Use the port label, not its position: connect a soundbar to the TV’s ARC/eARC input, put a console that needs 4K at 100/120Hz on an input marked for 4K 120Hz or VRR, and connect other HDMI sources from their HDMI OUT to an available TV HDMI IN. Port numbers and capabilities vary by television, so check the labels and manual for your exact model.
Why TV HDMI ports are not always interchangeable
A TV may have several HDMI sockets, but some inputs support features that others do not. The important distinctions are whether an input supports audio return (ARC/eARC) and whether it supports video features such as 4K at 120Hz or VRR. Match the port to the device’s needs; there is no universal rule that a particular numbered port is always best.
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For example, Philips’ manual shows a TV input labeled for both ARC/eARC and 4K 120Hz. That means audio return and high-refresh-rate video can share a port on some models. Read the markings on your television rather than assuming its audio-return input is unsuitable for a console. Philips TV manual (2024-01-26)
Choose the right port for each device
1. Soundbar or home-theater receiver
Connect the audio system’s ARC/eARC connection to the TV’s input marked ARC or eARC/ARC. This connection lets the TV send audio to the external system over HDMI. Use the corresponding labeled connection on both devices; a regular HDMI input on the TV may not provide audio return. Sony’s connection guide identifies the TV port by its ARC/eARC label. Sony: Connecting an audio system to your TV
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2. Console or gaming PC targeting 4K at 100/120Hz
If your console or PC and TV both support 4K at 100/120Hz, connect it to a TV input labeled 4K 120Hz or VRR, as applicable to the model. Sony specifically advises checking the input labels for those capabilities and using an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for a device that supports 4K 100/120Hz. The port, source, cable, and game or video output all need to support the mode; choosing a particular socket cannot add a capability the equipment lacks. Sony: Connecting a 4K 120Hz device
3. Streaming player
Connect the player’s HDMI output to an available TV HDMI input. Manufacturer guidance does not establish one port number that applies to every TV, so use an input not needed for a model-specific feature or audio-return connection.
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4. Blu-ray player
Run an HDMI cable from the player’s HDMI OUT to an available TV HDMI IN. The device does not need the TV’s ARC/eARC input simply because that port has a special label.
5. Cable or satellite box
Connect the box’s HDMI output to an available TV HDMI input. Like a Blu-ray player or streaming device, it uses a standard HDMI video connection; ARC/eARC is for sending audio from the TV to a compatible audio system. TCL lists consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and cable boxes among common HDMI-connected devices. TCL: Connecting HDMI devices to a TV
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How to decide between two available inputs
- Read the TV’s port labels. Find the input marked ARC/eARC for a compatible audio system and any inputs marked 4K 120Hz or VRR for a high-refresh-rate source.
- Match the feature to the device. Reserve a feature-specific input for a device that needs that capability. Use another suitable HDMI input for sources that do not.
- Check the TV manual. Confirm the input’s capabilities and any setup requirements for your model. Manufacturers caution that advanced features may be available only on selected inputs. Sony’s 4K 120Hz connection guidance
- Verify the cable requirement. For a device supporting 4K 100/120Hz, Sony recommends an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Philips’ example setup also specifies Ultra High Speed HDMI cabling. Replace a cable only if it is missing, damaged, or does not meet the requirements for the features you plan to use; a working cable is not automatically unsuitable.
Common port-selection mistakes
- Picking by port number alone: capabilities and labels differ by model. Check the markings and manual instead.
- Assuming ARC/eARC is the TV’s best all-purpose input: it is the audio-return connection, though some TVs also support high-refresh-rate video on that same input.
- Connecting every source to the feature-rich input: save a limited feature-specific input for a device that needs it, and put ordinary HDMI sources on other suitable inputs.
- Expecting a port to compensate for unsupported equipment: the TV, source, cable, and content all affect whether a particular video mode works.
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