HDMI 2.1, eARC & LG DTS - how does it work

[Five_Star]

My AV setup is ancient and so a full upgrade is needed for the xbox series x and PS5.

Thinking of the LG GX with a Denon AVR-X3600H amp.

I'm really confused about how to make everything play nicely with HDMI 2.1 in the right places, how eARC actually works in practice, and how I can still support DTS audio from the PC?

The LG has 4x HDMI 2.1 ports, however, I am used to plugging devices into the amp, then passing that into the TV via a single HDMI cable. (mostly as my old TV has limited ports)

From reading this is not suggested now? To take advantage of the TV features external devices plug in directly?

Audio is then sent to the amp via eARC - how is this setup, is it automatic, is it set and forget?

It seems that AV amps with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports are not yet available, or will even be available if the preferred route is TV connection rather than amp -> TV?

The other issue is DTS audio. The LG no longer supports it, so if I plug my PC into the LG CX will it pass-through DTS audio to the Denon, is eARC capable of this?
OR
Will I have to use the single HDMI 2.1 in on the Denon for the PC, decode the DTS on the amp then send the picture up to the TV
OR
Do I need to plug the PC into the TV HDMI port and sepertaly output via Optical to the amp?

Reviews for both the LG CX/GX and the newer HDMI 2.1 amps maddeningly gloss over the implementation details for these details only mentioning the official specs!

 

[Five_Star]

Helpful replies, thanks.

Good point about G-Sync not being passed through, I hadn't thought of that! I guess with eARC this is unlikely to change in the future as AV amps will be less about supporting extended picture standards and more on processing return audio signals.

That's very interesting that eARC can mean having the amp unit located in a more remote location to give a cleaner viewing setup, an unexpected benefit!

DTS - I guess it's the decline to a dead format, phased out in blu ray and streaming sites it seems. I really need to have a close look at what media I have with only DTS audio. I suspect a lot has been re-issued in blu ray now or 4k blu ray or available direct from a streaming service. I just know there will be an annoying couple of releases that will need to be ripped and converted longer term.

 

[Five_Star]

Not quite an accurate assessment, there.

I'm happy to be corrected

With all that you said then, have LG dropped support only for 'classic' DTS? The question then becomes is DTS-HD MA or DTS:X still available and passes through the CX /GX panels to amp or soundbar?

I've got loads and loads of DVDs, only a couple of blu ray discs that I'd still like to support, but just now with single HDMI 2.1 connections for AV amps it might well be worth waiting a little longer that battling a workaround.

 

[Five_Star]

Yes, you are right. It's easy to become fixated on things and while the very newest AV amps have a single HDMI 2.1 port, there are plenty of devices like blu-ray players that do not require it to fill the other 6-7 HDMI ports thanks to the xbox, ps5 and pc taking up the ones on the actual TV.