Setting up a home cinema at home is an increasingly popular option for users. Investing in a good Smart TV that allows us to enjoy series or movies as if we were in the cinema is almost a must-have in every home. However, how many times have you looked at the tangled mess of cables that the television needs to make it happen? The audio, the image, the power… the back of our TVs looks like a ticking time bomb.
However, there is a way to forget about all those cables and replace them with just one, the HDMI ARC. This is a port found in practically all new television models, which stands for ‘Audio Return Channel’. This means that it allows the Smart TV to transmit audio in both directions: from the television to a soundbar, audio receiver, or compatible home cinema system. It is precisely this quality that makes it different from the usual HDMI port, which only allows audio input but not return.
Furthermore, it not only permits this bidirectionality of sound, but also supports advanced audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This is why using an HDMI ASRC port not only simplifies the organization of the cables behind our television, but it is also the way to enjoy immersive and high-quality sound from our sofa.
Home cinema
When we think of having a home cinema at home, we envision the mansions of celebrities, tycoons, or millionaires, with three-story houses, game rooms, cinema rooms, and even bowling alleys. Until a few years ago, having a setup that simulated the quality of a cinema at home was considered an eccentricity or luxury, but that is changing.
The evolution that televisions have undergone in recent years has not been limited to image quality, access to content, or internet connectivity. Advances related to available connections have also been taken into account. This is what has happened with Smart TVs, which are increasingly better prepared and updated to provide image and audio quality worthy of a top-notch home cinema.
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
The addition of the HDMI ARC port has been a step forward in this regard. The presence of this port represents a leap in convenience and performance when setting up our televisions. We have all heard of the HDMI port or cable, even if we have no idea what it is (or if we do). This is the port responsible for allowing audio input, but does not allow for audio return. However, HDMI ARC has a bidirectional feature: it not only receives sound from devices connected to the television, but also sends the audio generated by the Smart TV itself.
This feature simplifies the installation of our televisions, eliminating the need for auxiliary cables, as everything necessary to enjoy sound quality is provided by a single cable. In addition, it supports advanced and high-resolution audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which enables the creation of an immersive environment.
Does it work on all televisions?
To take full advantage of the potential of an HDMI ARC port on your Smart TV, you need to consider some aspects. Both your television and the sound system must be compatible with this feature and have such a port. The port is usually labeled, but in case of doubt, you can consult the user manual or the official website of the brands of your devices. The setup is as simple as connecting the HDMI cable between the ARC port of your Smart TV and the external audio equipment. And voilà!
So easy. Forget about the mess of cables that lives behind our televisions, about needing specific cables for image, sound, and connectivity, and enjoy the advantages provided by the HDMI ARC port.