What HDMI Cable Do You Need for ARC or eARC?

You do not need an expensive specialty cable merely because a soundbar uses HDMI ARC or eARC. The right choice depends on whether you need standard ARC, eARC, or high-bandwidth video passthrough through the soundbar.

1. For ARC, use a certified High Speed HDMI cable

Most ARC soundbar connections work with a certified High Speed HDMI cable. The key is connecting the cable to the HDMI ports labeled ARC on both devices.

2. For eARC, choose Ultra High Speed HDMI when replacing a cable

eARC is designed for higher-bandwidth audio. A certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is the safest current purchase, especially if you also use 4K, HDR, a game console, or soundbar video passthrough.

Compare certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cables and certified High Speed HDMI cables by the length you actually need.

3. Do not confuse HDMI cable rating with the port label

The TV and soundbar ports must support ARC or eARC. A new cable cannot create eARC on equipment that only has ARC.

4. Keep the cable run simple

Connect TV ARC/eARC directly to soundbar ARC/eARC. Remove splitters, switches, wall plates, and converters temporarily if you are troubleshooting handshake failures.

5. Replace a damaged or unreliable cable

Try another certified cable when audio cuts out, CEC control stops working, or eARC repeatedly disconnects. Avoid extremely tight bends and loose connectors.

For guided HDMI audio setup, Gadget Wiz may be able to assist.

FAQ

Can any HDMI cable work with ARC?

Many can, but certified High Speed cables are the sensible baseline when buying or replacing one.

Do I need a new cable when changing from ARC to eARC?

Not always. If the existing cable works reliably, keep it; a certified Ultra High Speed cable is the preferred replacement.

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