The second reason is that it might be the only port on your TV capable of carrying over audio.įor example, if you have a soundbar connected to your TV via HDMI, you can use your TV’s remote to control the audio on the soundbar, and vice versa. Is an HDMI ARC adapter really necessary? The main reason to use HDMI ARC for audio (over Toslink, RCA, Aux, etc) is that HDMI can carry over control commands, a feature that is not possible using other methods.

Make sure you have free extra power outlets! Another thing to keep in mind is most of these adapters usually have a manual switch for ARC mode. Note: HDMI audio extractors are not passive, which means they require external power, usually DC 5V. The adapters usually convert HDMI input into either RCA, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Toslink, or Coaxial. These are often called HDMI audio extractors or converters, and they can be rather handy because you can convert one input to multiple outputs.

What is an HDMI ARC Adapter?Īn HDMI ARC adapter can connect HDMI ARC devices to other systems that don’t support HDMI. The bundles are the most expensive, but you shouldn’t have to pay more than 50 pounds for a decent converter.Ĭontinue reading this article to discover how to connect older sound systems to HDMI ARC sources and TVs. The good news is they’re budget-friendly too, and the ones with fewer ports tend to be even cheaper. As it turns out, there are a handful of electronics that might solve your problem. If you only have one HDMI-ARC device, you might be wondering if there’s an HDMI-ARC adapter that you can use to connect both devices.

Hdmi to digital optical converter