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Dc2006ster

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 9, 2011
349
188
Alberta, Canada
We are getting a new tv. It has 4 HDMI ports two of which are HDMI 2.1 with one of those being arc/earc, the other being 4K 120 Hz. We are in our late 70s and much of what I just typed is alphabet soup to me. The TV is a Sony A80L running Google Tv

My question is what to connect where , particularly the Apple TV which we use daily with Infuse.

We have a cable box, a 1st Gen Apple TV 4K with a pair of original Homepods and a PS3 (that is not a typo 😊) Any advice on what to do and not to do would be greatly appreciated. I am open to the idea of upgrading the Apple TV 4K for the extra storage.


Thanks.
 
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The one marked eArc should connect to whatever sound system you may have (if anything other than those 2 HP speakers)... be that a Receiver hooked to surround sound "dumb" speakers or perhaps a Soundbar-based setup.

Otherwise plug AppleTV, cable box and PS3 into any of the ports. If you want to keep using only HPs as audio for all of that stuff, I think AppleTV would have to be plugged into the port marked eARC (but am not 100% sure of that, as I don't own HPs and would not opt to use them in that way if I did own some).

Since you have only one more 2.1 port, if you stream any ATMOS movies or shows to AppleTV or Cable box, connect them to your 2.1 ports.

Else, if you have a Receiver-based setup, everything should connect to the Receiver with ONE cable from Receiver to HDMI 2.1 input and one cable from HDMI 2.1 eARC (output) back to Receiver (which would only get used when watching something using the TV's built-in tuner itself... or something perhaps temporarily attached to TV HDMI ports) because the Receiver will strip off any audio flowing into it to play on the attached speakers.

I'll guess you are leaning on them HPs for TV audio. I suggest moving them to other rooms and using them for what they are best at- wireless MUSIC- and perhaps setting yourself up with a good Surround Sound system via either a good Receiver & wired speakers or a Soundbar and wireless "smart" speakers. Our ears- even late 70-year-old ears- will easily be able to hear the difference between only stereo sound up front vs. left-center-right up front and at least 2 left & right surrounds behind.

If you do this, eArc out to the subwoofer or Receiver and plug the other stuff into the remaining ports on TV (if you go the soundbar route) or all into Receiver (and only 1 cable from Receiver to TV).

If you want to keep it all fairly simple (like perhaps the goal with those HPs), consider what is called the Sonos Ultimate Immersive setup... which is their best soundbar for front left-center-right and their best surrounds (300s) for theater surround sound, plus a subwoofer for deep bass. Besides being on (unusual) sale through Fathers Day, these play very nicely with Apple Music and many others, Airplay 2 and have Apple Home compatibility (which, among other things, gets Siri through Apple devices), etc. For example, if I command my Mac to play a favorite playlist on my Sonos speakers, it "just works."

If you don't think you need the deeper bass but want real surround, their Premium Surround Set version sans sub is about $600 less during this sale. And you can mix & match with Sonos, meaning you could start with as little as only Arc (soundbar) and add other pieces later to build out a full surround sound setup.

If you go with either option, I suggest buying stands for the 300s if needed on Amazon or similar, where you will pay much less than the OEM ones... unless you perhaps opt to put those rears on maybe existing shelving or similar behind your main seating area.

If you need financing, Best Buy is matching these prices and offering "same as cash" terms.

New TV will bring great new video for your eyes. Consider a big sound upgrade too. Those HPs will do a great job as intended in another room(s).
 
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What TV did you get? The reason I ask is my Hisense died after 5 years and CEC worked with the Apple TV remote so I didn't need another remote lying around. That TV died and I ended up grabbing a TCL QLED but my Apple TV remote works at doing everything except turning on the TV. Still working to figure this out---

Also, Apple TV can do a half decent job at calibrating your TV---Go to settings---graphics----color balance. Follow the instructions but you'll need an iPhone that's connected to your Apple TV to use this calibration set up.

Also, go to www.rtings.com for calibration setting on your tv.

To answer your question, I use HDMI #1 for the accessory I use most then use HDMI #2 for the next and so forth. Also, after calibrating you can set on the TV to use that setting on all inputs.,
 
That a nice television!

There is no hard:fast Rule to these things, nowadays . . .

. . . budget some setup time, and play-around with the different connections, to see what works, for you ;)
 
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Deep thanks to those who replied. i appreciate the input and now have a better sense of how to set it up.

Unfortunately I have hit a bit of a snag. When I powered it up, all we got was brief flashing white lines and a flashing red power button. It is going back.
 
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