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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo send TV audio to a receiver or soundbar, make three changes first: set the TV’s sound output to the external audio system, connect the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC to the audio device’s matching ARC/eARC port, and select a digital format that the receiver or soundbar can decode. Start with Auto; use Pass-Through when the external device supports every format being sent, and switch to PCM when a format mismatch causes silence.
Menu names differ by manufacturer, model year, software version and region. The paths below use current manufacturer examples, so check the manual for your exact TV and audio equipment before enabling a format such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
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Check compatibility before changing settings
ARC and eARC are features of both the TV and the receiver or soundbar. A TV cannot add eARC, Dolby decoding or surround support that the connected audio device does not have. Check the specifications or manual for:
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- Whether each device supports ARC, eARC or neither.
- Which HDMI port is the return-audio port. It is usually labeled ARC, eARC or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC).
- Supported codecs and channel layouts, such as PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS, DTS-HD or DTS:X.
- Whether HDMI-CEC is required for input switching and volume control. Manufacturers use different names; Samsung calls its implementation Anynet+.
TV apps, a set-top box connected to the TV, and a disc player connected directly to the receiver can expose different audio-format limits. Do not assume that every source is passed through in the same way.
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Connect the HDMI return-audio path correctly
- Find the TV’s HDMI socket marked ARC or eARC. Port numbering and location vary by model.
- Connect that socket to the soundbar’s or receiver’s socket marked TV ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC). Samsung’s connection guide shows this TV-to-audio-device arrangement and notes that the physical port location differs between TVs: Samsung’s HDMI ARC setup instructions.
- Turn on the soundbar or receiver and select its TV/ARC input. Some systems switch automatically; selecting the input manually removes that uncertainty.
- If you are using eARC, use a High-Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet when the equipment manual calls for it. Sony recommends this cable type for eARC: Sony’s eARC guidance. Replace a cable only when the existing one is unsuitable, damaged or fails the stated requirement; a new cable cannot create ARC/eARC capability in hardware that lacks it.
ARC sends sound from the TV back to the audio device over HDMI, which is particularly useful for built-in streaming apps because those apps have no separate HDMI output.
Set the TV to use the external speakers
Open the TV’s sound menu and change the output from internal speakers to the connected system. Labels vary, but look for Sound Output, Speakers, Audio Output or Speaker Select, then choose an item such as Receiver (HDMI), HDMI ARC, eARC or External speakers.
On Samsung televisions, the manufacturer’s soundbar instructions require the TV audio setting to be set to an external speaker before sound can come from the bar. Other brands use different menu paths, so do not treat a Samsung label as a universal instruction. After changing the setting, play a TV app and confirm that the receiver or soundbar indicates an HDMI/ARC signal.
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If the TV keeps reverting to its internal speakers, enable HDMI-CEC on both devices and power-cycle them. CEC handles discovery, control and input behavior; it may be called Anynet+, Bravia Sync, Simplink or another brand-specific name.
Choose the digital audio output format
The TV’s Digital Audio Output, Digital Sound Output or similar control determines how it packages sound sent over optical, ARC or eARC. The available choices and exact behavior depend on the TV, source and firmware.
| Setting | What it does | When to use it | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto | Chooses a format the TV identifies as supported by the connected equipment, where that detection is available. | Best first setting for a new ARC/eARC connection or when you are unsure which codecs the receiver accepts. | Device handshakes are not perfect; an apparently supported format can still fail with a particular app or source. |
| Pass-Through | Sends the audio data without TV processing. Samsung UK describes it this way: “If you select the Pass-Through option, the audio data is output with no processing.” | Use when the receiver or soundbar explicitly supports the formats coming from the source and you want the external device to do the decoding. | Unsupported Dolby or DTS data can produce silence, noise or an error. Do not select it merely because it sounds more advanced. |
| PCM | Converts the signal to pulse-code modulation before sending it. Depending on the TV and connection, this may be stereo or supported multichannel PCM. | Use as a compatibility fallback when Auto or Pass-Through gives no sound and the receiver does not decode the current Dolby/DTS format. Sony uses PCM in a model-specific ARC/eARC no-sound troubleshooting flow. | Conversion can remove an encoded bitstream or limit channels, so it may not preserve every surround or object-based format. |
Samsung’s format instructions are available at Samsung UK Support. Change one option at a time and test the same program after each change; otherwise you will not know which setting fixed or caused the problem.
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Enable eARC only when both devices support it
On Samsung examples, eARC is found under Sound > Expert Settings. Samsung’s regional guidance says to choose Auto for an eARC-compatible device and Off otherwise: Samsung Australia’s eARC instructions. Your TV may place the control elsewhere or use different wording.
eARC is not simply a louder or higher-quality version of ARC; it is a higher-bandwidth return channel. Sony states that eARC can carry uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio and formats including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD when the connected equipment and signal path support them. Sony’s support page lists bandwidth of up to 37 Mbs; that is a manufacturer specification, not a guarantee for every implementation: Sony eARC feature details.
