With digital devices and entertainment devices, such as TVs and consoles, they are connected together with HDMI cables and other similar cables. That being said, there are different types of HDMI cables out there and ARC is one of them. However, users often ask, “can I use HDMI ARC as regular HDMI?” For you, we are sharing if it’s possible or not!
HDMI Cable & HDMI ARC
If you are considering using these cables interchangeably, it’s essential to consider if they are the same or not. That being said, these cables are the same (for the most part). This is because the difference occurs on the side of the receiver because the receiver device has to be compatible with ARC.
In case there is no ARC port, you cannot use HDMI ARC as a regular HDMI. For this purpose, it’s essential to check the labels on the TV as well as the audio device. To be honest, the majority of audio devices and TVs do have the HDMI ARC port.
When it comes down to HDMI ARC cables and ports, they are suitable for setting up external devices, such as home theatres and soundbars. On the contrary, if you don’t use the external speakers and completely rely on the TV’s built-in speaker, you don’t need the HDMI ARC.
This is because ARC has been designed to allow users to control different audio devices with a single remote. On average, the built-in speakers are fine for watching shows or playing console games, and don’t know that they can connect the TV’s audio to a different device.
Can I Use HDMI ARC As Regular HDMI?
The quick answer is yes, the HDMI ARC output can easily be used as the regular HDMI. This is because the HDMI cables are designed to be the all-in-one solutions.
That being said, if you connect the regular HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC port, it can easily work as the regular HDMI. Moreover, the HDMI ARC port doesn’t work, you must switch on the HDMI ARC audio by changing the settings. Also, you must switch on the power on both devices.
To summarize, it’s completely possible for using the HDMI ARC cable as the regular HDMI cable. This is because the ARC cable is basically an enhanced version of HDMI cable and all of them are backward-compatible. It simply means that new cables can be used rather than older cables even if new HDMI standards have been developed. To help you out, we are also outlining different types of HDMI cables, such as;
HDMI
HDMI is known to be a high-definition multimedia interface and is designed to carry the HD signals from one device to another on a digital basis, and helps reduce the chances of signal loss. These cables can be used for visual as well as audio signals.
There are high-speed as well as standard HDMI cables available in the market; with 742.5 Mbps per channel and 1.65 Gbps per channel to 3.4 Gbps per channel speed, respectively. Also, the newer versions of HDMI cables are identified by adding a new decimal name, such as HDMI 1.0, HDMI 1.1, HDMI 1.2, and more.
HDMI ARC
Ever since HDMI 1.4 came into the being, they have been designed to receive and send video and audio signals at one time. ARC is known for audio return channels and doesn’t need a separate cable for audio. With HDMI ARC cable, the users can connect multiple devices to the speaker or soundbar which means you don’t need to worry about a number of ports. In addition, HDMI ARC is suitable for connecting the TV with speakers.
HDMI eARC
It is the most recent development in the ARC technology because “e” really means enhanced. In case your TV and audio devices were developed in 2019 or higher, they are highly likely to work with eARC. With HDMI eARC, the users can enjoy enhanced sound quality from all the connected devices.
HDMI 2.0
HDMI 2.0 standard was developed various years ago and it has become the standard cable. This cable can be used for video gaming consoles, smart TVs, and sound systems. It’s a pretty optimal cable because it can keep up with the current speed needs and transmit high-quality signals.