Connecting soundbars and surround sound systems to a TV has never been easier thanks to modern HDMI ARC and eARC ports. There’s no need for specialized optical or coaxial cables, and they have a simple plug and play design that works with a standard HDMI cable.
That said, HDMI ARC and eARC have different capabilities and knowing the difference between them can upgrade your smart TV’s sound quality. Today I’ll break down the differences between the two, so you know what they’re capable of and can see which standard your audio equipment supports. I found the difference between HDMI ARC and eARC and one is clearly better.
What is HDMI?
A universal connector for AV equipment
It’s best to get a basic understanding of HDMI before delving into its audio standard. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a connector standard first introduced in 2002 as a universal way to connect AV products.
You can think of it as USB for TVs.
You can think of it as USB for TVs. Just like USB, it’s changed over the years with each iteration offering faster speeds and better features based on increased bandwidth. In the real world, these translate to higher resolutions and refresh rates, and of course, audio standards, like HDMI ARC and ARC.
What is HDMI ARC?
A way to transmit audio signals
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) first appeared in 2009 with HDMI 1.4 as a new standard for connecting audio equipment, like soundbars and home theater systems to your TV or projector. Most TVs have multiple HDMI ports, but not all will support HDMI ARC.
This standard supports formats, like DTS Digital Surround Sound, Stereo PCM audio, Dolby Digital, amongst others. However, its performance is limited by its 1Mbps bitrate. Also, audio support for all codecs isn’t mandatory, and some TV brands might exclude them from certain models.
What is HDMI eARC?
The upgraded version
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the updated version of HDMI ARC. It was introduced with HDMI 2.1 in 2019 and offers a substantial bandwidth increase over its predecessor. You get a huge bandwidth increase of up to 37 Mbps that can support lossless audio from Blu-ray and 4K discs. It also has enhanced lip-sync correction functions and supports formats, like DTS:X. Dolby Atmos with Dolby TrueHD.
What are the differences between HDMI ARC and eARC
Bandwidth and other features
The main difference between the two is the increased bandwidth offered by eARC. You can check out the chart below to get an idea of each one’s full specs.
|
Feature |
HDMI ARC |
HDMI eARC |
|
Introduced |
HDMI 1.4 |
HDMI 2.1 |
|
Maximum bandwidth |
1Mbps |
37Mbps |
|
Dolby Atmos |
Via Dolby Digital Plus |
Via Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus |
|
Dolby Digital Plus |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Stereo PCM |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dolby TrueHD |
No |
Yes |
|
DTS-HD MA |
No |
Yes |
|
DTS:X |
No |
Yes |
|
Lip-sync correction |
Yes |
Yes (upgraded) |
|
HDMI-CEC |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multichannel PCM |
No |
Yes |
|
Dolby Digital |
Yes |
Yes |
Can you upgrade HDMI ARC to eARC?
To an extent
Unfortunately, you can’t upgrade HDMI ARC to eARC because the function is hardware and not software-based. Your old TV HDMI ARC TV will work with the latest eARC soundbars, but will default to the slower standard. The best you can do to upgrade your TV is get a third-party adapter, but it carries some risks. Every adapter is different and there’s no guarantee you’ll get full eARC performance.
Do you need a specific HDMI cable to unlock eARC?
Some are better than others
Most new HDMI cables should work with eARC, but it’s worth getting Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cables to ensure the best performance and highest bandwidth for the video and audio signals. Device compatibility is a bigger factor than the cable you’re using. It pretty much comes down to both devices, like the TV and soundbar, having eARC compatibility to work together.
Your eARC-compatible TV will work with an ARC soundbar but will revert to the lower standard.
As mentioned earlier, eARC is backward-compatible. Your eARC-compatible TV will work with an ARC soundbar but will revert to the lower standard. It’s the same vice versa, and you can expect something similar if you connect an ARC-compatible TV to an eARC soundbar.
Do you need HDMI eARC on all your devices?
It has its benefits
This is a tricky question and the answer depends on several factors. In theory, it’s nice to have the latest equipment with the best abilities. In reality, everyone has different budgets and requirements, and eARC is worth it if you’ll use it to its full capabilities.
To enjoy its benefits, you’ll need a compatible TV and a high-end soundbar or surround sound system that can accurately reproduce lossless audio. It’s definitely the better choice for cinephiles who love physical media like Blu-ray and 4K discs.
That said, you can still get decent surround sound from the standard HDMI ARC. It will be perfectly fine if you have low to mid-range audio equipment or prefer streaming, which has compressed audio to reduce its bitrate.
