As anyone who’s ever set up a home theater knows, many cables are involved. And while most of us have become accustomed to dealing with HDMI cables, their audio counterpart, the HDMI ARC cable, must be noticed.
So, what is an HDMI ARC cable, and why do you need one? Simply put, it’s a specially designed cable that allows audio to be transmitted from your TV back into your speaker system. This feature has become increasingly popular as more and more modern TVs have audio output built into their HDMI ports.
However, not all HDMI ARC cables are equal. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the best HDMI ARC cables on the market so you can find the perfect one for your home theater setup.
Capshi High-Speed 18Gbps HDMI Cable
Capshi 6.6ft 8K HDMI® Cable 2.1, Support HDR, eARC, Ethernet, Dolby
The Capshi High-Speed 18Gbps HDMI Cable supports 4K resolution at 60Hz, HDR, 3D content, and Ethernet. The gold-plated connectors ensure a robust and corrosion-free connection, while the 4K, 2160p, and 1440p resolutions provide stunning picture quality. The cable also supports refresh rates up to 240hz, making it perfect for fast-paced action movies or video games.
The cable length is an important consideration when purchasing an HDMI cable. The Capshi HDMI Cable is available in lengths of 1.5 feet up to 55 feet, making it perfect for any situation. Whether you need a short cable for a small TV or a longer cable for an extensive home theatre system, this cable covers you.
It is also backward compatible with previous HDMI standards, making it perfect for anyone with an older device. The 1536 kHz audio support ensures crystal-clear sound quality.
Monoprice 112735 HDMI High-Speed Active Cable
If you’re looking for a high-quality HDMI cable that can support 4k resolution and 3D video, the Monoprice 112735 HDMI High-Speed Active Cable is a great option. This cable supports x.v.Color and Deep Color up to 16 bits per channel for stunningly realistic image quality.
It also features an Audio Return Channel and HDMI Ethernet Channel, which allows you to send audio and video signals through one cable without needing an extra Ethernet cable. With support for high-definition multichannel audio, including DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, this cable also provides exceptional sound quality.
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable (18Gbps, 4K/60Hz)
If you’re looking for a quality HDMI cable that will support 4K video and more, look no further than the Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable. This 15-foot cable connects Blu-ray players, Fire TV, Apple TV, PS4, Xbox One, and other HDMI-enabled devices to TVs, displays, and A/V receivers.
The braided design is durable and resists tangles, while the Plug & Play design means no additional software or drivers are needed – perfect for use with older devices. Plus, the cable supports Ethernet and Audio Return Channel (ARC) for a truly connected experience.
BlueRigger 4K HDMI Cable
BlueRigger 4K HDMI Cable is an excellent choice for your home theater system. It supports HDMI 2.0b and has a refresh rate of up to 600 MHz, so you’ll get a heightened viewing experience with crisp, accurate sound and no lag.
The cable also has 24 AWG copper wire and triple shielding, making it durable and corrosion-resistant. The 24K gold-plated complete metal jacket connectors provide a stable signal strength. And if you have any questions or concerns, the lifetime warranty and US-based customer support will give you peace of mind.
The BlueRigger 4K HDMI Cable is great for home theaters and compatible with a wide range of HDMI devices. This includes Blu-ray players, Fire TV, Apple TV, PS5, PS4, Roku, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and more.
Zeskit Maya 8K 48Gbps Certified Ultra High Speed
Zeskit Maya 2.1 8K HDMI Cable 6.5ft 4K120Hz 48Gbps
Zeskit’s Maya 8K 48Gbps Certified Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable is the perfect choice for those who demand the best. This cable supports resolutions up to 10K, HDR, and other latest features. With a bandwidth of 48Gbps, it is fully compatible with HDCP 2.2 & 2.3, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision.
Whether you want to stream ultra-high-resolution content from your gaming console or home theater system, this cable covers you. With its durable construction and backward compatibility with earlier versions of HDMI, it is an excellent choice for any HDMI device.
