everything you need to get the most out of it

Smart TVs are devices that are unrivaled in terms of the alternatives and leisure experience they offer. These are not only devices that allow you to watch streaming platforms, but in Europe they also have the possibility of playing games using cloud services.

Thanks to its USB connections, it is also very versatile when connecting peripherals and accessories. This is not the only useful connection that these devices usually have, since others such as Ethernet or optical are capable of significantly improve your performance.

Its HDMI connection also has some pretty interesting advantages, beyond being able to connect computers and consoles, something that some users are not aware of. However, Not all HDMI ports are created equalbut there are different classes depending on what each one offers.

HDMI Types

Even though the connection is the same, two HDMI ports may not have much in common with each other. Like other technologies, it has a version number that will determine the advancements it includes. HDMI has seven different versions, although it is difficult to find cables or devices that have remained in the first ones.

HDMI 2.0 is the most widespread today and its maximum resolution is 4K at 60 Hz and supports high-resolution audio formats, such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD. The last one, HDMI 2.1, which has a fairly wide bandwidth, allowing playback in 8K resolution with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and with eARC Support and object-based audio formats.

The differences between each of the versions make it very important to know which one our TV has in order to be able to opt for a higher or lower quality cable. On the other hand, there are HDMI ports with special features for audioand which allow you to get the most out of certain audio systems.

These are the HDMI ARC ports. Its special feature is that these They have greater bandwidth dedicated to audio to provide a better experience. This superior audio performance makes it compatible with surround sound technologies, such as Dolby Atmos. Also worth highlighting is the HDMI eARC technology, which is essentially an improvement of ARC where this bandwidth increases from 1 Mbps to 38 Mbps to add more compatibility.

Benefits of EARC

Some televisions incorporate this type of technology in some of their HDMI ports. Usually this is indicated next to the HDMI connection itself, or in the TV manual, and it is important to know if we have one of these ports. Its main advantage is that We can use them to connect our TV to a sound bar and that it offers the best possible experience.

This will make it more comfortable to use than with the optical connection, Bluetooth or auxiliary connection. To begin with, using an HDMI ARC or eARC will allow us to control the device directly using the TV remote control. Every time you turn the soundbar on or off, it will do the same thing, and the same thing will happen when you change the volume.

This makes the experience of using a separate audio system on your TV much better, avoid having to use multiple commands and make the connection much simpler. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that to use this connection taking advantage of all its features, you will have to go to the settings to activate the special functions of this connection.

Being a connection with better sound than the classic HDMI, this is the area in which it can be most used, and for this it is necessary that the audio device it is connected to is compatiblewhether it’s a soundbar or a more complex system.

How to enable ARC

When purchasing an audio accessory, you should check that it has this feature. However, this is not the only requirement that exists to use this technology, since the TV must have an ARC compatible output, and the cable will also need to be compatible.

Another important point before using it is that it must be enabled on the TV. ARC technology It is usually only available on one or two of the HDMI ports that the TV has, so we will have to connect the cable to it and also access the television options.

In this absence, we will find the possibility of activating compatibility with ARC devices. On Android TV, this option will be found in the settings, within the Screen and sound section. Here, it will be necessary look for the Audio Output option then choose the HDMI ARC or eARC option depending on what the TV detects. Both devices will need to be turned on at this point.