the TV’s Digital Audio Out format to PCM if the receiver does not support the current DTS or Dolby Digital selection.
- Remember that optical does not provide HDMI-linked volume or power control; lack of those controls is a limitation of the connection, not evidence that the audio cable is defective.
How do I troubleshoot analog audio with no sound?
Analog failures usually result from using an input as though it were an output, choosing the wrong receiver source, or using a cable that does not match the sockets.
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- Read the labels beside both jacks and confirm the TV jack is an audio out and the receiver jack is an audio in.
- Confirm that the cable is stereo mini-to-RCA or RCA-to-RCA as required by the actual ports; do not rely on the plug’s appearance alone.
- Match the receiver’s selected input to the sockets used for the cable.
- Check the TV sound menu for an available external, line, or analog output selection.
- Try another known-audio TV source and raise the receiver volume after selecting the correct input.
What cables and accessories do I actually need?
Buy or reuse only the cable that matches the ports you have identified.
| Connection | Required cable | Inspection before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI ARC | High Speed HDMI cable | Both devices must have labeled ARC/eARC ports; many households already have a suitable HDMI cable. |
| Optical | Optical digital audio (TOSLINK) cable | Confirm an optical output on the TV and an optical input on the receiver. |
| Analog | Stereo mini-to-RCA, RCA-to-RCA, or another cable matching both sockets | Identify the exact output and input first; analog cable ends are device-specific. |
There is no universal “TV audio cable.” Inspect the labels and connector shapes before ordering, and avoid adapters until you have confirmed that a direct, correctly terminated cable cannot be used.
What is the simplest decision process?
- Inspect the TV and receiver for HDMI ARC or eARC/ARC labels.
- If both have matching ARC ports, connect TV ARC to receiver HDMI OUT ARC with a High Speed HDMI cable and enable ARC and HDMI Control/CEC as required.
- If ARC is absent or incompatible, look for TV OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO OUT and receiver OPTICAL IN; connect them, select the optical input, and use PCM if a format mismatch causes silence.
- If optical is unavailable, find matching analog output and input ports and choose the cable whose ends fit those exact sockets.
- After every connection, verify the TV speaker output and receiver input before replacing cables or changing advanced settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a TV need eARC specifically for this connection?
No. The basic return-audio setup can use ports labeled ARC; some newer equipment labels its compatible port eARC/ARC. Follow the capabilities and cable requirements stated in both device manuals rather than assuming that an eARC label is required.
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No direct optical-to-HDMI connection is established by plugging one into the other; they use different signal paths and sockets. Use the TV and receiver’s matching optical ports, or choose ARC or analog when those are the available compatible options.
Why does the receiver display a TV source but remain silent?
The display only confirms the selected receiver input; it does not prove that the TV is sending compatible audio. Check the TV’s external-speaker setting and, for ARC or optical, try PCM as the digital output format.
Will an optical connection let my TV remote control receiver volume?
Not through HDMI control. Optical-only wiring carries the audio signal but not HDMI-linked volume or power commands, so use the receiver’s controls unless your equipment offers another control system.
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