Is this the solution to connect a soundbar to a monitor that has no HDMI ARC / eARC ?

Christophe · Feb 7, 2024

Hi, connecting a soundbar to a TV is easy, connecting a soundbar to a monitor is not simple because most monitors have no HDMI ARC / eARC.
I have discovered this adapter box:

Before buying it, I would like to know if it is this adapter will work using it like this:

Dru2 · Feb 7, 2024

Zero idea here if that setup will work or not. I've never tried a soundbar on a monitor.

That said I simply have my Bose soundbar going into my TV to the ARC HDMI port. But that's TV. No Ideal about monitors.

Winuser · Feb 7, 2024

Post a link to the device and I'll see what info I can find.

bobkn · Feb 7, 2024

There are many HDMI audio extractors on the market. I have never used one. Whether it's suitable depends on what capabilities are wanted from the soundbar. Stereo? 5.1 surround? Bitstream (Atmos or DTS:X)?

The labeling seems odd. On a TV, an eARC port is typically used to pass HDMI audio from the TV to a receiver or soundbar. Yet on this splitter, it may be the video output.

Winuser · Feb 7, 2024

bobkn said:
There are many HDMI audio extractors on the market. I have never used one. Whether it's suitable depends on what capabilities are wanted from the soundbar. Stereo? 5.1 surround? Bitstream (Atmos or DTS:X)?

The labeling seems odd. On a TV, an eARC port is typically used to pass HDMI audio from the TV to a receiver or soundbar. Yet on this splitter, it may be the video output.

Looking at the picture it looks like the device splits the audio and video from the HDMI output from the laptop. Before I answer yes or no I want to know more about the device. If they post a link I'll know for sure I'm looking at the right device.

Christophe · Feb 8, 2024

Winuser said:
Looking at the picture it looks like the device splits the audio and video from the HDMI output from the laptop. Before I answer yes or no I want to know more about the device. If they post a link I'll know for sure I'm looking at the right device.

Here is the link to this device: LUOM 4K 60Hz HDMI Audio Extractor Splitter, HDMI + Optical Toslink SPDIF + 3.5mm Audio Jack + Coaxial + 7.1Ch, Support - HDCP 2.2 - EDID,Dolby Vision,HDR 10 - Newegg.com

bobkn · Feb 8, 2024

Looks all right.

I presume that it supports all of the audio formats that your sound bar can use.

Winuser · Feb 8, 2024

@Christophe, On the Newegg page it does mention that you can connect it to a soundbar. You have to scroll down a little to find it. Read it carefully and see if your soundbar supports any of the outputs from the converter. If it does then I see no reason why it won't work. I tried to find a user manual to see how to connect to different devices but I couldn't find one.

Christophe · Feb 9, 2024

Thanks for your feedback, so it looks like a solution. I am going to purchase it.

Winuser · Feb 11, 2024

Christophe said:
Thanks for your feedback, so it looks like a solution. I am going to purchase it.

Let us know if it works.

Christophe · Feb 22, 2024

I have ordered a similar one, it should arrive in 2 weeks. I will let you know. It is exactly the same though as it was much more expensive.

sdowney717 · Feb 22, 2024

I used one before I got a new smart TV which has optical audio output to go to my old 5.1 DD Sony audio amp.
The 4 HDMI ports in and 1 HDMI port out switch with DD sound extraction worked fine, except does not seem to pass Dolby Vision and HDR10+, so I stopped using that 4 port HDMI switch. It says it is HDMI 2.0 only, and you need HDMI 2.1 to get it to pass DV etc...
My old switch passed 4K, but today that is not good enough for a 4K smart TV.
Any new switch today, you need HDMI 2.1 which all 8K switches will have.

New TV also has eARC on an HDMI port. New TV so you want to see DV or HDR10+, then things had to change.

sdowney717 · Feb 22, 2024

Christophe said:
Here is the link to this device: LUOM 4K 60Hz HDMI Audio Extractor Splitter, HDMI + Optical Toslink SPDIF + 3.5mm Audio Jack + Coaxial + 7.1Ch, Support - HDCP 2.2 - EDID,Dolby Vision,HDR 10 - Newegg.com

Absolutely would not buy that. That switch makes no mention of HDR10+, HLG or HDMI 2.1
That switch is like my old switch I no longer use.
And I question the Dolby Vision part too.

HDR10 vs HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision: Which is better?

