HDMI ARC vs Digital Optical: Which is Better and Why?

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  • čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
  • HDMI ARC and Digital Optical are very different as far as what they can support.
    Basically here's what each supports!
    Digital Optical: 2 channels of uncompressed PCM audio or up to 5.1 channels of compressed audio. End of story. This is the max that digital optical is capable of supporting.
    HDMI ARC:
    All TVs: 2 channels of uncompressed PCM audio or up to 5.1 channels of compressed audio.
    TVs made around or after 2018 may support up to 7.1 channels of compressed audio, including height or upward-firing channels.
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 1,5K

  • @ArnaudGohier
    @ArnaudGohier Před 2 lety +1905

    No useless intro. No screaming over excited youtuber. No 10min of filler to go through a simple point. Just precise, clear and concise information. Absolutely great, thank you a lot.

    • @Blackdog4818
      @Blackdog4818 Před 2 lety +16

      Yes, but he didn't give us his opinion on HCQ or Ivermectin to fight Covid. Very disappointing...LOL.

    • @williamscheer1481
      @williamscheer1481 Před 2 lety +9

      Agreed! Doesn’t waste my time with “connect the red speaker wire to the red terminal and the black speaker wire to the black terminal” like some of these yayhoos do. Clear, concise and lots of info.

    • @LonghornsLegend
      @LonghornsLegend Před 2 lety +10

      Dont forget the thumbnail of a shocked face with their mouth open🤦🏾‍♂️ I appreciate all of it too and try to support these channels to show YT that people appreciate not having any of that in a video

    • @hesalescompany649
      @hesalescompany649 Před 2 lety +1

      Like

    • @QuincyPoaches
      @QuincyPoaches Před 2 lety +2

      100% agree. What you said.

  • @VoLkoFFBR
    @VoLkoFFBR Před 2 lety +572

    This is how CZcams should have been, no click baits and straight to the point.
    Thanks for your informative video.

    • @aoterou
      @aoterou Před rokem

      The thumbnail is unintentional click bait, I saw it in recommended and I thought it was Eric Cantona reviewing hdmi cables

    • @adamali9236
      @adamali9236 Před rokem +1

      Pretty eyes wow

    • @marsovac
      @marsovac Před rokem

      It still is if you use the SponsorBlock extension

    • @ukqwerty999
      @ukqwerty999 Před 10 měsíci

      @@aoterou I thought it was Sean Strickland (UFC) reviewing hdmi cables, but he didn't swear 200 times :) He is good at putting the info out there nice and cleanly for us all, i agree.

    • @stevesolo16
      @stevesolo16 Před 2 měsíci +1

      Yes-In a Land so Far, Far Away.....

  • @dexb5233
    @dexb5233 Před 2 lety +13

    I spent an hour on CZcams trying to find fuckin answers and all it takes is a few minutes from this master tech for me to understand the ins and outs, pros and cons of an audio set up.. Good job!

  • @LifeHurricane
    @LifeHurricane Před 2 lety +64

    I have been so overwhelmed by all this home theatre setup, thank you SO much for making this AND doing it so well. You are great at explaining things.

  • @terrygmusser
    @terrygmusser Před 2 lety +5

    Thank you. You are my hero. I've been replacing aged home theater with newer equipment and have had a lot of confusion. Can't wait to see more of your videos.

  • @y87_99Firebird
    @y87_99Firebird Před 2 lety +8

    I've kept an older setup all around (2010-ish stuff; if it isn't broke, I don't replace it quickly) and have never paid much mind to pushing the best audio through my Sony surround sound until I moved stuff around and all I heard was hissing from the rear speakers. I had a standard 3.5mm to RCA so was just getting stereo. Went optical and that cleaned up nicely. A port I had all the way back on old PS2 and never used it on anything. Now I'm doing so much research on how to make sure everything in my house works at its best...even at its age

  • @Redders420
    @Redders420 Před 2 lety +1

    This is how information videos should be. Clear information with no filler or trying to make the video about yourself. Thank you sir.

  • @Jbpennes
    @Jbpennes Před 2 lety +2

    Ok, after days of scratching my head, finally a crystal clear video about ARC and also how to properly connect your sound bar and your side stuff. Thank you so much!

  • @BlueSuede2011
    @BlueSuede2011 Před 2 lety +11

    You speak very clearly and eloquently and explain things very well. I did not even know there was such a thing as HDMI ARC. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together. I look forward to watching your other educational videos!!

    • @leonardocamposvazquez529
      @leonardocamposvazquez529 Před 3 měsíci

      And nowdays there are HDMI eARC that its the next evolution of ARC, this Let you transmit lossless audio, like Dolby True HD or DTS-X

  • @rakibuddin6998
    @rakibuddin6998 Před 3 lety +16

    That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks a lot, Jonah. You've explained everything with perfect visualization. Learned tons of things.

