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For most modern home-theater systems, connect the TV’s HDMI port labeled eARC or ARC to the AV receiver’s HDMI output labeled eARC/ARC, MONITOR OUT, or HDMI OUT. Then select the receiver as the TV’s external audio system and enable the relevant HDMI-control and ARC/eARC settings.
TV HDMI eARC/ARC ─── HDMI cable ─── Receiver HDMI OUT (eARC/ARC)Use eARC when both devices support it and you need lossless multichannel audio, Dolby TrueHD-based Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, or multichannel PCM. Use ordinary ARC for compatible compressed surround formats, and optical when the equipment is older or HDMI return audio is unreliable.
How the connection works
An AV receiver can switch video sources, decode surround audio, send video to the television, and power passive speakers. A traditional setup routes source devices through the receiver:
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Console, streamer, Blu-ray player or cable box
↓
Receiver HDMI input
↓
Receiver HDMI OUT
↓
TVThis arrangement gives the receiver the source audio directly and lets it switch audio and video together.
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A newer TV-centered arrangement is useful when the television has gaming or video features an older receiver cannot pass through:
Source device ───→ TV HDMI input
TV built-in apps ─→ TV
TV eARC/ARC ──────→ Receiver HDMI OUTWith this layout, the TV returns audio from its built-in apps, broadcasts, and connected devices to the receiver.
Check the ports before connecting anything
On the television
Look for one HDMI input labeled ARC, eARC, or eARC/ARC. Only one HDMI port may support audio return. Also identify Digital Audio Out, Optical, or TOSLINK if you may use an optical cable. Denon notes that not every TV HDMI input provides ARC or eARC.
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Find the HDMI port labeled HDMI OUT, MONITOR OUT, ARC, or eARC. The TV must connect to this output—not to one of the receiver’s HDMI inputs. Many receivers label the correct socket HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC).
Connection examples are shown in the Sony TV connection guide and the Denon AVR-X1800H guide.
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Method 1: HDMI eARC or ARC
Physical connection
- Turn off the TV and receiver.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the TV’s
eARC,ARC, oreARC/ARCport. - Connect the other end to the receiver’s HDMI output marked
eARC,ARC, orMONITOR OUT. - Turn on the receiver and TV.
- Select the receiver’s TV-audio source, often called
TV Audio,Audio, orTV.
Configure the TV
Menu names vary by manufacturer, model, region, and firmware. Look for settings equivalent to:
- Speaker output: Audio System, Receiver, HDMI ARC/eARC, or External Speakers.
- Digital audio format: Auto, Pass Through, Passthrough, or Bitstream.
- eARC mode: Auto or On, if available.
- HDMI control: On if you want the TV remote to control receiver volume and power.
Do not leave the TV set to Internal TV Speakers. If Auto or Pass Through produces no sound, temporarily test PCM. PCM is useful for diagnosis, but some TVs output only two-channel PCM over particular paths.
Configure the receiver
Depending on the brand, enable HDMI Control, ARC, and eARC or set eARC to Auto. Assign the TV Audio input correctly and ensure the receiver is using its HDMI monitor output. Yamaha manuals, for example, require HDMI Control for ARC on many models.
HDMI-CEC may have a different name:
| Function | Possible labels |
|---|---|
| HDMI-CEC | HDMI Control, Bravia Sync, Simplink, Anynet+, VIERA Link, EasyLink |
| TV audio output | Audio System, Receiver, HDMI ARC, eARC, External Speakers |
| Digital audio | Auto, Bitstream, Pass Through, Dolby Digital, PCM |
CEC enables convenient volume control, automatic power-on, and input switching, but it can also cause unexpected switching or power cycling. If those problems persist, disable CEC—but on many ARC implementations this also disables ARC control and may interrupt ARC audio.
Method 2: Optical audio
If either device lacks ARC/eARC, connect the TV’s optical output to an optical input on the receiver:
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TV Optical Out ─── TOSLINK cable ─── Receiver Optical In- Remove any protective caps from the cable ends.
- Select the matching optical input on the receiver.
- Set the TV’s sound output to Optical or Digital Audio Out.
- Start with Auto or Bitstream as the digital format.
- Use PCM as a diagnostic fallback if there is no sound.
Optical is useful for older receivers, failed ARC handshakes, basic stereo or compressed 5.1, and systems where you want to avoid HDMI-CEC. It generally cannot carry lossless Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, uncompressed multichannel PCM, or lossless Atmos. It is a fallback, not an equivalent replacement for eARC.
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ARC, eARC, and optical compared
| Capability | Optical | HDMI ARC | HDMI eARC |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-cable TV audio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TV remote and power integration | Generally no | Yes, through CEC | Yes, through CEC |
| Compressed 5.1 | Often | Yes, subject to compatibility | Yes |
| Uncompressed 5.1/7.1 PCM | No | Usually limited | Yes |
| Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio | No | No | Yes |
| Lossless Atmos or DTS:X | No | No | Yes, when the complete system supports it |
According to HDMI.org, eARC supports uncompressed multichannel audio and high-bitrate formats. However, eARC capability alone does not guarantee a particular result: the TV, receiver, cable, source, application, audio track, and speaker configuration all matter.
Streaming Atmos is commonly delivered in compressed Dolby Digital Plus. Disc-based or local content may use higher-bitrate Dolby TrueHD-based Atmos. An Atmos logo therefore does not automatically mean the signal is lossless.
