If you have a TV with HDMI ports, but not ARC, is there a reason you would run the HDMI through the soundbar first?
836421
I believe there would be no advantage to hooking up your sound bar to the TV if your TV does not have and ARC HDMI. Here's what HDguru says about ARC HDMI: "Audio Return Channel is a feature built into the latest versions of HDMI (1.4, and presumably future versions). In its most basic description, ARC sends audio from the TV back down the HDMI cable to something like a soundbar, home theater in a box, and even a few A/V receivers. Previously, this two-way data transfer only carried handshake info, to tell the source things like "yep, I'm a TV" and "nope, I'm not stealing your content," or CEC control data. CEC, or Consumer Electronics Control, let you control multiple devices with one remote... in theory and as long as they were connected with HDMI and had the CEC feature. This never worked in reality as well as it did on paper, with cross-brand compatibility being hit or miss. ARC uses aspects of CEC, letting you adjust the volume on a soundbar, for example, with the TV remote. In most ARC products, the soundbar and TV essentially act as one device, with just a single button push to power them both on (no programming required). The basic ARC functionality, sending audio out of the TV, varies in potential and implementation. On one level, it can send audio from internal TV sources (like the HDTV tuner, or built-in web streaming apps). On another level, it can send out the audio from other HDMI sources (presumably to a soundbar). In this instance, your TV becomes the central hub, with all sources plugged into it. This would be the natural way most people, at least those without receivers or HDMI-switching soundbars, would have their systems set up anyway. Adding a soundbar would require no further setup than one new HDMI cable. The TV switches all the sources, and the audio for each one (BD player, cable box, etc), would get sent to a soundbar or HTIB."
2033348
The HDMI (ARC) cable takes the input/output from the blueray player to your TV HDMI (ARC)input/output. The one cable does everything. The cable rating should be "high speed." I got RCA Digital plus cable. My Samsung TV says with the Audio Return Chanel (ARC) enabled, optical input is disabled.If you do not have ARC available on your TV, you have HDMI but not HDMI (ARC), then you would need both types cable, the HDMI and optical. Only the ARC type sends and receives from both units. That's the way I see it!
900652
I haven't connect a soundbar, but there is a headphone jack on the back of the set, so I'm assuming you could run a audio cord form the headphone jack to the input on the soundbar. I'm not sure if the soundbar has a hdmi connection, but there are two on the back of the tv so perhaps you could also connect it with a hdmi cord. Sorry about the lack of knowledge, but perhaps knowing which connectors are available will help you when looking at the soundbar's connectors.
36814
The best way? That is somewhat subjective. Since it appears that you only have 1 source connected to your soundbar (cable box), your way will work although I think that you are using an unnecessary HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar. Your goal should be to get video to the TV and sound to the soundbar. Ideally, you want to make as direct a connection to the soundbar as possible from the source. If your TV doesn't have ARC, the HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar is worthless. In your setup, it serves no purpose anyway because HDMI from the cable box to the TV gets you video and the optical cable from the cable box to the soundbar gets you direct audio. I would eliminate the HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar since, even if your TV has ARC, your TV is probably only outputting 2 channel audio this way. You will also be keeping the HDMI IN and OUT on your soundbar open should you want to connect a BD player. Another way would be to connect your cable box to the soundbar via HDMI IN and then connect the HDMI OUT from the soundbar to the TV. No need to mix up the 2 ways. To connect multiple sources, I would recommend getting something like this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=8463&seq=1&format=2 . Good luck.