  • @GoldenSun5631
    @GoldenSun5631 Před 3 měsíci +1

    As someone who just got a new tv and wants to get a soundbar + subwoofer to improve audio clarity - this video REALLY helped clear some technical stuff I was confused about for my setup and what it can or cannot support. Also - great video: simple, to the point, clear, no annoying intro/outro/sponsers all over the place. Grade A+++ quality video.

  • @karenhaylings2323
    @karenhaylings2323 Před 2 lety +4

    I am older and have been having so much trouble setting up my soundbar to my Fetch and TV. I finally found you and you are my lifesaver. It was so simple and all is working great. Thanks again from Australia

  • @JamesSmith-wu7rs
    @JamesSmith-wu7rs Před 2 lety +8

    Jonah, watched several of your videos thus far. You do a great job. Love your content and the lack of filler. Keep up the good work. Subscribed.

  • @Nightwyn
    @Nightwyn Před 2 lety +4

    Thank you for this video. Because of this I now have my sound bar hooked up using the ARC port on my tv, and now it turns on and off with the TV and I can pare down to just one remote in the living room!

  • @OnnyIzwanNordin666
    @OnnyIzwanNordin666 Před 3 lety +1

    I love your fast paced info - please make more like this

  • @JB-ro4du
    @JB-ro4du Před 11 měsíci +1

    After all the videos I’ve watched, this is the only video that saved much so much time to get my new tv connected to my surround sound system. Much appreciated!

  • @alexenkovbolshoi4850
    @alexenkovbolshoi4850 Před 3 lety +4

    Great explanation, I liked the scheme shown at the end of the video, very close to my case and it really clarified me how to better connect all of the devices. Good job!

  • @uniquesoundsolutions
    @uniquesoundsolutions Před 3 lety +20

    Thank you for the clarification! I’m an audio video contractor and I install countless sound bars and had a pretty good understanding but you made it absolutely clear the specifics of both optical and HDMI ARC. Thx! A BIG thumbs up!

    • @sneikiusas
      @sneikiusas Před 3 lety +5

      How can you be an audio video contract if you dont know even this basic barebones information? :D jesus

    • @pauldunning5933
      @pauldunning5933 Před 2 lety +1

      Are you joking as an installer 😂😂😂you wouldn't know this

  • @gregfaris6959
    @gregfaris6959 Před rokem +18

    Good video! Just a bit of clarification, likely of interest to very few; TOSLINK stands for Toshiba Link, in recognition of the developer of this early optical interface, but it does not describe the interface protocol. That would be SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface), developed at the time of the two industrial giants' collaboration on the development of the Compact Disk, and indeed its data rate and format correspond to those of the CD. You may see the TOSLINK connector labeled "SPDIF", and indeed you may find the SPDIF interface implemented on different connector types (RCA connector). They are identical, but of course you need the corresponding connector at both ends of the connection you are hoping to make, and these days, in consumer devices, the TOSLINK is the most common. By contrast, you will not find TOSLINK connectors on most professional devices, (probably due to tribalism amongst major Japanese manufacturers) and indeed the entire SPDIF standard is obsolescent, but it is worth noting it was never superseded for reasons of higher quality, but lower quality and cost, as well as access to more diverse formats with greater channel counts. Obviously any skepticism you may read into this regarding the success of eArc for high channel counts without compression is purely fortuitous, and not intended by the author.

  • @cybersteel8
    @cybersteel8 Před 2 lety +3

    This was really dense and informative! Thanks for not wasting any time and explaining it clearly.
    I think you could have expanded a bit on what CEC is though, I don't actually know and while you mentioned it a bunch in this video, I don't think you said what it is.

  • @5Percent-Iron
    @5Percent-Iron Před 3 lety +42

    Fam, even though I knew this, I still sat through the whole video, lol. Clear. Concise. And what I'll be referring friends to when they ask me.
    Keep up the good work.

    • @JonahMatthes
      @JonahMatthes  Před 3 lety +2

      Thank you very much 🙏

    • @autojohn-pu1vf
      @autojohn-pu1vf Před 3 lety

      @@JonahMatthes Now I know why, no matter what I watch on ROKU, the 5 little 5/1 indicater lights on my receiver don't come on only 2 of them do-->showing stereo... so the HDMI will not support 5 seperate audio tracks. My new bedroom stream bar has optical, it not only works as input from TV, but output to TV... tomorrow I'm going to hook it to my surround system and see if I get 5:1 ...... and then I'm gonna havta spend more money THANX for the INFO

  • @psmidt
    @psmidt Před 3 lety +15

    Great video, you always make these specs easier to understand. Thanks man!

  • @mikes.7073
    @mikes.7073 Před rokem

    I actually just stumbled on this video as it auto loaded after another video on PCM. But I am glad it played. Thanks for explaining the differences. Right to the point with lots of info. Thanks!

  • @ENGBriseB
    @ENGBriseB Před rokem +1

    Thank you for taking us through the differences between the two.

