HDMI ARC Setup Query

Phonesis · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:51

I realised last night both my receiver (2017 Onkyo) and TV (2016 Panasonic) support ARC and being on a mission to reduce my cables decided I'd try swapping out my current optical SPDIF from back of TV and try HDMI ARC instead.

Hmm... so 2 hours later I was getting pretty frustrated. I made sure the HDMI out from receiver went into the ARC HDMI TV socket (labelled HDMI 2). I enabled ARC on TV and receiver (HDMI CEC mode on and Audio Return Channel set for auto).

Seemed to smartly switch sources, allow me to use volume on all controllers etc. Also lets me alternate between TV speaker and surround speakers. However, the one thing I wanted to achieve was being able to output the sound from my TV's in built 4k Netflix app to my surround speakers via ARC.

Just got nothing. This is doable in theory I am assuming and the purpose of ARC? I fiddled for hours and just got no sound output. I then remembered the HDMI out from my receiver actually goes into a splitter before reaching the TV. This splitter lets me alternate between TV and projector.

So I am now thinking the splitter is the culprit? Maybe it's not ARC compatible? Does this sound like a possibility?

PiKe · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:53

Well the thing to try would be to plug it directly into the AMP without the splitter in circuit.

jpaul · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:57

Try a simpler scenario asking tv to output/return stereo/pcm and see if netflix works then

Phonesis · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:57

PiKe said:
Well the thing to try would be to plug it directly into the AMP without the splitter in circuit.

Yeah very good point and tbh only reason I haven't done that is because I am basically pretty OCD about cabling and have got it all just right now. To unplug it all would require a lot of faff as it's all round the back of a cabinet. It's one of those things where I'm thinking I might just stick with the good old SPDIF cable.

Phonesis · 7 Nov 2017 at 11:17

So anyway, I searched my Amazon order history and found the splitter purchase from 2012. I searched the Q&A bit and a few people have asked about ARC support and several people have said it doesn't appear to support ARC. Guess I'll have to buy an ARC compatible one!

w1ze1 · 7 Nov 2017 at 12:08

Would seems its not much better than Optical in that is only supports up to the older 5.1 DD and DTS formats and a hit and a miss if it even does that as sometimes its 2.0

I know my Kuro's Optical out is only 2.0 PCM. and the volume is mega low.

https://www.cnet.com/news/what-is-audio-return-channel-arc/

signs · 7 Nov 2017 at 12:25

are you getting nothing back from your 4k netflix ? mine out put nothing until i changed the HDMI cable for a high speed one

TheMightyTen · 7 Nov 2017 at 13:38

Do you have an option on your TV sound settings to convert Dolby Digital+ to plain Dolby Digital? In most cases where I have helped people fault find similar issues it has been with the TV not converting DD+ for the ARC output.

rhysduck · 7 Nov 2017 at 13:47

You'd need to ensure that the hdmi cable supports 4k.. if it's not a high speed 2.0 one then that could be the cuplrit.

I have ARC setup for my GT60 and Yamaha soundbar... great when it works.. pain in the bum when it doesn't.

jpaul · 7 Nov 2017 at 13:53

- deleted - irrelevant

lude1962 · 7 Nov 2017 at 18:33

sure there was a similar thread to this arc was supported correctly via tv tuners but not inbuilt apps, though I could be wrong..

Phonesis · 8 Nov 2017 at 09:25

Thanks all. I spoke to staff in Maplins and they seemed certain my splitter was the cause. My TV doesn't seem to have any option to convert the audio. Just get choices like "Normal, Cinema" etc. I am going to save myself a lot of hassle and just use the SPDIF cable. All I want it for is the 4k Netflix app and the odd YouTube vid I cast to TV.

Phonesis · 8 Nov 2017 at 09:33

lude1962 said:
sure there was a similar thread to this arc was supported correctly via tv tuners but not inbuilt apps, though I could be wrong..

Interesting. Could well be another factor then. Also, my HDMI cables are prob all the older type as I bought them in 2012? I think I will just drop the idea.

p28nay · 8 Nov 2017 at 11:04

I think it could well be that your HDMI cable doesn't support ARC. I had a similar problem the other day where the TV wouldn't send Netflix audio to my AMP. My HDMI cable from the TV to the AMP looked old so I bought a new one which supports ARC and v2.0 and presto everything worked.

Phonesis · 8 Nov 2017 at 13:33

p28nay said:
I think it could well be that your HDMI cable doesn't support ARC. I had a similar problem the other day where the TV wouldn't send Netflix audio to my AMP. My HDMI cable from the TV to the AMP looked old so I bought a new one which supports ARC and v2.0 and presto everything worked.

I think I'd need a new ARC compatible splitter (or switch, not sure what difference is?) plus some ARC compatible HDMI cables too. One for TV to Splitter and another for Splitter to Receiver. Not really worth it for me considering my original aim was simply to get rid of one cable. Maybe in future if the splitter died on me or something.