High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a video format that enhances the picture quality compared to regular content (see HDR vs SDR). There are three main HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, and they each display HDR content differently.

www.rtings.com

And all your HDMI cables to be sure you get these formats working need to be HDMI 2.1
If any are long, like 15 feet or more they need to be optical HDMI cables as the signals can drop out

Christophe · Feb 23, 2024

I bought this model: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006390503907.html?skuId=12000036997777470
It is HDMI 2.0 .

It is a HDMI splitter. It is not a HDMI switch.
A splitter is for a different usage than a switch:

a splitter gives you 2 similar output from 1 input
a switcher gives you 1 output from 2 inputs. You often have a switch on it to chose the input you want to use, thus the name, a switcher.

sdowney717 · Feb 23, 2024

Christophe said:
I bought this model: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006390503907.html?skuId=12000036997777470
It is HDMI 2.0 .

It is a HDMI splitter. It is not a HDMI switch.
A splitter is for a different usage than a switch:

a splitter gives you 2 similar output from 1 input

a switcher gives you 1 output from 2 inputs. You often have a switch on it to chose the input you want to use, thus the name, a switcher.

Cheap enough so as to be even a throw away if does not work.

sdowney717 · Feb 23, 2024

The switch I bought is this one

Amazon.com

Worked fine on an old HDTV. Did not work for a 4K smart TV. This does not pass DV, HDR10+

Proof was hook up a 4k Firestick direct to smart TV, TV says signal is 4K, and Dolby Vision or HDR10+. Most of Disney + is streamed as DV.
you also have to set a 4k firestick to output 4k.

Then put this switch inline, got 4K signal but never got DV or HDR10+
Thing was why bother with a switch as smart TV has 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, but I was dealing with 4 devices to the TV

sdowney717 · Feb 23, 2024

I also had to swap out HDMI cables as some could not do 4K, the signals drop out and TV or projector blinks on and off.
Bought this to a Projector, then worked great. Optical HDMI cable

Amazon.com

Some older 6 foot HDMI cables worked OK for 4K and DV, some did not. Only way to be certain is get 8K HDMI 2.1 cables

For example this cable did not work, signal kept blinking out. You will be watching a movie and screen goes dark, then it reconnects randomly

Amazon.com

sdowney717 · Feb 23, 2024

The randomness of it working ok is shown by this switch I got which is 4k HDMI 2.0 which does work for DV and HDR10+

Amazon.com

While the 4 port HDMI 2.0 switch did not work for DV and HDR10+
It is like are you lucky or not if an HDMI 2.0 rated thing works like you think it should.
Only thing guaranteed to work is an 8K HDMI device is what my experience is.

sdowney717 · Feb 23, 2024

I let my daughter's family use my projector for a month and told them don't buy long cables. just plug in your 4K firestick directly into the projector. Worked fine for them. Best option is not bother with switches and long HDMI cable setups, just use another 4K streaming stick, it is better and cheaper. Only reason I got the 50 foot 8K optical cable is I got it on sale for half price. I put the firestick on the input port of the working switch and split the signal off to either TV or projector. For me that was cheaper than buying another 4K firestick

And the smart TV has all the channel apps the Firestick has. I have adapted to the smart TV menu and now don't use the 4k firestick on the TV

Since I though want to hear DD 5.1 to my old Sony receiver, I need the 4 port switch HDMI DD sound extractor otherwise only sound comes from projector and not very good. Projector can connect to bluetooth sound bar, but did not want to buy one.

Sony receiver has two 5.1 inputs, one is optical TOSLINK cable, other coax. It works out, just have to switch DD sound input on Sony receiver.
Smart TV has a DD TOSLINK output, 4K 4 port HDMI switch has a COAX DD output. Sony receiver can select either one. I get great sound now no matter what I am watching. DD 5.1 is still good sound.

You realize only young people have great hearing, if you are in midlife, your ability to hear drops considerably, you will not likely not hear much difference between DD 5.1 and ATMOS, you will never notice.

bobkn · Feb 23, 2024

sdowney717 said:
(snip)

You realize only young people have great hearing, if you are in midlife, your ability to hear drops considerably, you will not likely not hear much difference between DD 5.1 and ATMOS, you will never notice.

ATMOS is a 3D sound format, not necessarily with superior sound in other respects.

I doubt that high frequency hearing loss associated with age has much to do with the ability to appreciate ATMOS.

Is this the solution to connect a soundbar to a monitor that has no HDMI ARC / eARC ?

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