Audio signal path with ARC/eARC

[Nostromo]

In the days before ARC came in OR in soundbar based setups where no unit has the ARC facility, I always understood that both audio and video signals from the source (such as a BD player or Sky Box) travelled up the HDMI cable to the soundbar (assuming that the device was connected to the soundbar) and then the A-V signals split-up with the audio signal going to the soundbar/speakers and the video signal to the TV via the soundbar's HDMI 'out'.

But if both the soundbar and TV have eARC facility, will the audio signal from the source take the same path as above or go first to the TV with the video and then 'return' to the soundbar via the ARC pathway?

 

[everettT]

In the days before ARC came in OR in soundbar based setups where no unit has the ARC facility, I always understood that both audio and video signals from the source (such as a BD player or Sky Box) travelled up the HDMI cable to the soundbar (assuming that the device was connected to the soundbar) and then the A-V signals split-up with the audio signal going to the soundbar/speakers and the video signal to the TV via the soundbar's HDMI 'out'.

But if both the soundbar and TV have eARC facility, will the audio signal from the source take the same path as above or go first to the TV with the video and then 'return' to the soundbar via the ARC pathway?

Which ever device it is connected to will separate out what is needed. Hopefully it wont be a soundbar but an AVR and you won't have to use ARC, as it can be buggy...

 

[Nostromo]

What I am trying to say/ask is if the audio and video pass through the soundbar's HDMI-out and reach the TV, then it will be the TV that is 'controlling' the system. So, plugging a headphone jack into the TV's headphone socket should in theory override ARC and pass the audio to the headphone, muting the soundbar. But in practice, I am told this cannot happen.

 

[ryanosaur]

I use the ARC HDMI port, but had ARC control turned off. The sound, and video do pass through my Marrantz AVR. I could turn up the TV speakers until I disabled them for sound. However, I could not stream from the TV's Apps without having the Toslink cable installed for TV Audio to bring that signal to the AVR (again, because ARC control was disabled).
ARC by itself does have some issues. I think in some cases, the worst is getting fixed. When the next HDMI protocol is out and fully supported by more brands, then E-ARC sounds more promising. I hope (but hold little faith) that this will improve the operation/experience across the board.
I think it is still generally advised to not rely on ARC for anything, rather bypass whenever possible and only use the TV has a streaming device when other options are not working. (I use my Blu Ray for most streaming, though sometimes it has a connectivity hiccough that requires me to switch to the TV and the fore mentioned Toslink to take audio back to the AVR.)

 

[TLS Guy]

I have had to update my views about ARC. The ARC function on my 4K TV and 4K Atmos pre/pro is light years ahead of the old ARC on 2 K systems. These I hated.

However to my total surprise the ARC on my new OLED TV and Marantz 7705 works like it always should have. Just take the remote to the and press either the Amazon or Netflix button and TV audio on the Marantz remote and everything worked perfectly first time. If it is ATMOS the light comes up on the pre/pro. No more lossy return audio. This was a simple idiot proof set up that worked out of the box with fantastic picture and audio.

So I have to have a change of view about it and give credit where credit is due. This feature alone made the upgrade to 4K worth it, and to that the massive improvements in the upmixers and you have enough justification right there.

I'm awaiting the arrival of my first three 4k atmos BDs. I will report on that anon.

I feel very lucky. I could supervise the grounding of this home and AV room during the whole construction. Thankfully I had a really tolerant electrician. He had a lot to put up with! All 11 channels are absolutely quiet. Obsessional grounding practice is the very foundation of a fine AV experience. The room sounds absolutely superb and I will report more in due course.

 

[ryanosaur]

I have had to update my views about ARC. The ARC function on my 4K TV and 4K Atmos pre/pro is light years ahead of the old ARC on 2 K systems. These I hated.

However to my total surprise the ARC on my new OLED TV and Marantz 7705 works like it always should have. Just take the remote to the and press either the Amazon or Netflix button and TV audio on the Marantz remote and everything worked perfectly first time. If it is ATMOS the light comes up on the pre/pro. No more lossy return audio. This was a simple idiot proof set up that worked out of the box with fantastic picture and audio.

So I have to have a change of view about it and give credit where credit is due. This feature alone made the upgrade to 4K worth it, and to that the massive improvements in the upmixers and you have enough justification right there.

I'm awaiting the arrival of my first three 4k atmos BDs. I will report on that anon.

I feel very lucky. I could supervise the grounding of this home and AV room during the whole construction. Thankfully I had a really tolerant electrician. He had a lot to put up with! All 11 channels are absolutely quiet. Obsessional grounding practice is the very foundation of a fine AV experience. The room sounds absolutely superb and I will report more in due course.

Nice to hear your experience with that. At some point, somehow my ARC reactivated itself. I haven’t felt the need to switch it back off. Everything works pretty much as I would hope. I still use the Toslink for TV Audio, though.
@Nostromo more than anything else, TVs are not best suited as hubs for your devices. I think this will always hold true. If an AVR or other processor is in the picture, that is where you want to connect everything to for best experience.

 

[Pogre]

Uh oh... so ARC appears to have ironed out some issues, huh? Looking forward to TLS' further impressions as he's one of its most vocal critics. I personally haven't even used the ARC port in my setup so my comments on it are based on the things I read here.

 

[TLS Guy]

What I am trying to say/ask is if the audio and video pass through the soundbar's HDMI-out and reach the TV, then it will be the TV that is 'controlling' the system. So, plugging a headphone jack into the TV's headphone socket should in theory override ARC and pass the audio to the headphone, muting the soundbar. But in practice, I am told this cannot happen.