  • @YahyaRivero
    @YahyaRivero Před 3 lety +14

    Straight Blast Gym in Buford! I'm a member too

  • @CrashCarson14
    @CrashCarson14 Před 3 lety +6

    Also it’s important to note with ARC lip sync is usually matched automatically. Though if it is off there usually isn’t a way to change it. With Toslink there isn’t any adjustment and may need to be manually set. Though with Toslink there are some CEC type of commands that can be sent. My old tv would be able to run my sound bar on or off and the TV remote will send a pulse for the volume. Less issues with sync as the TV always just passes the audio, and with ARC it must handshake first before sending audio.

    • @JonahMatthes
      @JonahMatthes  Před 3 lety +4

      Yeah, I've heard of the CEC type commands that can be sent via Digital Optical, but from what I understand, they aren't super common. You're spot on though!

  • @EricYTB
    @EricYTB Před 2 lety

    This is the best ARC video I've seen on CZcams! Great Job!! Can't wait to see your Trainspotting 3 coming out. Subscribed!

  • @angenettaivy8918
    @angenettaivy8918 Před rokem

    Set for over a year in front of my tv. Happened to bring it up today yours popped up straight to the point. No problem hooking it up. I didn't even finish the whole video 🤯😌👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

  • @marianpompa1016
    @marianpompa1016 Před 3 lety +9

    Very helpful, and the explanation was easy to understand. Thank you!

  • @RarestAce
    @RarestAce Před 3 lety +11

    This was a great video. You gave a ton of information but made it super simple and easy to understand.

  • @raiyu1985
    @raiyu1985 Před rokem

    Dude keep it simple like this. You earned subs of people like. This is a no BS Channel. All straight to the point info. Thanks buddy.

  • @tammynorris2038
    @tammynorris2038 Před rokem

    Thank you for such a useful and clear video! Have been frustrated figuring out the setup of my new system and it all makes sense now! Thank you!

  • @ThomasD1962
    @ThomasD1962 Před 3 lety +32

    This was a great piece of information! Thanks for that.

  • @LaLakers17
    @LaLakers17 Před 2 lety +3

    I was confused asf between using optical or Hdmi ARC for my tv & soundbar until i listen to this dude..now my sound is on point bcause he knows his craft..im a sub now,thanks bruh!! Salute 2 your channel.

  • @Hammerguy88
    @Hammerguy88 Před rokem

    Fantastic video. Just bought a Vizio soundbar 5.1 that supports HDMIArc and I had never heard of it. I learned alot just from your video.

  • @danashumway7090
    @danashumway7090 Před 2 lety

    Thanks for the great video man. Always enjoy your content! Well done.

  • @joselara7827
    @joselara7827 Před 2 lety +12

    Great explanation, finally some facts and simple info.

  • @richardrussell7082
    @richardrussell7082 Před 3 lety +3

    I knew the 'basics' of this but the finer details were always a grey area for me. Thanks for making it very clear.

    • @erelpc
      @erelpc Před 3 lety

      Yeah it's all just moral shades of grey...

  • @bschoolio
    @bschoolio Před 2 lety

    So helpful! This is the main question I had for my new build!

  • @goddessgermanika2466
    @goddessgermanika2466 Před 3 lety

    Thank you. I have an Apple TV 4th gen and an old Mac mini 2014. Getting ready to find a soundbar that is starting to look like LG SN7CY or just Y and maybe add the SPK 8S speakers later. I was confused about how to connect the HDMI and 10 videos later, yours was the 1st one to show that. So thank you again

  • @eugenator59
    @eugenator59 Před 10 měsíci +3

    Incredibly concise and well structured information. Superb. A refreshing relief from videos with 5 minute introductions playing elevator music or fancy graphics without any information at all. This video removed any anxiety about deciding to use ARC since I probably can't even hear the difference between compressed and uncompressed sound. . . (too many rock concerts 30 years ago!)

  • @richardrussell7082
    @richardrussell7082 Před 3 lety +137

    In something of a throwback to the old VHS/Betamax battle, the reason that optical connections are called either TOSLINK or SPDIF, despite being the same, is because they stand for 'TOShiba LINK' and 'Sony/Phillips Digital InterFace'.

    • @TheOsirisOne
      @TheOsirisOne Před 3 lety +8

      🤯

    • @peter.s.3207
      @peter.s.3207 Před 3 lety +25

      Further clarification, Toslink is the name of the physical connector standard and optical transmission system, which can transmit multiple audio encoding standard. SPDIF, meanwhile, is the name of the communication protocol used to represent uncompressed, 2 channel audio as 1's and 0's. SPDIF cables can be optical (i.e. Toslink) or standard copper connections (i.e. Coaxial and AES).

