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Choose HDMI ARC or eARC when your TV and soundbar or AV receiver both have the required labeled ports and you want HDMI-based control features. Choose optical digital audio when ARC is unavailable, incompatible, or optical is the connection both devices provide. ARC and eARC are not interchangeable capabilities, and neither port guarantees every audio format: the TV, audio device, source, cable, and settings must support the format together. Check the manuals for your exact models before buying a cable or expecting Dolby Atmos, lossless audio, TV-remote volume, or automatic power control.
Should I use optical or HDMI ARC for my soundbar?
For a current TV-to-soundbar or TV-to-receiver installation, HDMI ARC/eARC is usually the better first choice because one HDMI connection can return TV audio and enable HDMI-dependent control features. Optical is a dependable fallback for older or ARC-incompatible equipment, provided the TV has an optical output and the audio device has an optical input. The right answer is determined by the labels and capabilities on both devices, not by the cable alone.
Sony’s connection guidance ranks an HDMI ARC-compatible connection first, then optical, while emphasizing that the appropriate method depends on the connected models. Its support article was modified January 20, 2026, so use the current manual for your particular television and sound system as the final authority: Sony’s connection guide.
| Decision point | HDMI ARC | HDMI eARC | Optical digital audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ports required | ARC-capable HDMI port on the TV and audio device | eARC-capable HDMI port on both devices | Optical output on the TV and optical input on the audio device |
| What carries TV sound | Audio returns through the HDMI cable | Audio returns through HDMI with enhanced capabilities | Audio travels through a TOSLINK optical cable |
| Format decision | Verify the exact TV, audio device, source, and content support | HDMI Licensing Administrator lists high-bitrate and uncompressed formats, but end-to-end support is still required | Verify the exact model support; there is no universal format table in the cited guidance |
| TV-remote and power features | Can support HDMI-dependent functions when the devices and settings support them | Can support HDMI-dependent functions when the devices and settings support them | Optical-only connections do not provide HDMI-dependent TV-remote volume and power-interlock functions according to Sony |
| Best fit | A compatible basic TV-to-audio connection where ARC features meet your needs | A compatible system that needs eARC capabilities and has eARC support throughout | An older or ARC-incompatible system, or one where optical is the available digital connection |
What are optical audio, HDMI ARC, and HDMI eARC?
Optical audio is a separate digital sound link
Optical audio, commonly called TOSLINK, sends digital audio as pulses of light through a fiber-optic cable. The TV’s optical digital output connects directly to the soundbar’s or receiver’s optical input. It is independent of HDMI video connections, so it does not create an HDMI control link between the two devices.
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Both ends must have the correct optical ports. A television with only an optical input cannot send TV sound out through that socket, and a soundbar with only an optical output cannot receive it. Confirm the direction and label in each manual before connecting anything.
ARC uses an HDMI port as both input and audio return
ARC means Audio Return Channel. HDMI Licensing Administrator explains that ARC allows an HDMI connection to function as a video input and an audio output when the correct ARC-enabled ports and cable are used. That lets the TV return sound from its tuner, built-in apps, or other TV-managed sources to the soundbar or receiver without a separate optical lead. ARC was introduced in 2009, according to the administrator’s consumer guidance: How To Get the Best Sound From a TV.
ARC is not available on every HDMI socket. Look for ARC or eARC/ARC printed next to the TV port, then follow the audio device’s instructions for its TV-out, HDMI OUT, ARC, or eARC connection. A regular HDMI port without the return-channel capability will not create ARC simply because an HDMI cable is plugged into it.
eARC is the enhanced return channel
eARC is an enhanced version of ARC with greater audio bandwidth and more advanced capability. HDMI Licensing Administrator lists formats such as Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X in its eARC guidance: Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC). The TV, audio device, source, application, and content path must all support the desired format; an eARC label by itself is not a guarantee.
eARC also improves device discovery. HDMI Licensing Administrator says, “With eARC, discovery of multiple components — i.e., TVs, AVRs, soundbars, set-top boxes, etc. — is built in, which is not the case with ARC.” That does not remove the need to enable the appropriate TV and audio-device settings or to check firmware and model documentation.
What audio formats can optical, ARC, and eARC carry?
