HDMI ARC

Jimbo18

My TV doesn't have an HDMI out but one of the HDMI connections is an ARC. But I can't get the signal from the TV to the AVR.

I tried several different variations of the settings for ARC in both the AVR and the TV. I have the HDMI out of the receiver to the ARC input on the TV but don't seem to be getting a return. I tried 3 different HDMI cables.

Any thoughts? I feel like it's my issue, just don't know what that is. There's no analog output on the TV other than the headphone connection.

It's a Hisense TV, I know, I know, but it looks pretty good and doesn't get that much use. The receiver is the Pio Elite SC-63 I got from Skip. I don't have cable, I have an antenna hooked to the TV and want to send the audio from it to the AVR, and even more so, when I use the TV for Netflix would like better sound.

rpf65

May want to look under sound, speakers, or something like that on your tv. Set to external, or whatever they happen to call it

Manticore

iirc another option is...if your tv has an optical out, use that to your AVR. This will bring the audio to your AVR for surround sound and processing.

mdaudioguy

Some TVs require ARC to be enabled through the settings. Have you give through the TVs menus?

mdaudioguy

Also, some TVs don't support audio pass-through via HDMI, only output of the audio from apps. Is that what you're trying to output?

Jimbo18

I went through all kinds of options. I enabled ARC on both the TV and the AVR. The manual on the TV explains the ARC setting, but it only addresses hooking it to a soundbar, not an AVR.

I did try the optical out and that didn't work either, so it's probably in a setting somewhere, I just can't figure out what it is. I think I tried every version of the settings on both.

It's gotten to where it's become a need to figure it out, more than a desire to improve the sound.

mdaudioguy

Got a link to the TV manual?

Manticore

Strange the optical out did not work. That's what its there for. Again maybe another setting. /\/\/\/\ The link to the manual would be helpful.

shawn474

On most pio elites you have to assign the output......if you hook up the avr to the tv and use an optical out, you will have to go into the menu and assign that value (opt out) in the “manual setup” settings. Maybe you’ve tried that - if you have apologies for being redundant.

Jimbo18

The TV is a Hisense 55H7b. Thanks for the suggestions.

https://www.hisense-usa.com/support/models/55h7c

Manticore

@Jimbo18 Pages 5 & 6 has the info that "should" work. Plug that optical cable to output from tv to your AVR and then
" then be sure to go into the Advanced Audio Settings of the
TV and select RAW to receive the 5.1 channel audio. You will need to also go into the sound or audio settings of your device to
ensure it is set to 5.1 Channel output. It may read ‘Bitstream’, ‘RAW’ or ‘Digital."

Choose sound> Advanced Audio Settings > Digital Audio Out:
Select the digital audio output format that best suits the audio
device type. For example, choose RAW (which is uncompressed audio in RAW form)
if you have 5.1 Channel Surround Sound Speaker set up. Choose PCM if you have an
amplifier that does not support Dolby Digital technology.

See if that works. Also the possibility you might have to check Audio Out: to
Change the way audio is sent through the type of device that’s
connected to your TV Audio Out port.

Don't forget to set the AVR to play the optical in.

My AVR has assignable inputs so I would choose the optical in and assign it to/as cable TV. I hope this helps some.

mantis

Let me start out by saying ARC Sucks bad. You can set it up perfectly according to both the TV and AVR manual and get no sound. When you have a Sony TV and a Sony AVR then you can get ARC to work. When mixing 2 different brands seems like a hopeless cause.
I got ARC to work once and that is it. basically what I go is run a Optical cable from the TV to a given input on the AVR. As said above you have to assign the Optical input on the Pioneer SC to whatever input you want to use.
On the TV side you have to enable Audio out so the Tv internal speakers shut off and the Optical output is ON.

This will work every single time unless you didn't set up the AVR or Tv correctly.

tratliff

I have had good luck with ARC on my Yamaha sound bars, more like a receiver than a sound bar, and Sharp Aquos TV's but my signal path is slightly different.

Direct TV HDMI out to Yamaha HDMI in, Yamaha HDMI out to Sharp Aqous HDMI in.

This configuration allows the TV to completely control the Yamaha. When TV is turned on/off Yamaha automatically turns on/off. When TV volume is changed it really is acting upon the Yamaha even though the on screen menu is still functioning as expected on the TV.

And if the Yamaha is not needed then I just have to turn it off and the Yamaha passes the HDMI signal to the TV even though it is not powered on and the TV speakers start to play. Then the next time I turn the TV on the TV and the Yamaha power up.

Its a great solution for the electronic impaired. My wife and Dad never have a problem operating it.

Good luck in your search for solutions.

mdaudioguy

mantis wrote: »

Let me start out by saying ARC Sucks bad. You can set it up perfectly according to both the TV and AVR manual and get no sound. When you have a Sony TV and a Sony AVR then you can get ARC to work. When mixing 2 different brands seems like a hopeless cause.
I got ARC to work once and that is it. basically what I go is run a Optical cable from the TV to a given input on the AVR. As said above you have to assign the Optical input on the Pioneer SC to whatever input you want to use.
On the TV side you have to enable Audio out so the Tv internal speakers shut off and the Optical output is ON.

This will work every single time unless you didn't set up the AVR or Tv correctly.

Too many generalizations here. I've had ARC work just fine with many combinations of TVs and receivers. It's more often a problem with older model TVs.

Jimbo18

I have only ever had ARC work on one receiver/tv combo. Having said that, I think this is still my issue, especially since the optical out didn't work either.

Mantis, what you suggest is what I did so I am not sure what the issue is. Hopefully, not something with the AVR.

rooftop59

ARC works great between my Samsung and Denon. It didn't work as well with my Yamaha RX-A1010, which was several years older than the Denon, so it makes sense to me that it didn't work as well.

I am, however, about to disconnect mine and just use the standard HDMI input. Because the TV controls the receiver, when I am watching TV and want to listen to music and I push listen to music on my harmony remote, the tv gets turned off and then it shuts off the receiver, so then I have to push help on the harmony. It also often forces the reciever to the TV audio input (the ARC input) when I want to use one of the receiver's HDMI inputs for blu ray or Roku to get the better audio codexes that the tv cannot output over ARC.

But if you don't care about those better audio codexes and you use the apps in your tv to stream music, the ARC is very easy and convenient. I agree it would be great for older parents...

Jimbo18

Thanks, everyone. Lots of good suggestions. I think I tried them all when I tried to set it up, but will go back to make sure. I think I will give up on the ARC and just work to get the optical working right. It's not a big deal, it's just the antenna to the TV which we mostly use for news and Jeopardy.

Manticore

Jimbo18 wrote: »

It's not a big deal, it's just the antenna to the TV which we mostly use for news and Jeopardy.

Yeah but, you want Jeopardy to sound its best

Hope things work out. Its very frustrating when something that is supposed to work won't!!

Jimbo18

Never did get the ARC working, but I tried a different optical cable and that works fine. Bad cable before, I guess. Thanks for the help.