1731505
Just so you know, it is HDMI-CEC that controls turning devices on, not ARC. ARC just allows the sound's signal to travel "backwards" through the cable. Companies usually call CEC something else for marketing purposes like Anynet+, Bravia Sync, Aquos Link, SimpLink, Viera Link, etc. Check to make sure both devices support a CEC connection (CEC-enabled). Your HDMI cables should be at least version 1.3a (which introduced audio commands), but it may be safer to just get the latest version (currently 1.4) since there are specification updates with each release. It's a good idea when buying new a/v hardware to make sure you buy the latest version cables as well. Just so you know, it is HDMI-CEC that controls turning devices on, not ARC. ARC just allows the sound's signal to travel "backwards" through the cable. Companies usually call CEC something else for marketing purposes like Anynet+, Bravia Sync, Aquos Link, SimpLink, Viera Link, etc. Check to make sure both devices support a CEC connection (CEC-enabled). Your HDMI cables should be at least version 1.3a (which introduced audio commands), but it may be safer to just get the latest version (currently 1.4) since there are specification updates with each release. It's a good idea when... » Read More Just so you know, it is HDMI-CEC that controls turning devices on, not ARC. ARC just allows the sound's signal to travel "backwards" through the cable. Companies usually call CEC something else for marketing purposes like Anynet+, Bravia Sync, Aquos Link, SimpLink, Viera Link, etc. Check to make sure both devices support a CEC connection (CEC-enabled). Your HDMI cables should be at least version 1.3a (which introduced audio commands), but it may be safer to just get the latest version (currently 1.4) since there are specification updates with each release. It's a good idea when buying new a/v hardware to make sure you buy the latest version cables as well. « Show Less
292251
I prefer to hook my critical video equipment, especially reference equipment, directly to my monitor. You can use the ARC HDMI to get TV sound out of the Receiver.there 'has' to be 'some' information lost in the translation, imo.
2004701
This is only a problem if you are using the TV's internal receiver. Most people use an external device, such as a cable box, DVD player, or AV receiver - then output the signal to the TV. If you do this, you can send the audio output from the external device directly to your soundbar.
1688205
I got mine to work using the arc input. I tried all others and it would not work. Same hdmi cable just a different port on my tv/soundbar.
1921520
It suppose to choose hdmi(arc) first, then optical, and then analog if hdmi and optical is not connected. My nr828 shows analog only. And you cant change it manualy like i do on my cambridge audio. Interesting fact that when you look to your connections in setting it doesnt show that i have an analog connection because i dont, and shows the optical one as i used optical cable to connect my tv, despite that fact that i have an ARC hdmi on my tv
1549010
We use the hdmi 1 on the soundbar to go to the hdmi 1/arc on the vizio 47" tv. Then we have a sony blue ray player connected via hdmi to the hdmi 2 slot on the sound bar and a Tivo connected via hdmi to the hdmi 3 slot on the soundbar. Hope that helps.
1304575
Jim, i have this unit and hdmi is finicky so i couldn't get it to work. So no big loss. Instead, use fiber optic audio output of tv to feed optical input of soundbar and all will be good. Regards, Greg
1959406
Yes - if your sound bar has 3.5mm or RCA inputs. I would not advise doing this if you can avoid it, however, as HDMI is a digital connection that will give you better sound quality. The Avantree quality is good, but if you leave the charging cord plugged in while it is operating you may hear a high pitched digital noise in the background.
36813
That'll work. What I did since I have multiple things connected to my tv (gaming system, satellite, blue ray player), I have all these things connected to my tv via HDMI cable with the tv connected to the soundbar via optical cable; I get to utilize the soundbar for all my connections this way.
819664
I don't actually own this product, but looking at the spec's it has an HDMI out and an optical in. This means that the HDMI connection will probably only work outputting the video signal to your TV from the soundbar's smart apps. Looking elsewhere and reading some of the reviews this sounds to be the case, although the other reply seems to indicate they tested with only HDMI and it worked for them, so take my answer with a grain of salt.
228861
My Sony is older and does not have ARC, but occasionally the command pass through seems to work. Mostly from the (Sony) Blu Ray. Generally it's worth having the HDMI connection, if only to automatically shutdown the Soundbar when the TV is turned off.
224019
You can connect it via a digital optical cable...not a big deal. Just purchase one. You will have to the same thing with most all audio systems since your TV doesn't support ARC.
1466280
This soundbar does not accept HDMI inputs. The concept is to connect most of your sources to the TV and then send the audio output from the TV back to the soundback