    • @rjhornsby
      @rjhornsby Před 3 lety +11

      I hate that nonsense. CEC is the same way - no consistency between manufacturers in what they call their implementation of CEC. Sometimes whole marketing departments should be made to cage match until they learn to stop that crap. “While other car companies just give you some lame tires, all our vehicles come preinstalled with four high strength power plant energy transfer devices made of rubber and steel! If one breaks, there’s a fifth - FOR FREE! - in the trunk we call ‘the extra’” smh.

    • @a..d5518
      @a..d5518 Před rokem +1

      @@rjhornsby or “the spare…”👩🏾‍🦰🫢

  • @downthecrop
    @downthecrop Před rokem +1

    Jonah my brother! Fellow Matthes here! Thanks for the coverage

  • @citizenranjit
    @citizenranjit Před 2 lety

    Many thank Jonah's. I manage to connect my HDMI ARC to my soundbar with your great help & assistance.!

  • @Creelick67
    @Creelick67 Před 2 lety +5

    One of the best devices I ever invested in was the Sharc adapter that allows you to use a TV that supports eARC with a receiver that does everything but that. One of the most frustrating things is when you get some awesome, powerful A/V receiver and a new HDMI spec pops up that you want to have.

    • @kja9881
      @kja9881 Před rokem

      Can I do this with my LG TV earc and surround receiver with digital optical only no hdmi I have an HDMI ARC adapter.

    • @Creelick67
      @Creelick67 Před rokem

      @@kja9881 eARC is an HDMI spec.

  • @althepal530
    @althepal530 Před 3 lety +5

    Great explanation to the different audio connections to the sound bar. I’m old school 5.1 through a receiver. I need to learn these new connections and codecs. Thanks

  • @Macjohn1419
    @Macjohn1419 Před 2 lety

    Wish all videos were this concise and clear. Thank you so much for the information.

  • @SP-ro7tb
    @SP-ro7tb Před 2 lety

    Extremely helpful information and excellent delivery. Thank you!!!

  • @johnkokinis2313
    @johnkokinis2313 Před 2 lety +17

    Excellent presentation. I’m transitioning from av receiver and wired speakers to soundbar surround systems. So much easier to deal with! I think lots of people are in the same boat.

    • @AverageDadAdventures
      @AverageDadAdventures Před rokem +1

      easier to use but not nearly as good.....

    • @CodyDaCoyote
      @CodyDaCoyote Před rokem +1

      Seems like a step backwards. Im wiring my system now. Is there a reason you switched?

    • @johnkokinis2313
      @johnkokinis2313 Před rokem +2

      @@CodyDaCoyote it's a little cleaner for a living room. Less complaints from the wife....but I just finished my mancave and might set up my surround there. Plus in a living room where we watch 90 percent of our tv, it's hard to place the speakers in the right spot without taking over the room.

    • @johnkokinis2313
      @johnkokinis2313 Před rokem

      And they sound better than they used to.

  • @koolk2115
    @koolk2115 Před 3 lety +22

    I'm predicting you will have over 100,000 subscribers by the holiday season.
    Great information.

    • @JonahMatthes
      @JonahMatthes  Před 3 lety +1

      That would be awesome, but we’ll see haha! Thank you very much for the support 🙏

    • @bluebayeux
      @bluebayeux Před 3 lety

      Hopefully but he really needs to be more interactive with questions. Otherwise, people (like me) just move on so we can find answers. Great content on a tech YT channel without this don't typically grow or sell through affiliate links successfully.

    • @frommatorav1
      @frommatorav1 Před 2 lety

      A week before Thanksgiving and he's at 54K, so 100K seems out of reach by Christmas.
      However, this video does have close to a million views, which is awesome.

  • @simoncopestake3727
    @simoncopestake3727 Před 2 lety

    Thank you so much for this, I lost my HDMI sound output yrs ago when I moved the TV, been using the Bluetooth connection, was about to get an optical cable, never new there was a designed ARC port on my TV. Thanks again.

  • @MrShitfased
    @MrShitfased Před 3 měsíci

    Clear information and straight to the point. Great content!
    Subscribed!

  • @badbasegaming
    @badbasegaming Před 3 lety +13

    You nailed it I never really understood arc and EARC

    • @justdev8965
      @justdev8965 Před 2 lety +1

      If you fail to separate different sentences with a dot character, how can you possibly hope to understand anything?

    • @starmc26
      @starmc26 Před 2 lety

      @@justdev8965 furthermore, how can one say someone "nailed it" when they had no prior knowledge on the subject?

    • @deepgeny1
      @deepgeny1 Před 2 lety

      @@justdev8965 exactly... He is stupid

  • @smoutmaximilien8446
    @smoutmaximilien8446 Před 3 lety +10

    I'm impressed to learn that optical home cinema protocol can only carry 6 channels ! In live concert production we use optical cables for up to hundreds of channels (24 bits 192kHz) (I personally never used more than ~40 channels but still, 40 is greater than 6).

