HDfury Arcana: eARC Adaptor: Things you should know

AjTrek1
Userlevel 7

By now everyone has heard about the HDfury Arcana: eARC Adapter that is now available for pre-order.  It’s touted to relieve lip-sync issues associated with the Sonos Arc among other things. Read about the proposed benefits of the HDfury Arcana: eArc Adapter here.

This information is not intended to deter anyone from ordering the Arcana (I’m contemplating ordering it for testing).  However, my expectations are not that it will be a “cure-all” for every situation regarding Sonos. Below are two things regarding the HDfury Arcana: eARC Adapter you should know:

  1. The Arcana may negate Alexa/Google voice assistance between your TV and the Arc (as well as the Beam). Things such as on/off, volume and input switching via voice. Note: The Stretch Goal for the Arcana claims it may not :thinking:
  2. The Arcana will not bring Dolby Atmos to the Beam; although it may improve DD5.1 interoperability with some sources and reduce lip-sync issues

While the above may seem obvious...experience here in the community has taught me not to assume that everything is logically understood (crystal clear). :slight_smile:

If I do decide to order the Arcana I’ll report back with testing results.

Edit: I ordered it. I’m just a Tech Junkie...someone help me...please. :fearful:

Cheers!

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
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33 replies

T
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I have no need for a splitter.  I have the Roku going in to the Arcana.  I have HDMI out to the TV and to the Sonos.  I have no other external devices.  When I watch terrestrial TV, it is on the TV itself.

B

Are you using an hdmi splitter?

T
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I am using the Arcana so that I can watch streaming channels NEtflix, Amazon and Apple TV with best sound.  It has cured sync problems with Netfkix that I used to have.  I can watch Apple TV with Atmos as well

 

Airgetlam

In which case, the Roku should be connected to any other HDMI input on the TV. The TV is the “switching” device, and creates and sends the audio signal via ARC/eARC to the Sonos Arc. Not quite sure why you’re using an Arcana at all….unless your TV is unable to pass a Dolby Digital Plus or MAT signal to the Arc. 

There’s a good example on the HD Fury website detailing how to get output from a TV’s internal apps back to the Arcana.  Requires a bunch of cabling and a HDMI matrix device. But the thing to remember is that the Arcana removes the TV as the output for the Sonos Arc. Essentially, it pulls the audio before it reaches the TV set. If you’re watching something on the TV set like a “smart app” built in to the TV, it needs to feed backwards in the loop in order to reach the Arcana, and be passed to the Arc. 

Bruce
T
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I need to connect to the eARC HDMI on the TV in order to get sound when watching terrestrial TV/Freeview (I am in the UK)

 

If I connect the MHL-HDMI, the TV does not send sound to the Sonos ARC

 

 

J

@Tudor . How do you have everything wired? The TV audio settings should be irrelevant here.

You have tbe Roku in the Arcana's HDMI in. You should have tbe eARC out going to the Arc and the HDMI out going to an HDMI port on the TV. I suggest you don't use the HDMI-ARC port,  although it should not matter.

Edit: I suggest you mute the TV's own speakers.

T
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I have Roku Ultra stick which supplies most apps.  I have this plugged into my Arcana.  My TV is a 4K Samsung.  Sound is from Sonos ARC, AMP, Sub and ceiling rears

I have set the TV audio out to “receiver” but it is unpredicatable whether the sound does come out the Sonos.  Mostly it does but sometimes it reverts to the TV, sometimes it seems to be coming out the Sonos but the TV remote increases the TV sound.  I am not how to make it always come out the Sonos

Other than that, I am happy with picture and sound coming from Roku to Arcana to Sonos

 

M

@MrChrisD With the Arcana you can still use the native apps on your TV. The Arcana is only used for external media devices. 

 

That’s not 100% accurate, or perhaps should be clarified.  If you want to get audio from native TV apps to the Sonos Arc, Arcana would still be used in the process. The TV side of Arcana will connect to your HDMI-ARC port on your TV, and your TV will send audio (when playing native apps) back along that connect to Arcana.  Arcana will then pass the audio on to the Sonos Arc.  I have not used this feature myself, as I find it easier just to use an external streaming box, but others have used it without issue.

