diagram of HDMI cable connected to the HDMI ARC ports on an audio system and TV

Connecting TV Sound to A/V Receiver or Home Theater System

Understanding Your Connection Options

When it comes to integrating your TV’s audio with an A/V receiver or home theater system, you have several options at your disposal. The two most prevalent methods are:

  1. HDMI® Connection Using the ARC Feature
  2. Connection Using an HDMI Cable, Coaxial Digital, Optical Digital, or Audio Cable

The choice between these options will largely depend on the ports available on your TV and audio system. If both your TV and audio system support the ARC feature, Option 1 is typically recommended for its simplicity and ability to handle both audio and video signals over a single cable. However, if ARC is not supported, Option 2 becomes the go-to method, utilizing separate cables for audio transmission.

Option 1: HDMI Connection Using the ARC Feature

HDMI ports that support ARC (Audio Return Channel) are often labeled as such. If your devices support ARC, follow these steps:

  • Connect an HDMI cable to the HDMI ports labeled ARC or to the port identified in your manual that supports ARC.
  • On your TV menu, set Speakers to Audio system, which can be found under Settings → Display & Sound → Audio output on most Android TVs.
  • Ensure the Control for HDMI setting is activated on both your TV and the A/V receiver or home theater system.

Option 2: Connection Using an HDMI, Coaxial Digital, Optical Digital, or Audio Cable

If ARC is not an option, you can use the following alternative connections:

  • Connect a Coaxial Digital Cable, Optical Digital Cable, or Audio cable to the Audio Output jack on your TV.
  • Connect the other end to the corresponding jacks on the A/V receiver or home theater system, which may be labeled as TV INPUT or VIDEO INPUT.
  • If using an Optical Digital Cable, ensure the Speakers setting on your TV is set to Audio system, similar to the ARC setup.
  • Set the TV Audio out setting to Fixed or Variable, if available.
  • Turn on your A/V receiver or home theater system and set it to the appropriate input.

Additional Considerations

  • Cable Quality: Use high-quality, high-speed HDMI cables to ensure the ARC feature functions correctly.
  • Audio Formats: HDMI connections support high-quality sound formats such as DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X, which are not supported by optical or coaxial connections.
  • Manuals and Support: Always refer to the manuals supplied with your products for model-specific information and troubleshooting.

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