#SMART TV HDMI 2.1 HOW TO#
#SMART TV HDMI 2.1 MANUAL#

How to improve your TV's sound: budget and premium options for better audio.A word of warning, though: turning HDMI CEC on can have some unwanted AV side effects, so you might want to experiment first. But more on that later.Īs part of the process, you should consider enabling HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), so you can turn your TV on and control the volume on your soundbar or amp without the need for multiple remotes. Any HDMI cable should be able to cope with the requirements – it’s only when we move on to eARC that this could (potentially) become an issue. Using HDMI ARC does not require a new HDMI cable. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to grab a remote and tweak a few of your TV settings, including turning off your TV’s built-in speakers and enabling your telly to send audio out to an external speaker or amp. With many TVs, HDMI ARC will work automatically.

#SMART TV HDMI 2.1 MANUAL#

Consult the TV’s user manual if you’re unsure. Labelling isn’t compulsory, but as long as your TV is a late-2009 model or newer, there should be one at your disposal. Peer around the back of your TV – if it’s packing three or four HDMI sockets, you need to find the one that’s labelled 'ARC' or 'eARC' (we'll get to the second of those shortly). To take advantage of HDMI ARC, you’ll need a television and audio processor (AV receiver or soundbar) with ARC-enabled HDMI sockets. HDMI ARC removes the need for an optical cable and allows you to send audio ‘downstream’ from a compatible HDMI socket on your TV to a compatible HDMI ARC socket on a soundbar or AV receiver. Previously, you would have to connect an optical cable from the back of your TV to an optical input on your audio device.īut that’s a messy solution. Either way, you don’t want to use your TV’s speakers for audio – you’d rather hear everything played through a soundbar or AV receiver instead. Or perhaps your smart TV is using a built-in video app such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video. You have a set-top box, games console and Blu-ray player all plugged into your TV via HDMI. It was introduced as part of HDMI version 1.4 and has been part of the specification ever since. It wasn’t until 2009 that the HDMI ARC protocol was added to the spec sheet. The HDMI interface has evolved over the years, with new versions ( HDMI 2.1 is the latest) bringing support for new audio and video technologies such as 3D, 4K, 8K, HDR and high frame rates, to name but a few.

As HDMI has become the de facto AV connection, traditional analogue sockets such as SCART and component video have found themselves consigned to the spare parts bin. It was billed as a convenient way to send high-quality digital picture and sound data ‘upstream’ from a source to a TV, amplifier or soundbar. HDMI launched way back in 2002, and the first consumer kit to feature this high-tech connector hit the shops in 2004. Our pick of the best AV and home cinema deals.

Smart tv hdmi 2.1