HDMI 2.1 and soundbars/eARC

[MerrickG]

I am getting conflicting information and I was hoping to get something resembling a straight answer:

Does both my TV and soundbar need to be HDMI 2.1 compliant in order to take advantage of eARC?

I had heard that the soundbar doesn't need to be HDMI 2.1 compliant to receive a fullblow lossless Atmos signal from the TV. The only time I was told that HDMI 2.1 would matter is if I was running something else that needed HDMI 2.1 bandwidth such as next gen consoles.

[Lee A Stewart]

HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC: everything you need to know

https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/h...u-need-to-know

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC: everything you need to know

https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/h...u-need-to-know

That doesn't really help me all that much.

[jhawkjd]

Let me share what I think I've learned since I bought a Sony A9F a year ago with hopes of streaming HD audio through my TV apps to my sound system. eArc is a part of the HDMI 2.1 specification. But eArc can be implemented on certain HDMI hardware that is only HDMI 2.0 compliant. That is what Sony (and others who offer eArc now) have done with their eArc HDMI port. However it must communicate with a similar eArc enabled HDMI port on the other end. If your soundbar does not have an eArc enabled port on it, you will not be able to use the eArc function on the TV without more and will be stuck using the old arc standard or sending the sound to your audio via optical cable, both of which are limited to lossy Dolby 5.1. (The Sony UHD-700 player has a separate HDMI port (not eArc) that outputs the audio. It would have been nice if Sony had built that into their TV as well, but they did not.) You do have an option of buying a fairly pricey product that overcomes the issue of not having eArc on the component connected to the TV (hdfury.com) or waiting for eArc products (whether based on HDMI 2.0 or 2.1) to hit the market.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by jhawkjd

Let me share what I think I've learned since I bought a Sony A9F a year ago with hopes of streaming HD audio through my TV apps to my sound system. eArc is a part of the HDMI 2.1 specification. But eArc can be implemented on certain HDMI hardware that is only HDMI 2.0 compliant. That is what Sony (and others who offer eArc now) have done with their eArc HDMI port. However it must communicate with a similar eArc enabled HDMI port on the other end. If your soundbar does not have an eArc enabled port on it, you will not be able to use the eArc function on the TV without more and will be stuck using the old arc standard or sending the sound to your audio via optical cable, both of which are limited to lossy Dolby 5.1. (The Sony UHD-700 player has a separate HDMI port (not eArc) that outputs the audio. It would have been nice if Sony had built that into their TV as well, but they did not.) You do have an option of buying a fairly pricey product that overcomes the issue of not having eArc on the component connected to the TV (hdfury.com) or waiting for eArc products (whether based on HDMI 2.0 or 2.1) to hit the market.

From what I've gathered is that the thing I need to be looking for is determining which sound bars support eARC. If that is displayed it should work.

[oddbox83]

If your TV also does that is.

[jhawkjd]

Originally Posted by MerrickG

From what I've gathered is that the thing I need to be looking for is determining which sound bars support eARC. If that is displayed it should work.

That's my belief. I'm waiting for Anthem to upgrade their systems to add eArc so I can upgrade my 12 year old receiver. I don't think they will offer that without going straight to HDMI 2.1 hardware so the HDFury products have piqued my interest.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MerrickG

I am getting conflicting information and I was hoping to get something resembling a straight answer:

Does both my TV and soundbar need to be HDMI 2.1 compliant in order to take advantage of eARC?

I had heard that the soundbar doesn't need to be HDMI 2.1 compliant to receive a fullblow lossless Atmos signal from the TV. The only time I was told that HDMI 2.1 would matter is if I was running something else that needed HDMI 2.1 bandwidth such as next gen consoles.

Both devices need to support eARC. If you're sound bar has HDMI 2.0 it may be able to get a firmware update to support eARC.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by chip75

Both devices need to support eARC. If you're sound bar has HDMI 2.0 it may be able to get a firmware update to support eARC.

I am fixing to get an LG C9 OLED so Im good to go right there.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MerrickG

I am fixing to get an LG C9 OLED so Im good to go right there.

The C9 supports eARC, what were you planning to plug it into sound wise?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by chip75

The C9 supports eARC, what were you planning to plug it into sound wise?

Trying to find something that will work thats why I formed this thread.

I was debating on ditching my older receiver and going with a soundbar, but any soundbar that is worth a damn costs over $500 and I can't find a cheaper one that supports eARC.

So I am probably just going to use the eARC of the Denon AVR-S750H
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S75.../dp/B07QQ87Y6M

How I will run it, is run my 4K player and FireTV stick directly into the receiver since they don't need HDMI 2.1 features and then run HDMI 2.1 consoles coming next year through the receiver.

If there is a cheap under $500 Atmos/DTSX soundbar, Im all game. I know a receiver setup will sound better, but the convenience of a soundbar is too great to ignore.