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable
There are many benefits to using the AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable. The cable supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K video, and Audio Return Channels (ARC). This means you can connect your Blu-ray player, fire TV, Apple TV, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, or Xbox 360 to your TV or other HDMI-enabled device without worrying about compatibility issues.
In addition, the cable is also backward compatible with earlier versions of HDMI, so you don’t have to worry about upgrading your devices if you already have an HDMI cable that you’re using. The cable is also 6 feet long, perfect for connecting your devices from a distance or allowing you to share an Internet connection among multiple devices without needing a separate Ethernet cable.
Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 6ft High Speed
Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 6ft High Speed with Ethernet
If you’re looking for a high-quality HDMI cable that supports 4K@60Hz and HDR10, look no further than the Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 6ft High Speed. This cable exceeds the required 22.28Gbps bandwidth to ensure smooth, uninterrupted audio and video content transmission.
The 100% triple-shielded oxygen-free copper wiring combined with a copper foil shield on both ends makes this cable virtually impervious to interference, ensuring no flicker or dropouts. With its durable nylon braided cord and gold-plated plugs, you can rest assured that your cables will last for years.
The Zeskit Cinema Plus 4K 6ft High Speed is compatible with Roku, Monitor, PlayStation, Television, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV, Xbox, AV Receiver, Blu-ray Player, and Speaker.
Amazon Basics Uni-Directional DisplayPort to HDMI
Amazon Basics DisplayPort to HDMI Display Cable
This 6-foot DisplayPort to HDMI cable is perfect for anyone looking for an easy way to connect their computer to an HD display. The cable transmits audio and video from the laptop to the HD display, supporting resolutions up to 4K@30Hz. This cable is also durable, making it an excellent option for presentations or movie nights.
Whether setting up a second monitor or mirroring your displays, this cable is an excellent choice for anyone looking for high-quality performance and reliability.
FAQs
HDMI ARC or Audio Return Channel is a feature of HDMI that allows an audio signal to be sent “up” the cable from the TV to the A/V receiver, bypassing the need for a separate audio cable.
HDMI ARC allows you to connect your TV and A/V receiver with a single cable, reducing clutter and making setup easier. It is also ideal for home theaters where a separate audio connection between devices may be difficult or impossible.
Most newer TVs and A/V receivers come with built-in support for HDMI ARC. To check if your devices are compatible, connect them via a standard HDMI cable and see if you can hear audio from your TV without needing to plug in an additional audio cable.
If your TV or A/V receiver does not support HDMI ARC, you can still connect it with a standard HDMI cable and use an optical audio cable to send audio from the TV to the receiver. This method requires an additional cable but will still provide good sound quality.
You can also use a wireless audio adapter, such as the MEE Audio Connect Transmitter, which does not require cables and can stream high-quality audio wirelessly from your TV to your A/V receiver.
There are four-speed categories for HDMI cables- Standard, High Speed, Premium High Speed, and Ultra High Speed. The different speeds are based on the maximum bandwidth that the cable can support. While all HDMI cables support the same features, a higher-speed cable can support a higher resolution or faster frame rate.
- Standard HDMI cables have the lowest bandwidth and are only suitable for resolutions up to 1080p.
- High-speed cables can support higher resolutions, including 4K Ultra HD, as well as faster frame rates, support HDR.
- Premium High-Speed cables offer even higher bandwidths and better performance, making them ideal for fast-paced gaming or high-intensity applications (4K video at 60 frames per second).
- Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables have the highest bandwidth and can support the fastest frame rates, including those used for virtual reality, 4K at 120Hz, or 8K content.
HDMI ARC is a great feature, but like with any technology, there are drawbacks. The main one is that it doesn’t support some advanced audio file formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos, etc. This means that if you have a 5.1 system, you may be unable to take full advantage of all the audio content your TV offers.
Many newer TVs can’t send the complete audio content via HDMI ARC to the soundbar or AVR. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to get the most out of your audio setup.