    • @JonahMatthes
      @JonahMatthes  Před 3 lety +3

      Likely a different type of cable and protocol. It’s not optical cables themselves, it’s the digital optical standard used for home audio equipment

    • @marsovac
      @marsovac Před rokem

      You are not using the consumer TOSLink there. Not that you even could, since these conduct the light through plastic and you would need more than 20 meters of optical cables in a live concert hall.

    • @OMGtheykilledKenny42
      @OMGtheykilledKenny42 Před rokem

      ​@Marino Šimić yeah S/PDIF is quite a bottleneck by today's hi-fi home theater standards. Great if DD or DTS 5.1 is all you need, but not great for lossless surround sound. eARC is great in my TV cuz it can passthrough 5.1 and 7.1 PCM.

  • @tynottelling6584
    @tynottelling6584 Před rokem

    Absolutely fantastic! Right to the point and well put! No useless gibberish just great info. I’m subscribed now

  • @DerrickGivensdg
    @DerrickGivensdg Před 2 lety

    Thank you for clarifying the difference between the two formats because there is so much misinformation floating around. This is perfect!

  • @STARTINGSOMESHIT
    @STARTINGSOMESHIT Před 3 lety +7

    *This whole video is amazing.* But 5:57 is one of the most important things you'll see all day.

    • @starmc26
      @starmc26 Před 2 lety

      He's showing the inputs going straight into the soundbar, where that is not ideal. All inputs should go to TV, and soundbar should be connected to the ARC hdmi input.

  • @rjhornsby
    @rjhornsby Před 3 lety +26

    Interesting. Knew ARC meant “return channel” - ie audio from tv to receiver, but didn’t realize it functioned like toslink. Never made sense how/why HDMI cable carrying video+audio *to* TV would send audio *from* tv back the other way. Thanks for the explanation!

    • @Allangulon
      @Allangulon Před 2 lety

      Designed to minimise necessary ports and cabling thus reducing manufacturing costs!

    • @DodgyBrothersEngineering
      @DodgyBrothersEngineering Před rokem

      @@Allangulon I would have thought to increase the bandwidth. if you aren't transmitting video that would potentially give you more bandwidth for audio.

    • @Allangulon
      @Allangulon Před rokem +1

      @@DodgyBrothersEngineering
      Bandwidth restriction is not really the issue.
      A 2.0 b HDMI cable 24mbs will happily carry UHD HDR and 96kbs of audio. eARC is required for greater bandwidth which is hardware related, 2.1 HDMI 48mbs is required to take full advantage of that format. ARC effectively bundles two cables into one and using an A/V receiver means only a single cable is required which can be easily hidden or pulled through.

  • @johnsuther5319
    @johnsuther5319 Před rokem +1

    Great video! Very informative. Thank you for getting straight to the point!

  • @naz0079
    @naz0079 Před měsícem

    Brilliant and clear explanation. Thumbs up mate!

  • @ianmartin5389
    @ianmartin5389 Před 2 lety +4

    Great video, thank you.
    I'm an installer of TV's & hook these up frequently. I prefer HDMI ARC due to the remote control having a communication with the soundbar, therefore controlling the volume.
    Most TV's just work automatically, but like you said, you may need to go to the settings to switch on CEC. Great advice... Cheers.

    • @williamkelley4728
      @williamkelley4728 Před 2 lety

      I use optical so, my wife can hear the tv while I use headphones. I have hearing aids. I like to use optical over my hearing aids.

    • @intensecutn
      @intensecutn Před rokem

      I just switched from HDMI arc to a digital toslink digital cable, and my TV remote still controls the soundbar, just like it did with HDMI arc.

  • @rsolsjo
    @rsolsjo Před 3 lety +62

    Short answer: in most TVs from 2018 onward, ARC/eARC is better.

    • @courtenayblair2279
      @courtenayblair2279 Před 3 lety +11

      Arc has better specs, digital optical has better reliability

    • @DK-sj2ph
      @DK-sj2ph Před 2 lety +1

      Ah no

    • @voce3337
      @voce3337 Před 2 lety

      You got it wrong!! If you dont have ceiling soeakers and use 5:1, ARC isnt better than SPDF OPTICAL.

  • @Meta-Drew
    @Meta-Drew Před 6 měsíci

    Thanks so much. This told me exactly what I had been wondering

  • @sharkyshidan
    @sharkyshidan Před 2 lety

    Really helps me solving my 2 hours troubleshooting audio keep switching from my Sony KDL-50W800C to my Sony HT-S350. Thanks a lot.

  • @timtucker2007
    @timtucker2007 Před 2 lety +9

    Nice concise summary, thanks. I have just ditched eARC in favour of optical, as my TV randomly would revert back to it's internal speakers when using HDMI. This is a common problem as I understand it, so it would be nice to have this covered in a similar way, but I guess is a way-more complex topic.

