Key Points
- eARC and optical are two ways to transfer audio from a TV to a home theater or soundbar.
- eARC is an improved version of ARC that adds support for 7.1 surround sound audio.
- eARC supports practically every audio format, while optical is limited to compressed Dolby Digital at 2.1 or 5.1 audio channels.
- eARC is supported by modern TVs, while optical is supported by most TVs and tends to be cheaper.
- eARC is the better choice for advanced home theater systems, while optical is sufficient for basic audio setups.
When it comes to eARC and optical, it’s not always easy to choose the right option. eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) and optical are two ways to transfer audio from a TV to a home theater or soundbar. If you’re setting up a home theater system, it’s important to understand the differences between eARC and optical.
Each method has its pros and cons, and it can be a hassle figuring out which one is best for your setup. It’s important to get it right, though, or you might not be making the most of your home theater!
Let’s compare eARC with optical and show you how to make the most of these connections.
eARC vs. Optical: Side-by-Side Comparison
| eARC | Optical | |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo? | Yes | Yes |
| Compressed 5.1? | Yes | Yes |
| 7.1 Audio? | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos? | Yes | No |
| DTS-X? | Yes | No |
| Dolby Digital? | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI CEC? | Yes | No |
| Audio Channel Support | 32-channel | 8-channel |
| Dolby TrueHD? | Yes | No |
| DTS HD Master Audio? | Yes | No |
eARC vs. Optical: What’s the Difference?
eARC is an improved version of ARC that adds support for 7.1 surround sound audio. It’s a feature built-in to the HDMI 2.1 specification. Optical cables (also called TOSLINK) use fiber optics to transfer data. The main difference between eARC and optical is the support for certain audio formats.
Optical is a much older connection that was designed by Toshiba in 1983. Unlike HDMI, optical cables haven’t changed much over the years. When it comes to advanced audio formats, optical cables are very limited. eARC on the other hand is a much newer technology that was bundled with HDMI 2.1 and it supports practically every audio format.
Supported Audio Formats
eARC supports practically every audio format, which makes it the ideal choice for advanced home theater setups. For example, eARC supports lossless audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Dolby TrueHD. If your home theater also supports these audio formats, you should use eARC to make the most of them. Look for an HDMI port on your receiver that is labeled HDMI eARC.
Optical does not support any high-bitrate audio formats. With optical, the best audio you can get is compressed Dolby Digital at 2.1 or 5.1 audio channels. The reason you can’t get high-bitrate audio with optical is the cable doesn’t meet the bandwidth requirements. While eARC clearly supports more features, for some audio devices such as soundbars, an optical connection makes sense.
HDMI CEC
With eARC, you can use a feature called HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), which sends control commands between two devices. For example, you can use your TV’s remote to turn up the volume on the soundbar. The TV can also turn on your soundbar.
HDMI CEC also allows devices such as consoles to turn on the TV or automatically switch video input sources. Optical has no such feature, and you’ll have to use separate remotes to control the volume on each device. Generally, eARC is much more convenient to use.
Compatible Devices
Generally speaking, only modern TVs support eARC. TVs that support HDMI 2.1 or 4K at 120Hz should also support eARC. If you have an old TV, it might not support eARC.
On the other hand, optical is supported by most TVs. Even some of the latest TVs support optical as an extra connection method. In short, optical is more widely available. Most budget-soundbars support optical because there’s no need for any of the advanced audio formats. They also tend to be cheaper. Since optical was designed in 1983, almost every TV manufactured supports optical.
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Types of Cables
On the surface, all HDMI cables look the same. However, not all HDMI cables support the bandwidth that you need for eARC and other advanced features. For eARC, you need a high-speed HDMI cable that is compatible with HDMI 2.1 specifications. These are also sometimes called HDMI with Ethernet. Most devices that support eARC will include a high-speed HDMI cable for your convenience.
If your TV supports eARC and you use an older HDMI cable, the TV will fall back to regular ARC, which doesn’t support as many features. Standard ARC is still better than optical though. Optical cables are all the same and you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues.
To learn more about the differences between eARC and ARC, visit this page.
Interference
Since HDMI cables are made from copper, they can be affected by electromagnetic interference. Most HDMI cables, depending on the quality, are designed with protective shielding that blocks most interference. Optical cables use fiber optics to transmit data, not copper, making them almost invulnerable to outside interference. Having said that, optical cables can break more easily than HDMI cables due to the fragile glass fibers.
eARC vs. Optical: 6 Must-Know Facts
- eARC supports advanced audio formats that use 7.1 audio channels, such as Dolby Atmos.
- eARC also has a feature called CEC, which allows connected devices to send control commands.
- Optical is a much older connection that only supports compressed 5.1 audio.
- To use eARC, you need a high-speed HDMI cable.
- Optical is a good option for retro equipment that doesn’t support HDMI.
- Optical doesn’t occupy an HDMI port.
How to Enable eARC on Your TV
If you’re sure that your TV supports eARC, plug a high-speed HDMI cable into the HDMI port labeled eARC/ARC. Next, enable eARC in the TV’s audio settings. The exact path to the setting will vary depending on your TV’s operating system.
The setting for eARC is usually found in Audio Output; make sure it’s set to Auto. Remember, eARC will only work if your TV supports it, you use a high-speed HDMI cable, and your receiver supports it too. Everything needs to work together.
eARC vs. Optical: Which One is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Generally, eARC is much better than optical and it’s the go-to option for audio systems. It’s also more common than eARC and more devices support optical. So, if you have an advanced home theater system that supports high-bitrate audio formats, you should use eARC for the best experience. For example, if you have a 7.1 surround sound system that supports object-based sound such as Dolby Atmos, then eARC is your best option.
Optical is a cheaper alternative to eARC and it’s good enough for basic audio devices that don’t support advanced audio formats. It works great for stereo speakers or soundbars. Optical could also be your only connection option for old TVs that don’t support eARC or ARC. You can use it for retro equipment that doesn’t support HDMI. In other words, if your audio system doesn’t support advanced audio, optical should be good enough.
If you have to choose between eARC and optical, eARC is almost always the better choice. However, if you don’t have a particularly advanced home theater, an optical cable gets the job done. You probably won’t notice a difference in audio quality between eARC and optical when connected to a soundbar.
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