One way to look at it is that Arcana will take audio from external sources or your TV via HDMI-ARC, and pass it via HDMI-eARC to Sonos Arc.  At the same time, it will take video from external sources and pass that on to your TV.

THANK YOU! That’s exactly what I needed to know. 

melvimbe

@MrChrisD With the Arcana you can still use the native apps on your TV. The Arcana is only used for external media devices. 

 

That’s not 100% accurate, or perhaps should be clarified.  If you want to get audio from native TV apps to the Sonos Arc, Arcana would still be used in the process. The TV side of Arcana will connect to your HDMI-ARC port on your TV, and your TV will send audio (when playing native apps) back along that connect to Arcana.  Arcana will then pass the audio on to the Sonos Arc.  I have not used this feature myself, as I find it easier just to use an external streaming box, but others have used it without issue.

One way to look at it is that Arcana will take audio from external sources or your TV via HDMI-ARC, and pass it via HDMI-eARC to Sonos Arc.  At the same time, it will take video from external sources and pass that on to your TV.

Danny
G
Userlevel 7

@MrChrisD With the Arcana you can still use the native apps on your TV. The Arcana is only used for external media devices. If you want to connect more than one external device to the Arcana, you will need an HDMI switch. I use a ROOFULL 3-port switch from Amazon and it is able to pass lossless Dolby TrueHD/Dolby Atmos and multichannel PCM audio.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
M

Question: I have lip sync issues with external HDMI devices running into my LG C8 OLED with sound coming from my Sonos Arc SL. I was about to buy an HD Fury Arcana to solve this but was wondering how I could still use the native LG apps (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video etc...) with the Sonos? Would I need to buy a switcher just to route the audio to the soundbar (ie: 1 input from the Arcana for cable and 1 input from the TV)? Or am I overlooking something? If I do need the switcher is there a specific type to pass the full audio signal?

M

Does anyone have experience using a Sonos Arc + Sub + One SL’s using the HDFury Arcana for use with a video projector? Or any thoughts on whether this setup would be able to deliver a Dolby Atmos signal to the Arc system?

Based on my understanding of Sonos smart soundbars, they process audio input and unicast an appropriate audio channel to the linked 5.1 group members over the 5GHz band. Presence or absence of the linked 5.1 speakers does not matter for the ability to handle Atmos by the soundbar or Arcana. Your projector hangs off the Arcana HDMI OUT port, shows video, and sends any control signals to Arcana. Provided that the source is Atmos on HDMI IN port, Arcana delivers Atmos to eARC OUT port (Sonos Arc). It shall work without problems. You may want to configure Arcana for LLDV>HDR to ON to let the non-DV projector show DV.

A

I have a Shield TV (2019) + Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 + 2SLs with a Hisense H9F

 

A couple weeks prior there was a TV update that caused Dolby Atmos to no longer work with my Arc. It was DD+ since the TV only has ARC not eARC. This made me seek out a viable solution which is why I ordered the Arcana.

 

I received the HD Fury Arcana and now I have Dolby Atmos working from the Shield 2019. All I did was update to the latest firmware and connect to my Sonos and I’m back in business with my H9F. It’s an expensive fix but having the sound bypass the TV has solved some CEC issues that was happening intermittently before. I believe the sound is much better as well. Atmos shows fine in the S2 Sonos app.

 

Prior to the Arcana the sound would intermittently go through the TV speakers and then back to the Sonos ARC. Or the sound would raise and lower continuously for 30 seconds before settling back down. Now with this device I have no issues and the ARC actually sounds better… Well worth it IMO

I had the same issues with my Shield/Hisense H9F and found that the Arcana negated all of them by bypassing audio from the TV completely. 

My only issue now seems to be with CEC even when all CEC options are enabled, ex: the Shield remote does not turn off the TV. You said you updated the firmware - was this for the Arcana, and if so, how did you do this?   

U

Does anyone have experience using a Sonos Arc + Sub + One SL’s using the HDFury Arcana for use with a video projector? Or any thoughts on whether this setup would be able to deliver a Dolby Atmos signal to the Arc system?

J

Well I can at least confirm that Arcana does all that it claims to do very well.

M

Actually a revised opinion..

The features section suggests that it can add eARC functionality to a soundbar, although the headline comments suggest something different. Needs further consideration...