Where should consoles, streamers, and Blu-ray players connect?
| Situation | Recommended topology |
|---|---|
| Receiver supports the source’s resolution, refresh rate, HDR, VRR, and audio formats | Source → receiver HDMI input → receiver HDMI OUT → TV |
| Receiver cannot pass 4K/120, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision, or another required video feature | Source → TV HDMI input → TV eARC → receiver |
| Built-in TV apps are a major source | TV eARC/ARC → receiver HDMI OUT |
| Older receiver with no HDMI | TV optical output → receiver optical input |
Routing through the receiver provides direct source-audio decoding and simple source switching. Routing through the TV preserves advanced display features, but the TV must correctly pass through the desired audio format. Some TVs convert particular inputs to PCM or restrict passthrough.
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For 4K/120 gaming, VRR, or ALLM, check the individual receiver’s HDMI inputs. A receiver described as HDMI 2.1 does not necessarily support every feature on every input.
Cable guidance
- For ordinary ARC and common 4K installations, a certified High Speed or Premium High Speed HDMI cable is generally appropriate.
- For 4K/120, 8K, VRR, or other demanding HDMI 2.1 modes, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- For eARC and modern high-bandwidth installations, an Ultra High Speed cable is the safest general recommendation.
- For optical, choose a cable with suitable length and properly fitting connectors.
HDMI.org notes that eARC may work over some existing cable types, although those cables may not be certified for eARC. For 8K installations, Denon recommends an Ultra High Speed cable. Expensive “audiophile” HDMI or optical cables do not improve sound quality in a functioning digital connection; certification, bandwidth, length, build quality, and connector fit are what matter.
Verify the result
- Sound comes from the receiver’s speakers rather than the TV.
- The receiver displays
TV Audioor the selected optical input. - The receiver’s information screen identifies the incoming signal format.
- A known 5.1 or Atmos title produces more than stereo when the system supports it.
- The TV remote changes receiver volume when CEC is enabled.
- The picture remains stable when switching sources.
Check the incoming format rather than relying only on an app’s Atmos badge. If the receiver reports two-channel PCM, the TV or source may be converting the signal before it reaches the receiver.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting by symptom
No sound after connecting ARC or eARC
- Confirm that the cable is connected to the TV’s ARC/eARC port and the receiver’s HDMI output.
- Set the TV speaker output to Audio System, Receiver, or HDMI ARC/eARC.
- Confirm HDMI Control and ARC/eARC are enabled on the receiver and TV.
- Select the receiver’s TV Audio input manually.
- Set the TV digital format to PCM temporarily.
- Turn off the TV, receiver, and connected HDMI devices; unplug them briefly; reconnect the cable; then power on the receiver first and the TV second.
- Try a certified HDMI cable.
- Test optical. If optical works, the problem is probably specific to the HDMI return-audio handshake or settings.
Sony’s ARC/eARC troubleshooting guidance recommends checking compatibility, ports, settings, and alternate optical connections.
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- Confirm the content actually contains multichannel audio.
- Check that the TV is not locked to PCM.
- Enable Pass Through or Bitstream where available.
- Make sure the receiver is not forced into a stereo listening mode.
- Check speaker configuration and the receiver’s information screen.
- Determine whether the connection is ordinary ARC when eARC was expected.
Atmos does not appear
Check the content, subscription, playback device, TV passthrough mode, receiver decoding capability, connection type, and speaker layout. Optical and ordinary ARC generally cannot carry lossless Dolby TrueHD-based Atmos, although compatible streaming Atmos may travel as Dolby Digital Plus over ARC.
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Audio cuts out or is intermittent
Reseat the cable, power-cycle both devices, check for firmware updates, and try a certified cable of appropriate length. If the receiver and TV use different HDMI generations, test ordinary ARC or optical. Avoid replacing equipment before confirming the ports and settings.
The receiver does not switch automatically
Enable HDMI-CEC on both devices and select the correct TV Audio input. If automatic switching remains unreliable, use the receiver remote manually or disable CEC and use optical. CEC names differ by manufacturer.
The picture disappears
Check whether the receiver supports the source’s resolution, refresh rate, HDR, HDCP, VRR, or Dolby Vision mode. If not, connect the source directly to the TV and return audio through eARC. For long HDMI runs, cable length and active or optical HDMI construction may matter.
Important edge cases
- TV eARC, receiver ARC: The connection can operate in ordinary ARC mode, limited by ARC’s formats.
- Receiver eARC, TV ARC: The TV remains the limiting device; eARC performance is unavailable.
- Both support eARC: The TV still must pass the source audio correctly.
- Receiver has no HDMI: Use optical. If it has only analog RCA inputs, a suitable digital-to-analog converter may provide stereo, not modern surround formats.
- CEC conflicts: A CEC-less HDMI cable or adapter can sometimes isolate a problematic device, although manufacturer behavior varies.
When an upgrade is actually justified
Follow the least expensive path first:
- Correct the TV and receiver ports.
- Correct audio-output, passthrough, and input-assignment settings.
- Power-cycle the HDMI system.
- Try a certified cable.
- Use optical as a practical fallback.
- Change the source-to-TV or source-to-receiver topology.
- Replace the receiver only when it lacks required audio or video support.
A newer receiver is appropriate when the existing model cannot decode the formats you need or cannot pass required video features. Examples of current models with eARC and modern HDMI capabilities include the Denon AVR-X1800H, Yamaha RX-V6A, and Sony STR-AN1000. Check the individual model’s supported inputs, resolutions, refresh rates, HDR formats, and audio codecs rather than assuming every input has identical capabilities.
HDMI audio extractors or eARC adapters are specialized workarounds for combinations such as a new TV, an older receiver, and a source that must remain connected to the display. They add another handshake, power supply, and compatibility point, so they should not be the default fix.
Quick Recap
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