Both endpoints must support eARC to use eARC features. As Sony puts it, “Connected devices must support eARC to utilize the features.” If the soundbar supports ARC only, an eARC TV’s output to it is limited to ARC capabilities. A Samsung Canada comparison gives a manufacturer example of high-bitrate/object-based audio up to 192kHz, 23-bit; treat that figure as applying to the supported devices and formats in that comparison, not as a universal promise: Samsung Canada’s ARC/eARC comparison.
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ARC versus eARC: which connection should you use?
| Characteristic | ARC | eARC |
|---|---|---|
| Required hardware | TV and receiver/soundbar must each provide ARC. | TV and receiver/soundbar must each provide eARC; an ARC-only endpoint falls back to ARC limits. |
| Bandwidth and formats | Lower-bandwidth return path; practical format support depends on the model and source. | Higher-bandwidth path intended for uncompressed multichannel and high-bitrate/object-based formats when supported. |
| Typical reason to choose it | Send TV-app audio to an older compatible soundbar or receiver with one HDMI cable. | Preserve formats such as uncompressed 5.1/7.1, Dolby TrueHD/Atmos or DTS:X when every link supports them. |
| Cable requirement | Use the cable type specified by the device manual. | Use a suitable High-Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet when specified; a cable does not upgrade unsupported hardware. |
The source still matters. A TV app that supplies only compressed Dolby Digital cannot become lossless merely because eARC is enabled, while a compatible high-bitrate source can be limited by an ARC-only soundbar.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Manufacturer menu examples
Samsung televisions
Samsung’s examples place the eARC switch in Sound > Expert Settings and use Auto for eARC-compatible equipment. The HDMI connection itself uses the TV’s ARC/eARC port and the soundbar’s HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC) or TV ARC/eARC port. Exact labels and menu locations vary by model and region; consult the relevant Samsung guide for your television, including the Canadian ARC connection guide.
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Sony’s troubleshooting guidance for a model-specific ARC/eARC setup includes trying PCM when the current encoded format is not being decoded. Sony also requires eARC support at both ends for eARC features. Apply those instructions only where your model’s menu and specifications match the cited support article: Sony’s ARC/eARC no-sound troubleshooting article.
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Fix “no sound” in a reliable order
Work through this sequence rather than changing several settings at once:
- Confirm the TV output. Set Speakers/Sound Output to the external receiver, HDMI ARC/eARC or soundbar option, not TV speakers.
- Verify both HDMI ports. The cable must be in the TV’s ARC/eARC socket and the audio device’s matching TV ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT port. A normal HDMI input on the soundbar will not necessarily return TV audio.
- Select the audio-device input. Choose TV, ARC or eARC on the receiver/soundbar and raise its volume. Check that mute is off.
- Check HDMI-CEC and eARC. Enable CEC on both devices if the manual requires it. Set eARC to Auto only when the soundbar or receiver supports eARC; otherwise turn eARC off or use ARC.
- Test output formats individually. Start with Auto, then try Pass-Through if the external device supports the source format. If there is still silence, choose PCM and retest.
- Restart the handshake. Turn off both devices, unplug them briefly, reconnect the ARC/eARC cable firmly, then power on the TV and audio device. If needed, temporarily disconnect other HDMI equipment and test only the TV and receiver/soundbar.
- Test another source. Play a built-in TV app, then an HDMI-connected device. If only one source fails, its codec or routing—not the basic ARC connection—may be the limiting factor.
- Read the exact manuals. Menu names, supported codecs and reset procedures vary by model. Samsung notes that support and menus differ across devices; Sony’s cited troubleshooting flow is model-specific.
If PCM works but Pass-Through does not, the cable and ARC path are probably functioning and the issue is format decoding or source compatibility. Keep PCM only if its channel limitations are acceptable; otherwise identify a format both endpoints explicitly support.
When to route sources through the receiver instead
If a player or set-top box is connected directly to the receiver, the receiver can decode that source before sending video to the TV. In that arrangement, the TV’s Digital Audio Output setting mainly affects TV-generated audio, such as built-in apps or devices plugged into the TV. If the source is connected to the TV first, ARC/eARC must carry its audio back to the receiver and the TV may transcode or restrict formats. Choose the wiring that matches the receiver’s input count and the formats you need, then verify the source’s own audio setting as well.
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Quick Recap
What not to assume
- “eARC” on the TV does not mean an ARC-only soundbar will receive eARC formats.
- Pass-Through is not automatically better than Auto or PCM; it is correct only when the receiver can decode the signal being sent.
- A premium HDMI cable cannot add an ARC/eARC socket, codec license or bandwidth capability missing from either device.
- One successful app test does not prove that every HDMI source or streaming service uses the same audio format.
- Manufacturer bandwidth and sample-rate figures describe supported implementations, not independent performance tests or guarantees for all models.
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