    • @MrMaverickdude
      @MrMaverickdude Před 2 lety +3

      I think you need hdmi 2.0 cable to make it work, I believe it won't revert back to internal speaker then

    • @justincram5123
      @justincram5123 Před 2 lety +1

      I’m having this same issue with my Samsung smart TV. Do you have your input devices(roku) plugged directly into the TV or passing through an AVR?

    • @intensecutn
      @intensecutn Před rokem

      My Samsung soundbar kept reverting back to the TV speakers every time I turned the TV off. Then I realised that I needed to choose 'TV arc' instead of 'd.in' or 'HDMI' (I can't remember which one it was). Once I changed the soundbar input to 'TV arc' it didn't revert back.

    • @feelda303
      @feelda303 Před rokem

      Yup, same issue with samsung tv and pioneer avr. Hdmi arc just randomly stops working and both tv and avr need to be unplugged from the wall to reconnect again. I think it's the arc protocol issue as it's not very standardized across different manufacturers.

  • @paulie0706
    @paulie0706 Před 2 lety +4

    I tried using ARC with an older sound bar. Worked OK, but sound would cut out every once and a while so I had to go back to optical. Sound bar finally died and upgraded to surround. Using ARC with the new receiver is awesome! Seems easier and opens up additional capabilities with the receiver as well.

    • @veinssublime2164
      @veinssublime2164 Před 2 lety

      Bro i have faced the same problem when i using hdmi option connected from tv to soundbar the sound would cut out here and there what is the solution.

    • @paulie0706
      @paulie0706 Před 2 lety

      @@veinssublime2164 I think it came down to the model of sound bar and the age of it. I now use ARC to a stereo receiver and the sound never cuts out.

  • @rogerk.9124
    @rogerk.9124 Před rokem +1

    Very good info, clear explanation, nice graphics. Thank you!

  • @rickybobby6386
    @rickybobby6386 Před rokem

    Fantastic video. Thanks for making it short, sweet, and to the point. Def getting a subscribe

  • @EsotericArctos
    @EsotericArctos Před 2 lety +4

    ARC can be a little unreliable on older TV's due to some functions not being implemented or licensed. I found some earlier LG's would constantly drop out the signal with ARC. Also, a lot of TV's don't have ATMOS, even in 2021, so the ARC channel, although supporting it, still may not send the ATMOS channels to the soundbar. This would have to be checked on the TV Specs, not just the soundbar :).
    The big advantage of HDMI using ARC, for me, is that it can be dual direction Audio if needed. If the Soundbar has multi HDMI inputs, then HDMI using ARC will save you a cable between the TV and Soundbar.
    This is a great video for understanding the basics, it gives good information without overloading with all the geeky tech talk.
    Thanks for a great video

  • @paulgillard5094
    @paulgillard5094 Před 3 lety +7

    Is the two channel sound quality superior in one or the other. Or is it the same ?

  • @aibluefox4309
    @aibluefox4309 Před 2 lety

    Thanks, Jonah, great video and really useful.

  • @pgtips4240
    @pgtips4240 Před rokem

    The mist is clearing, thank you! 😊

  • @kmac540
    @kmac540 Před 3 lety +5

    Great breakdown - as someone who deals with this day in and day out I only have a minor correction / comment. Toslink absolutely supports 7.1 (DD+ / Atmos) just not in lossless compressed format. Anytime you see DD+ it implies Atmos too - you certainly get more headroom and better (if not very noticeable) clarity / channel separation.

    • @dannyboy8474
      @dannyboy8474 Před 2 lety +1

      Use the movie prometheus when they are returning to the ship and the sand storm hits them. The difference on ARC with 7.1+ is insane. It makes me sad that windows doesn't care about audio.

    • @mindrover777
      @mindrover777 Před rokem

      It does. Good to know. Does toslink support Atmos on soundbar too?

  • @elvinahl2837
    @elvinahl2837 Před 3 lety +4

    Wow, this is like taking information through a fire hose! Good stuff. I think I need an A/V tech to setup my system up correctly.

  • @davidramey7186
    @davidramey7186 Před 6 měsíci +1

    You’re the man, this was the exact video I was looking for

  • @albertshilton5336
    @albertshilton5336 Před 2 lety

    Very clear description. Thanks for you help.

  • @hectorfierro534
    @hectorfierro534 Před 2 lety +52

    Great explanation! also, as a tip: if your soundbar or home theater is 2.1 (stereo bar and subwoofer speaker), it´s better to output only PCM uncompressed audio via optical, because any other output (i.e. Dolby 5.1 or DTS) will decrease significantly the volume of the audio stream (due to dynamic range and processing). Hence you will have to set the soundbar volume to the MAX and even with that set, the volume will be barely loud. Try it for yourself folks 😉

    • @jaydlonewolf6375
      @jaydlonewolf6375 Před 2 lety +2

      If I only have a soundbar 2.1 is better optical cable?

    • @hectorfierro534
      @hectorfierro534 Před 2 lety +3

      @@jaydlonewolf6375 Optical would be optimal, but RCA or 3.5mm will do fine!

