Question about ARC/eARC

[lawlietkm]

So I recently bought two HomePods to setup in a stereo manner for the TV.


It’s working great, although I struggled because I had to use the HDMI eARC instead of the HDMI ARC port to make the ARC setting work, I am now able to use the HomePods with my Xbox for instance.


But I found out yesterday, I mean I assume it is the case unless I’m missing out on something: I cannot use the HomePods on my PS5 since the PS5 goes through HDMI ARC port instead of eARC. I mean that’s the conclusion I’ve made after trying.


Since my TV has 2 HDMI eARC ports and 3 HDMI ARC ports, I am only able to use one console at most with the HomePods.


I’m a bit confused because it is supposed to be quite similar between the ARC and eARC but somehow if I plug my Apple TV on the regular ARC it won’t let me enable that setting, but it’s working on the eARC port.


How can I have the HomePods used by my PS5 without having to change the port for the console when I need to?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

PS5 into regular HDMI port (not eArc). For how you are using things, think of eArc as audio passthrough (from TV back to speakers via AppleTV). This PS5 connection should work. If not, check your audio settings in both TV and PS5. My guess is that you don't have CEC turned on in PS5:

• Settings, system, HDMI, Enable HDMI Device Link: ON
• Enable HDCP: OFF.

If the problem is that you don't have enough HDMI ports to connect everything, consider mixing in either an A/V Receiver with LOTS of HDMI in ports or you can buy a cheaper box (one example of many) that is just this part of things (many HDMI ports in, one HDMI port out). Then "everything" can plug into the box, eARC to AppleTV and basically cut the TV out of the connections equation almost entirely (just one HDMI OUT cable to use the TV purely as a display).

 

[lawlietkm]

PS5 into regular ARC port. Think of eArc as audio passthrough. This should work. If not, check your audio settings.

If the problem is that you don't have enough HDMI ports to connect everything, consider mixing in either an A/V Receiver with LOTS of HDMI in ports or you can buy a cheaper box that is just this part of things (many HDMI ports in, one HDMI port out). Then "everything can plug into the box, eARC to AppleTV and basically cut the TV out of the connections equation almost entirely (just one OUT cable to use the TV as a display).

The PS5 is already into a regular HDMI ARC port, but it's not being taken into consideration by the HomePods

What audio setting should I be looking for in this case?

Also worth noting, or bring it up again that when I tried to setup my Apple TV and HomePods on a HDMI ARC port, it wouldn't let me use the ARC feature.

And I have a total of 5 HDMI port, mix of eARC and ARC

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

AppleTV needs to stay connected to eARC. For your purposes, think of it like a soundbar. Audio flows into the TV through the non-ARC/non-eARC HDMI ports and then out through eARC to the soundbar.

The difference between ARC and eARC can be thought of very simply as one way "flow" vs. two way "flow" of video and/or audio:

• ARC (one way): Various inputs into regular HDMI ports and audio can flow OUT of ARC to speakers (typically soundbars or Receivers hooked to speakers).
• eARC (two way): Your AppleTV needs eARC connection to be able to stream its video TO your TV but also receive audio back from TV (to sling to your HPs).

In your case, your "soundbar" is wireless HomePods, so AppleTV is operating as the brains of your "soundbar" and wirelessly slinging any audio through AppleTV to those HPs.

It doesn't sound right that you have 5 HDMI ports all labeled eARC and ARC. 2-3 of those should just be "pure" HDMI ports (no ARC or eARC) reference. I haven't heard or seen a TV with all HDMI parts also tagged ARC but maybe you have one? If so, I'd love to see a picture of that.

• PS5 into NORMAL HDMI port... such as- say- HDMI 1.
• AppleTV connected to eARC port.
• PS5 sound should pass through TV to AppleTV (and thus on to HPs).
• And basically ANYTHING else that provides video & audio, including the TVs own apps or an antenna connection for local channels to the TV, should be routing audio out of the eARC port to AppleTV and thus on to HPs.

I put the PS5 settings to check in the #2 reply.

 

[lawlietkm]

AppleTV needs to stay connected to eARC. For your purposes, think of it like a soundbar. Audio flows into the TV through the non ARC/eARC HDMI ports and then out through eARC to the soundbar. In your case, your "soundbar" is wireless HomePods, so AppleTV is operating as the brains of your "soundbar" and wirelessly slinging any audio to TB to those HPs.

It doesn't sound right that you have 5 HDMI ports all labeled eARC and ARC. 2-3 of those should just be "pure" HDMI ports (no ARC or eARC) reference. I haven't heard or seen a TV with all HDMI parts also tagged ARC but maybe you have one? If so, I'd love to see a picture of that.

• PS5 into NORMAL HDMI port... such as- say- HDMI 1.
• AppleTV into eARC port.
• PS5 sound should pass through TV to AppleTV (and thus to HPs).

I put the PS5 settings to check in the #2 reply.

My mistake, just double checked and it's 2 of each: 2 eARC, 2 ARC

 

[lawlietkm]

Update: I was blind, it was quite simple but since I didn't need to do this for the Xbox I didn't think about doing it for the PS5: I had to switch from TV speaker to HDMI speakers in the settings haha

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

This was the start of an answer to #5 but you then beat me to resolution with post #6.

I've never seen that before and I know a thing or two (maybe 3) about these topics. Nevertheless:

• PS5 into one of the 2 marked ARC.
• AppleTV connected to either of the ones marked eARC.
• Be sure PS5 settings referenced in post #2 are as described.

Going forward, OFTEN, Settings is the first thing to check with these kinds of issues. Every other device that supports CEC likely has a menu somewhere to turn ON CEC functionality. CEC can be named many other things depending on the brand of the device being connected. TV settings MIGHT assign a different speaker setting to each HDMI port or perhaps each source device you attach. So you'll need to check that same thing each time you connect anything new too.

And note: with PS5 connected to TV and "depending" on HPs for sound, when you turn on PS5 to play something, it's going to turn on your TV and AppleTV too. This sometimes confuses people and they think they want to "fix" this problem of turning on AppleTV when they only want to play PS5. But that's normal CEC operations because AppleTV is acting as the brains of a virtual "soundbar" (your HP speakers). If you had an actual soundbar connected, it's light or LCD would turn on too when you fire up the PS5. It has to be "ON" for the audio.