HDMI brain ****

Willow

My Samsung Qled starting displaying error message saying ARC not supported please plug in port 4. Dumb a$$ tv the HDMI is plugged in port 4. So I started playing around with it and settled on removing ARC option from receiver and using toslink for sound (streaming services) and HDMI for picture. Where my brain **** comes in this morning is why and do I even need arc? Why would I want to send audio to the tv? I can simply send the streaming audio and video to my receiver via HDMI and not use ARC. I feel so rusty in this domain it's been so long.

VR3

I thought the point of the arc is two way communication in and out?

Willow

Right? so if I only need out I can turn off ARC and simply use it that way? As if F a r t was vanilla'd geez

VR3

Yeah if you only need the output then arc doesn't matter

Willow

ok so we are on the same line of thinking

HzTweaker

Try a new HDMI cable as they can be fragile. I think that if you are using multiple sources like a game console and a blu ray arc/eArc are convenient. Example I use the eARC for my living room set up and when I'm using the game console to watch a movie I can use the TV remote to control the movie playing on the console while still being able to control TV functions.

mantis

Oak first off for some knowledge about ARC, ARC is a audio return channel over HDMI. Your HDMI cable has to be compatible with ARC, most cables are if they are of good to high quality. But you should check the spec's of your HDMI cable. Many people are using Amazon Monoprice and some other off brands and some of their cables can be faulty. But those brands make fine HDMI cables 2 , again just check the specs.

Why would you use ARC? Well when you wan to use your TV as the video switcher because maybe you have a slighty older AVR or preamp that doesn't pass 4k 120 or 4k 60 Dolby v=Vision or HDR properly but your TV has the ability to except these formats and resolutions. ARC can send audio back to your capable AVR that support ARC and pass up to Dolby Digital plus signal. EARC can pass Dolby Atmos. But if you have a AVR that can except EARC, most likely it's 4k as well BUT may not be 4k 120 which really is only the newest models.

I hate to Say it but Samsung TV suck. I hate them in most ways especially setup. They are so finicky and they use their own language to describe things. I hate the Frame TV and all new Samsung models and to top if off , they don't even support Dolby Vision so I'm out on all things Samsung.

Optical out of your TV is a nice way to get regular Dolby Digital , it also supports regular DTS nothing higher. It's not the cable, the cable can pass well beyond those limitations which I never understood why not update the internal to allow the fiber connection to pass everything? It can fully support full 4k video and full resolution audio formats with ease BUT NO they want us all to suffer with the hot mess HDMI format.

Emlyn

I have ARC turned on because it allows for controlling the volume on the receiver with the remote controller for the TV or cable box and the apps built into the TV will output sound to the receiver through a single cable.

Agree, could just be an HDMI cable problem.

The only issue I have with ARC is that it keeps the video processor board active in standby mode and causes the receiver to remain more "on" so the top of the receiver stays warm.

HzTweaker

Interesting, I'm going to check my receiver when I get home tonight.

Willow

Installed a new cable. The other one stated to work again as soon as placed the order go figure.