    • @matthewkrankka7398
      @matthewkrankka7398 Před 2 lety

      Yeah I have a Vizio 2.1 soundbar that doesn’t even support DTS so I leave my Blu-ray player at PCM for DTS.

    • @daniloctebsb
      @daniloctebsb Před rokem +1

      Sorry, I didn't understand you.
      I've just bought a 2.1 A555 Samsung soundbar. Do you think that is better to plug a PCM cable instead of an optical cable or a hdmi arc?

    • @joannaa.5101
      @joannaa.5101 Před rokem +1

      @@daniloctebsb There is no PCM cable. Only time you select PCM is in the sound portion in the menu when you plug in an optical cable.
      I wanted to know which was better? Plug HDMI eARC or use the optical cable.
      Sounds like the HDMI eARC offers a little more sound better.
      Currently I am using an optical cable due to my soundbar HDMI eARC won't accept the cable that came in the box.
      I purchased a Samsung 3.0 S50B sound bar.
      Tv accepts HDMI eARC with any HDMI cable fine but the soundbar won't accept the same cable at the plug in for HDMI eARC.
      I have an open ticket with Samsung currently.
      Meanwhile I use the optical cable now and enjoy the sound.

  • @MakMonyDOTcom
    @MakMonyDOTcom Před 3 lety +19

    I’m certain you did a fantastic job shooting & explaining this video!
    I’m also certain that I still have no idea what the hell you’re talking about ! 😂😂😂

    • @voce3337
      @voce3337 Před 2 lety

      Its about how to manage cables when you have a player sending video and audio to TV. Imagine you are using HDMI to send, but you still want the audio signal "back" to set a home teatre. HDMI ARC is a way to use HDMI to get back the audio you sent to TV (presuming you won't like to hear your movies from the 2:1 TV speakers of 20w).

    • @MakMonyDOTcom
      @MakMonyDOTcom Před 2 lety

      @@voce3337 typed even better than you spoke yet I think I’d just pay you just to come hook it up 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

  • @dougselby625
    @dougselby625 Před 3 měsíci

    Thanks! Straight and to the point. You cleared up a lot of confusion I had.

  • @claytoncollins9223
    @claytoncollins9223 Před rokem

    Awesome channel, great info! Straight to the point 👉🏽 thank you!

  • @AudioElectronicsChicago
    @AudioElectronicsChicago Před 3 lety +7

    You nailed it. Thanks

  • @smwsmwsmw
    @smwsmwsmw Před 3 lety +12

    One nitpick: when CD players came out, in the early 1980s, there were no receivers with optical inputs. That only came about with the advent of Dolby Digital in the mid 90s. Before then, if you were going to use the optical output, it was either to connect to the input of a digital recorder, or to an external DAC, typically called a digital decoder back then.

    • @JP-pf1nj
      @JP-pf1nj Před 2 lety

      I tried my Sony DVD to 3 different TV's using hdmi to RCA connector adapter I tried one adapter from Amazon and one from Walmart and it doesn't work when setting TV's up to HDMI port. Old RCA cable works fine with two of the TV's, but new TV's now have only HDMI ports. Maybe some older dvd players are just not compatible using it's RCA ports. I have a coax( RCA like out) and a Svideo out on the dvd player.... maybe there's another work around. Any ideas ... thanks

    • @0bsmith0
      @0bsmith0 Před 2 lety

      That's not true.

    • @intensecutn
      @intensecutn Před rokem

      @@JP-pf1nj did you ever get it working? Try an S-video to HDMI adapter. It should work. Maybe you just got a dodgy converter.

    • @JP-pf1nj
      @JP-pf1nj Před rokem

      @@intensecutn yes...I had the wrong adapter... Thanks again

  • @FeedScrn
    @FeedScrn Před rokem

    Good video. You have it presented where the material is easy to digest.
    -The HDMI ARC cable will also feed OSD from an AV Receiver. Very handy.

  • @dadio2005
    @dadio2005 Před 3 lety +2

    Straight to the point and that is how I like it! Great video!

  • @djandrevilela
    @djandrevilela Před 3 lety +4

    Hey! Loved the video! I've been looking for a 5.1 (or better) audio system, but not sure which to buy, mainly because I'm not sure if my TV have ARC and doesn't have Digital Optical, only Digital Coaxial Sound... It's a "SILVER 4k 50" TV" (cheap brand), and none of the HDMI ports are labeled as ARC, but I have CEC and ARC settings on the settings menu, and I know the TV turns on if I turn on PS4 or Mi Box S, and the other way around, when I turn on TV, PS4 turns on automatically. Is it safe to assume that they all have ARC? Do you have any recommendations on a system not very expensive for this tv?

    • @peekaboo4390
      @peekaboo4390 Před 2 lety

      digital coaxial will carry 5.1 just fine.

  • @jakesmith5278
    @jakesmith5278 Před 3 lety +54

    Now I'm more confused. Thanks a lot.

