Question about HDMI ARC

[Michael11]

Every article i read about ARC boasts that it's better than optical because you only need one cable.

Right now my setup is: Bluray player connected to TV via HDMI. TV connected to soundbar via optical.

I don't see how ARC uses less cables than this....it uses the same amount of cables...or am i missing something?

[Scarriere]

With optical you only get lossy sound. No multi channel Dolby True or DTS-X.

[oddbox83]

Likewise ARC can only do lossless 2.0 PCM, the rest lossy. So it doesn't actually made any quality difference.

What ARC does is allow a more seamless integration between the TV and the soundbar, such as the soundbar turning itself on with the TV, and vice versa.

eARC is the one that does lossless, and both the TV and soundbar need to be compatible with it.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Likewise ARC can only do lossless 2.0 PCM, the rest lossy. So it doesn't actually made any quality difference.

What ARC does is allow a more seamless integration between the TV and the soundbar, such as the soundbar turning itself on with the TV, and vice versa.

eARC is the one that does lossless, and both the TV and soundbar need to be compatible with it.

Can eARC pass through a DSD signal from a Super Audio CD?