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Question

please confirm whether an active, unidirectional fiber-optic HDMI cable that supports ARC/eARC is compatible with the Sonos Amp for receiving TV audio over HDMI ARC?

  • August 19, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 39 views

I’m installing a Sonos Amp with an outdoor Samsung TV. The TV will be connected to the Amp through its HDMI ARC/eARC port, and the cable run will be approximately 20–25 feet.

Because I need to keep the cable as thin as possible, I’m considering a 25-foot active fiber-optic HDMI 2.1 cable rather than a conventional copper HDMI cable. The cable is:

  • HDMI 2.1 / 48 Gbps

  • Active fiber optic

  • Unidirectional

  • 25 feet

  • CL3 rated

  • Advertised as supporting ARC/eARC, Dolby Atmos, 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz

Can you please confirm whether an active, unidirectional fiber-optic HDMI cable that supports ARC/eARC is compatible with the Sonos Amp for receiving TV audio over HDMI ARC?

In particular, is there anything about the Sonos Amp's HDMI ARC implementation that requires a conventional copper HDMI cable, or should a properly designed active fiber HDMI cable with ARC/eARC support work normally?

If fiber HDMI is supported, please also let me know whether there are any special requirements regarding cable direction/orientation when connecting the TV's ARC/eARC port to the Sonos Amp.

4 replies

Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • August 19, 2026

That sounds like a Sonos Support question, you're going to need to contact them as they aren't active here.

Possibly another user may have some experience but an answer based on that does not commit Sonos.


buzz
  • August 19, 2026

Probably not. Which model optical cable are you considering?


106rallye
Forum|alt.badge.img+18
  • August 20, 2026

ARC is bidirectional by nature if I’m understanding the concept, so a unidirectional ARC-capable cable should not be possible?


buzz
  • August 20, 2026

‘ARC’ (Audio Return Channel) is bidirectional. ‘eARC’ is higher bandwidth and supports more advanced audio formats.