No that wont, happen. Basically with ARC the video in one way, but the audio is two way. It seems having HDMI 2 as the ARC port is pretty much standard. So on that port you can send video from receiver to TV and audio to the TV. The TV can send audio back to the receiver but not video. At least on my rig the TV remote controls system volume when ARC audio return is used.

Now to answer your question generally, if the sound bar can output video and audio over HDMI then both signals can go from sound bar to TV. If on the other hand the sound bar can receive ARC return then the audio from the TV can get from the TV audio return ARC to your sound bar.

 

[Nostromo]

Both the TV and soundbar have eARC.

Now to answer your question generally, if the sound bar can output video and audio over HDMI then both signals can go from sound bar to TV. If on the other hand the sound bar can receive ARC return then the audio from the TV can get from the TV audio return ARC to your sound bar.

If that is the case, if a headphone jack is plugged int the TV's headphone socket (it has one) will ARC get automatically disabled and the audio get diverted to the headphone? OR does the ARC need to be disabled manually?

 

[TLS Guy]

Uh oh... so ARC appears to have ironed out some issues, huh? Looking forward to TLS' further impressions as he's one of its most vocal critics. I personally haven't even used the ARC port in my setup so my comments on it are based on the things I read here.

Well I call like I find it. I used to only use the TV as an end device. However at least with my set up which is now the latest gear, there was no set up involved. I pressed the right buttons and I can tell you to my very great surprise it all worked, and flawlessly. So far there have been no issues. Saying that I hope I have not jinxed it.

The bottom line is that now the quickest and easiest way to get the best video and audio quality from Amazon and Netflix, is to switch on your rig, press TV audio on your receiver or pre/pro and then either select Netflix or Amazon on the TV remote. The only set up I had to do was to register my new TV with Netflix and Amazon.

I should say that all this is wired and not Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is ONLY used in this new home for portable devices. Anything else fixed is wired to a local hub and then up to the studio patch bay and hubs. There are three local hubs. The studio chase has a rack mounted 19" Ethernet patch bay and two 19" mounted Ethernet hubs. Cat 6 throughout. run to and fro the studio chase in Techtubes. Router is Netgear Mesh with units on each of the two floors. There is full 350 mps all over the home with no dead or low signal spots.

So I can not comment on Wi-Fi connections with this ARC system. This is the third installation I have done with Netgear Mesh and so far zero problems. This Netgear Mesh was brought up before we moved in so the elevator could be certified. So far there has been no slowing and zero reboots. The whole system has been stable. I mention this as others infrastructure could possibly not be as robust or stable. How much this contributes to the results I get, I can't comment. But I have tried to adhere to best professional current practice on this part of the home infrastructure. In the modern home the stress on this part of the infrastructure is enormous. Just about everything needs access and often both ways.

Talking of both ways, I suspect all of you are aware of hacks to alarm systems in the news lately. Any device that can be accessed via the Net from outside opens up a huge vulnerability. In fact it pretty much gives the world the keys to your kingdom. So to enter our Network you have to go via an encoded VPN. My eldest son wrote the software. This is above my pay grade. Anyhow a lot of routers to not support access via an encoded VPN. The Netgear Mesh does which is another point in its favor.

I have said before that this Netgear Mesh is head and shoulders above any system I have encountered before. This is another surprise and I have had poor results from Netgear products previously. They knocked this ball out of the park though in my view.

 

[TLS Guy]

Both the TV and soundbar have eARC.

If that is the case, if a headphone jack is plugged int the TV's headphone socket (it has one) will ARC get automatically disabled and the audio get diverted to the headphone? OR does the ARC need to be disabled manually?

I don't know for sure. My TV does not have a headphone jack. However once ARC is used the TV speakers are disabled and the TV remote takes over audio control of the system. So I would think far more likely than not a headphone jack would be disabled. What does you manual say about it?

 

[Nostromo]

What does you manual say about it?

The on-line manual does not say specifically about this. The TV is LG OLED C9 65" and the soundbar Sony HT ST 5000. The problem is that everything is in its packing still; there is a lot of work going on in the flat. That, plus the X-mas break means the A-V system will not be installed till 31st January 2020.

However once ARC is used the TV speakers are disabled and the TV remote takes over audio control of the system.

Is the converse also true? If ARC is disabled, will the TV speakers get automatically enabled and therefore plugging a headphones jack into the TV should make them work and mute the external audio?
In fact, someone even suggested that with smart TVs which take over the audio control of the system, simply plugging in a headphone jack into the TV will disable ARC and mute external audio while sending the signal to the headphones. He did not seem very sure but one would have thought there must be a reason why many newer TVs with eARC now have headphone sockets. The manufacturers would know that someone buying a £2000+ TV would in all likelihood have some sort of surround sound system to go with it.

 

[TLS Guy]

The on-line manual does not say specifically about this. The TV is LG OLED C9 65" and the soundbar Sony HT ST 5000. The problem is that everything is in its packing still; there is a lot of work going on in the flat. That, plus the X-mas break means the A-V system will not be installed till 31st January 2020.

Is the converse also true? If ARC is disabled, will the TV speakers get automatically enabled and therefore plugging a headphones jack into the TV should make them work and mute the external audio?
In fact, someone even suggested that with smart TVs which take over the audio control of the system, simply plugging in a headphone jack into the TV will disable ARC and mute external audio while sending the signal to the headphones. He did not seem very sure but one would have thought there must be a reason why many newer TVs with eARC now have headphone sockets. The manufacturers would know that someone buying a £2000+ TV would in all likelihood have some sort of surround sound system to go with it.

You will just have to set it up try it and let us know.

I have no trouble with my set up whatever the source, and I only use the AV room speakers, never anything else.