Audio
ARC and eARC
Sending the TV's own sound (apps, tuner) back down the HDMI cable to a receiver.
What is it?
ARC (Audio Return Channel, HDMI 1.4) lets a TV send audio back to an AVR or soundbar over the same cable — limited to Dolby Digital/DD+ (Atmos over DD+ at best). eARC (HDMI 2.1) raises the bandwidth to 37 Mbps for lossless TrueHD/Atmos, DTS-HD MA and 7.1 PCM. Both need CEC and a compatible receiver — older AVRs have neither.
Why it matters with the HDfury Vertex²
The HDfury Vertex² supports ARC and eARC on its TX0 output and, uniquely, extracts the returned audio and sends it out of its HDMI audio output and optical jack. So Netflix, Disney+ or Apple TV+ running in the TV's own apps can play in full Atmos on an AVR that has no eARC — or no HDMI at all.
How to use it on the Vertex²
Connect the TV to TX0 (must be the TV's ARC/eARC port) and the AVR to Audio out. Web server → CEC/RS232 → enable CEC, CEC type 'Audio System w/ARC', eARC force Auto/ON/OFF, ARC/eARC routing to Audio out and/or optical. See manual page 'Help on AUDIO / CEC / ARC / eARC'.
Related terms
- CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) — One-remote control commands that travel over HDMI; needed for ARC/eARC.
- HDMI Audio out (720p/1080p audio-only output) — The third HDMI output: any audio format, wrapped in a simple 1080p picture, for any AVR.
- Audio formats: PCM, bitstream, Atmos, DTS:X, TrueHD, DD+, DTS-HD MA, HBR — Every sound format that can travel over HDMI — the Vertex² passes them all untouched.
- S/PDIF optical (TOSLINK) and analog L/R — The combined 3.5 mm jack outputs stereo analog or 5.1 digital optical sound.