    • @giggitygooquag
      @giggitygooquag Před 3 lety +9

      I think I understand it a bit. If you're using a cheapo soundbar use personal choice, if you have a pricey soundbar you're gonna wanna use arc especially if it's a soundbar with atmos.
      In even simpler terms optical is old technology like he said, while arc is newer technology so of course it'd be better.

    • @stuarto5162
      @stuarto5162 Před 2 lety

      U and me both

    • @timmelton856
      @timmelton856 Před 2 lety +2

      I learned to hire someone 😜😜🥳🥳🤠🤠🎧🎧🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

    • @zombiebillcosby
      @zombiebillcosby Před 2 lety

      @@philiptownsend4026 he didn’t mention that ARC doesn’t transmit Atmos unless both the sound bar and the TV support HDMI 2.1 which is uncommon at the moment and both supporting it is even less uncommon. Without eARC (newest iteration of ARC), you not only don’t get Atmos, you also do not getting uncompressed sound. That means no Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or DTS:X.

    • @zombiebillcosby
      @zombiebillcosby Před 2 lety

      @@philiptownsend4026 because you were commenting on someone’s comment saying they summed it up well when they left out key details. So yes it is relevant not sure what you’re apologizing about lol.

  • @1Know1tHurts
    @1Know1tHurts Před 9 měsíci

    Thanks, man! Such a tremendous explanation in under 7 minutes👏

  • @toddpappas
    @toddpappas Před 3 lety

    Great explanation. Thanks for putting this together!

  • @HepauDK
    @HepauDK Před 2 lety +13

    What I really like about HDMI ARC, is that I can controll my entire setup (tv, soundbar and Shield TV) with one single remote. When I turn on my Shield TV, both my soundbar and tv starts up as well. Same when I want to turn them off.

    • @nazeershaw66
      @nazeershaw66 Před 2 lety +1

      Have to try it. Thanks 👍

    • @EazyDuz18
      @EazyDuz18 Před 2 lety

      I can do that without ARC tho. My Xbox has settings so that I can control the 5.1 connected to it via optical audio and my tv all link up so tv controller controls surround sound audio

  • @robertt9342
    @robertt9342 Před 3 lety +17

    I find that with optical, you sometimes need to turn on/off settings on the TV, depending on your setup.

  • @laukhengsoon
    @laukhengsoon Před 2 lety

    Thank you so much, I didn't know about the CEC option, now I can link my TV and soundbar using HDMI

  • @lancecatindig9109
    @lancecatindig9109 Před 2 lety

    Great review. Just what I wanted to listen. Precise to the point.

  • @cadestark8291
    @cadestark8291 Před 3 lety +4

    Great vid, informative and a good refresher even if familiar with the difference! Side note, I’m having the hardest time getting my new setup to work. Upgraded to an LG CX and LG SN9YG, I’m pretty handy with this stuff but I cannot get my setup to work correctly. I’ve pretty much narrowed it down to my Directv receiver I believe. If anyone would be willing to reach out via reply I’d really appreciate some help here. Thanks!

  • @benfogarty535
    @benfogarty535 Před 3 lety +6

    I tested both connections with the Xbox One X and Optical gave a way louder and clearer signal through my receiver. I was upset that the new console ditched the optical port

    • @afriend9428
      @afriend9428 Před rokem

      *that’s why I kept my 360E to watch movies* 💡

  • @markd6838
    @markd6838 Před 2 lety

    Really good clear info, thanks. Getting my Klipsch cinema 400 tomorrow and this helped a lot. Kudos

  • @kyangsable
    @kyangsable Před 3 lety

    Clear mic good camera. Knowledgeable. I hope your channel grows. Just subscribed

  • @0x0404
    @0x0404 Před 3 lety +3

    I'd been using optical for decades. I've still got some optical cables from radioshack. With a more recent receiver with arc and a tv with it I have not needed any optical.

    • @jasonbyu75
      @jasonbyu75 Před 2 lety

      The volume is not intended to work with optical is it? The remote would have to communicate to the sound system?

  • @TheRealLaughingGravy
    @TheRealLaughingGravy Před 3 lety +7

    One thing you didn't mention - at least on my TV, which is nine or ten years old - is that the digital optical volume control is separate from the TV volume control. In fact, there is NO volume control for my digital optical audio. Turning the TV's speaker volume up or down has no effect on the volume of the digital optical audio. My TV's only audio output (other than an HDMI ARC port) is the digital optical port, so I have my headphones connected to the digital optical port through an analog converter. My headphones have their own volume control. When I watch TV late at night, I mute the TV speakers and listen through my headphones, adjusting the headphones' volume control as needed.

  • @alexlanning712
    @alexlanning712 Před 2 lety

    Thanks, you've made quite a few things clearer

  • @KerryTheKid
    @KerryTheKid Před rokem

    TY for this information! Really helpful!