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What HDMI passthrough does
With passthrough, the signal travels from an external source into the soundbar and then on to the television:
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Source → soundbar HDMI IN → soundbar HDMI OUT → TV
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How passthrough differs from ARC and eARC
Passthrough and ARC/eARC are related to HDMI audio, but they describe different signal paths. Passthrough takes audio and video from an external source into the soundbar, then forwards video to the TV. ARC and eARC let the TV send audio to an audio device over HDMI. Samsung notes that eARC format support depends on the connected devices. Samsung’s eARC guidance describes that TV-to-audio-device connection.
Check the labels and specifications on both devices. A soundbar with an HDMI output marked ARC/eARC can receive TV audio when connected to the corresponding TV port, but that output alone does not accept an external source for passthrough. The bar also needs an HDMI input. Dolby’s FAQ provides additional context on supported audio formats.
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How to wire a source through the soundbar
- Connect the console, streaming device, or Blu-ray player to the soundbar port labeled HDMI IN.
- Connect the soundbar port labeled HDMI OUT to an HDMI input on the TV.
- To send audio from the TV itself to the soundbar as well, connect the TV’s ARC/eARC port to the soundbar’s matching ARC/eARC connection. On the TV, select the appropriate audio output setting. LG’s ARC connection instructions identify the TV eARC/ARC port as the route for TV audio.
- Select the correct input on the soundbar and TV, then confirm that the source, soundbar, TV, and cable support the signal formats you intend to use.
When passthrough can help
- You need another usable HDMI input. If the TV lacks a suitable free input, routing a source through the soundbar may provide another way to connect it.
- Your TV cannot return the audio format you need. In some setups, connecting the source directly to the soundbar can avoid a limitation in the TV’s ARC/eARC audio path. Whether this works depends on the specific source, soundbar, and format support.
- You want one route for a particular external source. A console or player can send audio to the soundbar while its video continues to the TV.
Klipsch documents a model-specific example involving its Cinema 700 and a TV without eARC; that example illustrates a possible use case, not a guarantee that every soundbar will handle every format. Klipsch’s Cinema 700 connection instructions describe the model’s setup.
When you may not need it
If the TV has enough suitable inputs and can send the audio you want to the soundbar over ARC or eARC, you may be able to connect all sources to the TV instead. That arrangement is not universally equivalent: format support varies among televisions, soundbars, sources, and connections. Check your devices’ specifications before choosing the route.
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What to check in the specifications
The label “HDMI passthrough” does not tell you which signals a soundbar accepts and forwards. Check the specifications for the exact TV, bar, source, and cable against the features you plan to use.
- Ports: Does the soundbar have both a separate HDMI input for the source and an HDMI output for the TV? Which TV and soundbar ports support ARC or eARC?
- Video: What resolution and refresh rate can the soundbar pass through? Does it support the HDR format and gaming features, such as variable refresh rate, that your source and TV use?
- Audio: Which formats can the soundbar accept and decode? Which formats can the TV return over ARC or eARC?
- Cable: Does the cable meet the requirements of the connected devices and signal? A cable cannot add format support that the TV, soundbar, or source lacks.
These limits can be model-specific. For example, Klipsch’s Cinema 700 instructions describe particular resolution and refresh-rate combinations for that model. TechRadar’s August 29, 2026 explainer also recommends checking resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and gaming support in the soundbar specifications. For connection and cable guidance, see Yamaha’s SR-X50A manual.
Quick Recap
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