I’ve an old working tv with arc but no dd+.so no atmos. Just torn between getting a new tv vs investing in arcana. May be it’s worthwhile upgrading the tv.

thanks for your input though.

J

Actually a revised opinion..

The features section suggests that it can add eARC functionality to a soundbar, although the headline comments suggest something different. Needs further consideration...

J

I am trying to buy Arcana. But saw this product while searching for alternatives.

This seems to have hdmi 2.1. I’m new to this, can any one compare and suggest if this or Arcana would be good?

 https://www.hdtvsupply.com/8k-hdmi-earc-adapter.html

Assuming you have an Arc, the device you linked appears to be of no use whatsoever.  Its purpose is stated to be to turn your receiver or soundbar into an eARC capable device.  The Arc is already an eARC capable device.  The output is HDMI, whereas the Arc requires an HDMI-ARC or eARC signal.

There are lots of these devices intended for people who have eARC capable TVs and non-eARC capable AVRs / soundbars.  The Arcana is unique in being aimed at users whose TVs do not have eARC but whose AVR / soundbar is eARC capable (such as the Arc).

I am struggling to see how the device linked would help with any Sonos product, so I am surprised that it bills itself as such.

So what problem do you want Arcana to solve?

M

I am trying to buy Arcana. But saw this product while searching for alternatives.

This seems to have hdmi 2.1. I’m new to this, can any one compare and suggest if this or Arcana would be good?

 https://www.hdtvsupply.com/8k-hdmi-earc-adapter.html

T

I have a Shield TV (2019) + Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 + 2SLs with a Hisense H9F

 

A couple weeks prior there was a TV update that caused Dolby Atmos to no longer work with my Arc. It was DD+ since the TV only has ARC not eARC. This made me seek out a viable solution which is why I ordered the Arcana.

 

I received the HD Fury Arcana and now I have Dolby Atmos working from the Shield 2019. All I did was update to the latest firmware and connect to my Sonos and I’m back in business with my H9F. It’s an expensive fix but having the sound bypass the TV has solved some CEC issues that was happening intermittently before. I believe the sound is much better as well. Atmos shows fine in the S2 Sonos app.

 

Prior to the Arcana the sound would intermittently go through the TV speakers and then back to the Sonos ARC. Or the sound would raise and lower continuously for 30 seconds before settling back down. Now with this device I have no issues and the ARC actually sounds better… Well worth it IMO

R

Just to clarify I was wondering if I plugged the Xbox directly into the tv, would I have any lip sync issues as this would resolve the image quality issue. Then plug sky Q directly into the Arcana with one hdmi to the Sonos Arc and the other into eARC on the TV. would that resolve all my issues?

R

Hi there, looking for advice.

I’m having a feature wall built and have purchased LG 65CX, Sonos Arc with Sub and 2x One SLs, I have the Xbox Series X pre ordered and use Sky Q but do use the Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime apps on the tv. My question for help is what do I need to do to ensure I don't get any lip sync issues and lose picture quality? I’ve seen the Arcana pumps through a max 18Gbps and the new Xbox is 40Gbps, can I just plug the Xbox directly to the TV and using the Arcana? I want to ensure that I have everything I need to get this set up correctly so when the company come to build the feature wall and install everything in November we don't have any issues. Any help would massively be appreciated. :)

W
Userlevel 5
Badge +9

On the HDFury website, there’s a pretty good explanation on how you should hook it up, if you click on ‘getting started’ which is an inch or two down the page. 

Thanks! Will have a look! :)

Airgetlam

On the HDFury website, there’s a pretty good explanation on how you should hook it up, if you click on ‘getting started’ which is an inch or two down the page. 

Bruce
W
Userlevel 5
Badge +9

Hi! My LG TV can pass through Dolby Atmos (DD+) through HDMI ARC, so when I watch Netflix and Apple TV + or iTunes Movies with the native app, I can get Dolby Atmos... Just would like to know how I can get the most out of the HDFury Arcana? I have some devices (PS4, Blu-ray player, Chromecast Ultra, Android TV box) connect to the TV via a HDMI switch, and connected a Apple TV 4K directly to the TV with another HDMI.

And how the connection with the HDFury Arcana should be?

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