There is no safe universal format promise for every ARC or optical installation. A connection’s maximum result is limited by the least capable device in the chain and by the way the TV handles the source. Check the television, soundbar or receiver, source device, and content specifications together.
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Why eARC is the safer choice for high-bitrate formats
The official eARC specification guidance explicitly names Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X as examples of high-bitrate or uncompressed formats that eARC can carry. That describes the capability of the eARC channel, not the guaranteed behavior of every television or soundbar. A TV may not pass a particular source format, an application may deliver a different soundtrack, or the audio device may decode only some formats.
Why ARC format support must be checked model by model
ARC has less capacity than eARC, but the cited guidance does not establish one universal ARC codec list. Some systems support particular compressed surround formats while others fall back to stereo or another setting. Read the specifications for the exact TV and audio device, and identify the source format before assuming that an ARC label means Dolby Atmos or another advanced soundtrack will work.
Why optical format support cannot be assumed
Optical is a digital connection, but the available formats still depend on the transmitting TV and receiving device. The official guidance used here does not provide a universal optical format table, so do not infer Atmos, multichannel PCM, or a specific surround mode from the presence of a TOSLINK socket. Use the model manuals and the TV’s selectable digital-audio-output options.
What control features do you lose with optical?
HDMI can carry control signaling alongside audio when compatible devices support HDMI-CEC and related functions. This can allow a TV remote to adjust the soundbar’s volume and can coordinate power behavior, although manufacturers use different settings and menu names and implementation varies by model.
Sony states: “When you connect only with an optical audio cable, functions which require an HDMI connection, such as power interlock and volume control with the TV remote, won’t be possible.” Its setup instructions are at Connect a soundbar to your TV.
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Optical also cannot provide HDMI-CEC communication. Sonos’ requirements page explains that its listed ARC-required products lose CEC and supported voice-assistant control when connected through the optical fallback: TV requirements for Sonos home theater speakers. The exact controls on other brands differ, but the underlying limitation is the same: an optical cable carries audio, not HDMI control data.
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How do I check compatibility before choosing a connection?
Inspect both devices before purchasing a cable. Use this sequence:
- Read the TV port labels. Identify an HDMI socket marked ARC or eARC/ARC. Also check whether the television has an optical digital audio output.
- Read the soundbar or receiver labels. Find the HDMI input or output specifically marked ARC/eARC, usually described as the TV connection, and look for an optical input.
- Compare the capabilities. If you want high-bitrate or uncompressed formats, confirm eARC support on the TV and audio device and verify that the source path supports the format. If ARC is the only HDMI return option, check its model-specific format list.
- Check control requirements. If you want TV-remote volume, automatic power behavior, CEC, or supported voice controls, use the HDMI connection only when both products document those functions.
- Check the manuals and firmware notes. Menu labels, supported codecs, port behavior, and control functions can change by model and firmware. Sony’s guidance explicitly directs users to model-specific instructions.
How do I connect a soundbar or receiver with HDMI ARC or eARC?
Use the following procedure for a standard one-TV, one-audio-device installation. Exact menu names vary, so treat the labels in your manuals as authoritative.
- Power off both devices. This reduces the chance of an HDMI handshake problem while you change the wiring.
- Connect the TV’s labeled port. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the television’s HDMI ARC or eARC/ARC socket.
- Connect the audio device’s TV socket. Plug the other end into the soundbar’s or receiver’s HDMI port labeled ARC, eARC, HDMI OUT (TV), or the equivalent wording in its manual. Do not use an ordinary HDMI input unless the manual specifically identifies it as the return-channel connection.
- Select the audio input. Set the soundbar or receiver to its TV, ARC, or eARC input rather than optical or another source.
- Set the television’s sound output. In the TV’s sound menu, choose the HDMI audio system, receiver, or audio-output option corresponding to ARC/eARC. Enable HDMI-CEC or the manufacturer’s equivalent control setting if the manual requires it.
- Choose a digital-audio format deliberately. Start with the TV’s automatic or pass-through option if your devices support it. If the audio drops out or the receiver cannot decode the signal, temporarily select PCM or another documented compatible option, then verify the supported format before changing it back.
