Skip to main content

Hello,

I have a question that I have been struggling to find an answer to, and I’m hoping that someone here could help. 

I am in the process of making the switch from a TV to a projector (the Nebula X1), and that is going to cause some issues. 

The projector only has two HDMI inputs. They are both HDMI 2.1, and only one of them is eARC. I will need more HDMI inputs than that. 

The most obvious solution would be to use a receiver, which I am open to. However, I am already using Sonos speakers. If I were to get a receiver, I wouldn’t have the money or the desire to replace the Sonos speakers. 

I understand how you can turn a receiver into a Sonos speaker using the Port, but I don’t see much about going the other way around. Because normally, why would you? But I already have the Sonos speakers. 

I looked into HDMI switches, but I haven’t found any that seem powerful enough to preserve the video and audio in a way a receiver could (and even the few I’ve found that claim to have reviews from people that seem to have issues with them.)

So, what I’m probably overthinking is, would it work to use a receiver as essentially a souped up HDMI splitter? If I plugged my sources into the receiver, the receiver into the non eARC HDMI on the projector, and the soundbar into the eARC HDMI, would that be the solution? Or would the receiver have to be in eARC HMDI to send sound to the projector, and this wouldn’t work at all?

I appreciate any help, suggestions, and guidance anyone is able to provide. 

A reciever is going to cost thousands more than a switch that offers the same quality connection.

The projector and Sonos will need to use the HDMI eARC port leaving you just the one open so a switch is going to have to go on HDMI 1.  Shopping for an HDMI 2.1 switch shouldn't be difficult, check some of the AV forums and you should get better information than from many reviews.

Why bother with a receiver as a ‘souped up’ splitter? Is there some reason you’re averse to a normal HDMI splitter? What switches have you been investigating? I’ve never seen any complaints from users about having issues with them preserving audio/video. 

The Port is also merely a stereo device, as such, if you used it connected to a receiver, you’d lose any extra multichannel formats, not to mention the 75ms delay on the analog line in. Just doesn’t seem like a way to go. 

I certainly agree that a Sonos soundbar would be connected (optimally to the eARC port), but it being a projector, there’s the cable length to be concerned about between the projector and the speaker, which normally should be placed under the screen at the front of the viewing area. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of Sonos solutions applied to projectors, they don't fit well and aren’t really designed for use.

However, eARC is created, in your case, by the projector. I’ve never seen a receiver that has a CEC system in it to create eARC, only those that pass it through, which is easier and much less expensive.

The other option to look at is a splitter that creates eARC. 

There is the HD Fury Arcana, the Feintech VAX04101k, and the OREI HDA-935. You can also order from those links from the companies directly, or check your local retailers for availability. Amazon may carry some, depending on your location. At this point, there may be more manufacturers, I haven’t been keeping track. But you’re still going to run into cabling issues, with the speakers being pretty far away from the projector.

I’ve looked at so many HDMI switches the last few days that I’m not going to be able to recall them all, but here are a couple:

llano HDMI 2.1 Switch, HDMI Switcher 4K@120Hz: This one claims to be 4k @ 120 compatible, but there’s someone in the Amazon reviews who says its only passing 4k 60 or downscaling to 1080. With the same cables and no switcher, they’re getting better results.

UGREEN 8K@60Hz HDMI Switch 5 in 1 Out Aluminum Support 4K@240Hz HDR10+ HDCP 2.3 CEC HDMI 2.1 Switcher Splitter: This one claims to do 4k @ 240 which I was interested in because the X1 projector claims to do the same, but a review claims it’s not even running 4k @ 120 reliably.

Would it make sense to combo two devices like this? First connect my sources (Apple TV, Panasonic UB820, a couple different consoles) to the OREI 8K 4×1 HDMI 2.1 Switch – 8K@60 Hz/4K@120 Hz and then take that output and run it through the OREI eARC 8K Audio Extractor? 

The reason I was looking at a receiver instead of a switch was because I have experience using a Denon receiver in a room that has a traditional wired speaker setup, and my biggest concern is having a nice projector and then not getting the most out of all of my sources by plugging them into a underpowered switch that like the ones above doesn’t actually do what it claims to do. I know a Denon receiver is not going to do that, obviously. I don’t have to worry about it being true to its 4k @ 120 claims. But I’m out of my depth, and that’s why I’m looking for help.

When I spoke to the tech guy at Best Buy, we were looking at a Denon S970H receiver which has two different HDMI outputs. He seemed to think that if I plugged the Sonos into one and the projector into the other that it would work. I was thinking that it would not from what I have seen online, but I do not know enough about this to know which one of us was right.

Most receivers, as I said, don’t do any ARC generation, it’s is dependent on the CEC electronics in the monitor/ projector. Switched that include those electronics, or at least some of them, I linked above. I’ve never run in to a tech guy at Best Buy who actually understands that the Sonos devices run off of CEC (HDMI-ARC). I’ve found them to be more interested in making a sale than they are in understanding how the device actually works.

The data on Crutchfield’s website says:

  • supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
    • eARC receives uncompressed surround sound signals including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via the HDMI connection with your compatible TV
       

This means it passes through data, it does not generate it. You’d need to generate the ARC/eARC signal from your projector, pass it to the receiver, which would then pass it to the Sonos. Not an ideal situation, but hey. IMHO using a Sonos mixed with a projector is fraught with difficulties. 

FWIW, all audio passed to the projector/TV/Monitor is the same on HDMI. It’s that device that transfers the data to the ARC/eARC signal, and passes it back along the cable to whichever device the cable is connected to. 
 

So ultimately, you could use this receiver as an ‘super switch’, as long as you sent the switched output to the projector. You’d need to connect the Sonos to the ARC/eARC port on the projector. You’re still going to be left with HDMI cables strung across from front to back. No matter where you place this receiver/switch. It’s certainly doable. I wouldn’t, personally, but that’s just me. 

According to the sources in the links the Nebula X1 is a portable non-traditional projector. It has eArc and even delivers 4.1.2 Dolby Atmos with its proprietary speakers. That said a Sonos Arc Ultra or Beam 2 either one with surrounds should work. Optimum distance is said to be 4 meters from screen. Therefore, you’d need a 13-15 ft HDMI cable which you could run on the floor under carpet or throw rugs. 

Nebula X1 review: a bright portable projector that doesn't skimp on performance | TechRadar

Amazon.com: NEBULA X1 Triple Laser 4K Projector, Nebulamaster, 3500 ANSI Lumens, 56000:1 Contrast, 40W Stereo Sound, 0.9-1.5 Optical Zoom, Smart AI, Dolby Vision, 300" Screen, Built-In Micro Gimbal, GTV, Portable : Electronics

 

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings