In this guide
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) lets your TV send audio back to a soundbar or AV receiver through the same HDMI cable that carries video — so you need just one cable instead of two.
- Both TV and audio device have ARC-labeled HDMI ports
- You use an HDMI 1.4 or higher cable
- ARC is enabled in both devices’ settings
- Cable connects ARC port to ARC port
- Your TV or audio device has no ARC support
- You plug into a non-ARC HDMI port
- ARC is turned off in device settings
- You use a pre-HDMI 1.4 cable
What Does HDMI ARC Actually Do?
Without ARC, you need a separate optical or RCA cable to send TV audio to a soundbar. ARC removes that extra cable. Audio from your TV’s built-in apps — Netflix, Disney+, or live TV — travels back down the HDMI cable to your soundbar or receiver automatically.
This also means one remote can often control volume on both devices through HDMI-CEC. On Samsung TVs, this feature is called Anynet+, and it must be enabled for ARC and eARC to work correctly.
ARC vs eARC: What’s the Difference?
| Setup | Works? | Need | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV ARC → Soundbar ARC | Yes | HDMI 1.4+ cable | Supports PCM stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| TV eARC → Soundbar eARC | Yes | HDMI 2.1 cable | Adds Dolby Atmos and DTS:X passthrough |
| TV ARC → Non-ARC port | No | — | Must use labeled ARC port on both ends |
| No ARC TV → Soundbar | No | Optical cable instead | Fallback option if ARC unsupported |
Common Uses for HDMI ARC
- Sending Netflix or YouTube audio from your smart TV to a soundbar
- Routing live TV audio through an AV receiver for surround sound
- Reducing cable clutter in a one-cable TV-to-soundbar setup
- Allowing your TV remote to control soundbar volume via CEC
How to Set It Up
Connect your HDMI cable from the ARC port on your TV to the ARC or HDMI IN port on your soundbar or receiver. Then go into your TV’s audio settings and set the output to ARC. Enable HDMI-CEC if prompted. Most modern TVs detect the connection automatically within a few seconds.
If audio isn’t coming through, check our guide on why HDMI connections stop working — many of the same troubleshooting steps apply. Also confirm your cable is HDMI 1.4 or newer; older cables simply don’t carry the return channel.
For setups where your source device connects via USB-C, see whether USB-C can connect to HDMI before adding a soundbar to the chain.
The HDMI Forum’s official ARC specification covers the full technical detail if you need to verify device compliance.
Bottom line: HDMI ARC is used to carry TV audio back to a soundbar or receiver through one HDMI cable, cutting out the need for a separate audio connection. Make sure both devices have ARC ports, use an HDMI 1.4 or higher cable, and enable ARC in settings — and the setup takes under a minute.