- Test several sources. Try a built-in TV app, a broadcast or tuner source if available, and an external device. Confirm sound, volume control, power behavior, and the format indicator on the receiver when applicable.
ARC and eARC are separate capabilities. If the TV is eARC-capable but the audio device is ARC-only, or vice versa, consult both manuals for the supported operating mode instead of assuming that every eARC feature will be available. The HDMI Licensing Administrator’s consumer guidance is at How To Get the Best Sound From a TV.
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- Locate the optical output on the TV. It may be labeled Optical, Digital Audio Out, or a similar term. Confirm that it is an output, not an optical input.
- Locate the optical input on the soundbar or receiver. The receiving socket may be labeled Optical In, Digital In, or TOSLINK.
- Connect the TOSLINK cable. Insert one end into the TV’s optical output and the other into the audio device’s optical input. Make sure the plugs are fully seated and that you have not connected to a similarly shaped but differently labeled socket.
- Select optical on the audio device. Use the soundbar or receiver remote or front-panel control to choose Optical or Digital as the active input.
- Set the TV’s audio output. Choose optical or digital audio out in the TV’s sound settings. If the TV offers PCM, pass-through, or a format-specific option, select the setting supported by the receiving device according to its manual.
- Test the result. Confirm that TV audio is present at a normal volume, then test the content types you actually watch. Optical will not establish HDMI-CEC control, so use the audio device’s remote for functions that require HDMI signaling.
What should I do if there is no sound over ARC or optical?
If HDMI ARC or eARC is silent
- Confirm that both ends are connected to the ports specifically labeled ARC or eARC, not merely any HDMI socket.
- Verify that the soundbar or receiver is set to its TV/ARC/eARC input and that the TV is set to the HDMI audio system rather than its internal speakers.
- Check that HDMI-CEC and ARC/eARC are enabled where the manuals require them. Manufacturers may use different names for these settings.
- Power-cycle the TV and audio device after changing the settings so they can rediscover the connection.
- Test a documented compatible audio-output mode. A format mismatch can produce silence even when the physical link is working.
- Try a known-good HDMI cable that meets the device maker’s stated requirements. A new cable cannot add ARC or eARC to a port that lacks the capability.
If optical is silent
- Check that the cable runs from the TV’s optical output to the audio device’s optical input and that Optical/Digital is selected on the receiving device.
- Confirm that the TV’s sound menu is sending audio to the optical output instead of the internal speakers or HDMI system.
- Choose a format the audio device documents as supported. If a pass-through or surround setting is not recognized, use PCM for a compatibility test.
- Inspect the cable ends and sockets for a loose connection, then reseat both plugs. Optical connectors must be fully inserted for the light path to work.
- Remember that optical can restore sound without restoring TV-remote volume, power interlock, CEC, or listed voice controls; those are HDMI-dependent functions.
If sound works but the remote or power behavior does not
That symptom usually points to control signaling rather than the audio path. With optical, the limitation is expected because the cable carries no HDMI-CEC data. With ARC/eARC, check that CEC is enabled on both devices, that the soundbar is on the ARC/eARC input, and that the exact models document the control feature you want.
Which connection is better for Dolby Atmos or lossless audio?
Start with eARC when the TV, audio device, source, and content all support it. HDMI Licensing Administrator’s eARC guidance identifies Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X among the formats eARC is designed to carry. You still need to verify the whole path: an app, streaming device, game console, or disc player may output a different format, and the TV may process or limit it before returning audio.
Do not treat “ARC” as a synonym for “eARC.” ARC and eARC have different capabilities, and the available data’s official sources do not establish a universal ARC or optical format matrix. If the product manuals do not explicitly list the format and connection combination, choose a documented compatible mode rather than relying on the port label.
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Can a regular HDMI cable be used for ARC or eARC?
HDMI Licensing Administrator says HDMI cables support ARC when connected to ARC-enabled ports. For eARC, its cable guidance says Ultra HDMI cables are designed for eARC; some Ethernet-equipped HDMI cable types may work, but they are not certified for eARC operation in every case. Consult the current cable and device documentation for the intended use: HDMI Cables – Different Cable Types.
