What is the enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) feature?
IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.
The enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) is an improved version of the Audio Return Channel (ARC), is transferred through an HDMI® cable, and allows high quality sound to pass through the TV to decoding devices such as receivers and soundbars.
Improvements over the ARC standard:
- Higher data transfer bandwidth and speed (up to 37 Mbs)
- Transfers high bitrate audio formats such as:
- Uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound
- Dolby Atmos®
- DTS:X™
- DTS-HD™ Master Audio
- Dolby® TrueHD.
Notes:
- Connected devices must support eARC to utilize the features. If a soundbar supports ARC only and the connected TV supports eARC, then the output sound of the soundbar is limited to the specifications of the ARC format.
- We recommend using a High-Speed HDMI cable with ethernet for eARC data transfer.
- Your TV doesn't display the eARC connection status. To confirm if eARC is connected to your audio system, play a video file that uses audio codecs which can only be output through an eARC connection such as DTS-HD™ Master Audio or Dolby® TrueHD, then check the display panel of your audio system to verify the audio format.
- For information on the eARC feature for XBR X900H/90CH models, refer to the support information for the HDMI 2.1 standard.
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