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Hi, all,

 

I’m thinking of getting a Sonos Arc and connect it to an AV-Receiver (still exploring options like: Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo), but what it boils downto is this:

I’m using the smart TV app for watching TV, e.g. Netflix, and the question is: If I connect the TV eArc port to one of the configurable AVR inputs (HDMI 2.1), and eArc output from the AVR to the Sonos Arc: is the sound quality preserved, or does it deteriorate in a sense, that I only get out the 5.1 surround (I don’t know if the HDMI 2.1 input ports on AVRs support eArc - is Dolby Atmos quality preserved?).

Maybe the question is a bit silly, just exploring options here...

Are you sure the AVR has an eARC out?  Usually an AVR, like the Sonos Arc, expects the audio coming in via ARC, not going out.  ARC literally means Audio Return Channel, meaning the audio returns from the display device to the audio device.


Hi, thnx for the quick reply. Yes, I’m looking at something like this Denon. It has eARC output. I’m concerned that the audio quality gets lost, when going from the TV’s eARC into the HDMI input channel (since no input is marked to support eArc). I’m trying to figure out if this will work before buying the equipment.

I’d hate to get everything only to figure out it doesn’t work as I thought it would.

 


I’d double check the manual for that device, normally speaking that label implies an ARC/eARC pass through, not a generator of those signals. 


That's the HDMI out to bring video to your TV and audio back to the receiver for any apps used on the TV. The ARC/eARC is input for that connection, not output.


That's the HDMI out to bring video to your TV and audio back to the receiver for any apps used on the TV. The ARC/eARC is input for that connection, not output.

Yep, exactly. Something was bothering me with this  entire setup, and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. And you are exactly on point. That is what is bothering me. So how would one connect TV, Sonos Arc and a AVR, so that the Dolby Atmos doesn’t get lost between the TV and the soundbar?


Yep, exactly. Something was bothering me with this  entire setup, and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. And you are exactly on point. That is what is bothering me. So how would one connect TV, Sonos Arc and a AVR, so that the Dolby Atmos doesn’t get lost between the TV and the soundbar?

 

That’s the thing, the Arc is not meant to work with a receiver, it is meant to replace the receiver.  If you aren’t using the receiver’s speaker output and just want to use it as a fancy HDMI switch, you could connect the receiver HDMI out to one of the regular HDMI ins on the TV, then connect the HDMI-eARC port on the TV to the Arc.  But there’s no way to use the receiver’s speakers along with the Arc.  


Yep, exactly. Something was bothering me with this  entire setup, and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. And you are exactly on point. That is what is bothering me. So how would one connect TV, Sonos Arc and a AVR, so that the Dolby Atmos doesn’t get lost between the TV and the soundbar?

 

That’s the thing, the Arc is not meant to work with a receiver, it is meant to replace the receiver.  If you aren’t using the receiver’s speaker output and just want to use it as a fancy HDMI switch, you could connect the receiver HDMI out to one of the regular HDMI ins on the TV, then connect the HDMI-eARC port on the TV to the Arc.  But there’s no way to use the receiver’s speakers along with the Arc.  

Thnx jgatie, this was the answer I was looking for. It doesn’t work together. Thank you very much.