The cable cannot create a missing feature. If the TV or soundbar has no ARC/eARC-capable port, replacing the cable will not turn an ordinary HDMI connection into an audio return channel. Conversely, if both devices support ARC and the cable meets their requirements, you do not need an optical cable as a second audio path.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which connection should I choose in common setups?
Both devices have ARC ports and you want simple daily control
Use HDMI ARC after confirming the labeled ports and enabling the required TV and audio-device settings. This keeps TV audio and HDMI-dependent control on one connection. Verify the supported formats if your priority is surround sound rather than basic stereo.
Both devices have eARC and you use high-bitrate soundtracks
Use eARC and follow the cable requirements in the device manuals. Confirm that the source and content path support the soundtrack you want; eARC capability on the TV and soundbar does not automatically make every app or source deliver that format.
The TV has no ARC/eARC port, or the ARC connection is incompatible
Use optical if the television has an optical digital output and the audio device has an optical input. You will get a separate digital audio path, but not HDMI-dependent volume, power interlock, CEC, or listed voice-control functions.
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The soundbar is older but has optical input
Optical is the practical connection when there is no compatible HDMI return channel. Check the soundbar’s supported input formats and use the TV’s digital-audio-output setting that the manual specifies.
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If you expect to upgrade the TV or audio device for advanced formats or integrated control, compare the replacement products’ ARC/eARC labels, codec support, and cable requirements before buying. Port presence alone is not enough; compatibility must exist on both ends and through the source path.
What common mistakes cause ARC and optical problems?
- Using the wrong HDMI socket: an ordinary HDMI input may show video but cannot return TV audio. Use the socket marked ARC or eARC.
- Assuming every HDMI cable adds eARC: cable capability and device-port capability are separate requirements.
- Leaving the audio device on the wrong input: a correctly wired ARC or optical connection produces no sound if the bar or receiver is still set to Bluetooth, HDMI input, or another source.
- Expecting optical to control the TV: optical carries audio only; Sony specifically excludes TV-remote volume and power interlock for optical-only setups.
- Assuming a format from a logo: Dolby Atmos or another format may be limited by the TV, source, app, cable, or receiver. Confirm the end-to-end support.
- Copying menu instructions from another brand: HDMI-CEC, ARC, and digital-output labels differ. Follow the exact model manuals.
- Adding a cable instead of checking ports: no cable can provide ARC/eARC when the hardware port does not support it.
What does the official guidance say about ARC’s history and discovery?
HDMI Licensing Administrator’s consumer article says, “ARC, or Audio Return Channel, was introduced in 2009.” The same article explains that ARC simplifies wiring by allowing HDMI to act as both an input and an audio output when the correct ports and cable are used. Its eARC section adds built-in discovery of multiple components, a capability it says is not part of ARC: How To Get the Best Sound From a TV.
These statements describe the technology’s intended behavior, not a guarantee for every product combination. Exact port availability, supported codecs, menu labels, and control behavior vary by product and can change with firmware. Check the current documentation for the television and audio device you own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does HDMI ARC carry sound from built-in TV apps?
Yes. ARC is designed to return audio generated by the TV to a connected soundbar or receiver over HDMI, which can include audio from TV-managed sources such as built-in apps. The app’s soundtrack still has to be converted or passed through in a format the TV and audio device support.
Does an ARC port still work as a normal HDMI video connection?
The ARC port is an HDMI connection that can serve as a video input while also providing the audio return channel when the paired device and settings support it. Using it for ARC does not create extra HDMI inputs; it remains one of the TV’s existing HDMI sockets.
Why does optical audio work but voice control or automatic power switching not?
Optical transmits the audio signal but has no HDMI-CEC control channel. Sony excludes TV-remote volume and power interlock for optical-only wiring, and some systems also document loss of CEC-based voice controls when optical is used.
Can eARC guarantee Dolby Atmos from every streaming app?
No. eARC is capable of carrying formats listed by HDMI Licensing Administrator, including Dolby Atmos, but the TV, app, source device, content track, cable, and soundbar or receiver must all support the same path. A service or device may output a different soundtrack even when both ports are labeled eARC.
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No. ARC and eARC are port capabilities as well as cable functions. A cable may meet the requirements for an enabled ARC/eARC connection, but it cannot add a return-channel feature to an ordinary HDMI port.
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