HDMI ARC What is it in Xiaomi TV: Full review of the function

Modern Xiaomi TVs, whether budget models or flagship Mi TV QLEDs, are equipped with many interfaces for connecting the external periphery. Among all the connectors, a special place is occupied by the port marked with the acronym ARC. Many users ignore this marking by connecting cables at random, and thereby deprive themselves of the ability to get high-quality surround sound without unnecessary wires. Understanding the principle of operation of this interface is critical for home theaters and soundbars.

Audio Return Channel, or audio return channel, allows digital audio signals from the TV to be transmitted back to an external audio device via the same cable as video, which used to require two cables to connect the TV to the receiver: One is for transmitting images from the console to the amplifier, and the other is optical or analog for transmitting sound from the TV to the speakers. HDMI-cable.

In the Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV ecosystem, implementation of this feature often comes with certain nuances of the Android TV operating system. Users may experience a lack of sound, synchronization problems, or the inability to control the soundbar volume from the TV remote. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to set up HDMI ARC, which cables to choose and what to do if standard methods do not work.

Technical Features of the ARC and eARC Interface

The fundamental difference of the ordinary HDMI-port ARC-Compatible means that there is an additional channel of communication. HDMI 1.4 and above, this channel allows you to transmit uncompressed stereo or compressed multichannel sound formats Dolby Digital and DTS. This means that if you run a movie in a Netflix or YouTube app on the TV itself, the sound will automatically go to the connected speaker system rather than staying in the TV speakers.

A newer and more advanced version is the eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which came in HDMI 2.1. If your Xiaomi TV supports this feature, you get access to audio transmission without compression, including object-oriented formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. However, it is worth remembering that eARC requires not only the corresponding ports on both devices, but also a High Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet.

⚠️ Note: Not all ports HDMI The back of the Xiaomi TV is supported ARC. Usually, there's only one port, and it's often marked with a special label or color, and connecting the soundbar to any other connector will not have the effect of returning sound.

It is also important to consider channel bandwidth. Standard ARC has a bitrate limit, which may not be enough for some Lossless formats. While eARC greatly expands this capability by providing data transfers at speeds up to 37 Mbps. For most users using streaming services, a conventional ARC is quite enough, but audiophiles should pay attention to the availability of eARC support in their model specification.

Choosing the right one HDMI-plug-in

The quality of the signal transmission depends directly on the cable used. Cheap wires purchased in the transition often do not meet the declared characteristics and can cause image artifacts or audio interruptions. To connect a Xiaomi TV to a soundbar or receiver, you need to use certified cables of the High Speed HDMI standard or higher.

If you plan to use eARC and enjoy Dolby Atmos sound in high resolution, you can’t save on cable. You’ll need a wire labeled Ultra High Speed. These cables have enhanced shielding and better contacts, which ensures stable transmission of large amounts of data in both directions.

• 🔌 Standard HDMI: It is suitable only for old TVs and image transfer in resolution. 720p/1080i, for ARC not recommended.
• 🚀 High Speed HDMI: best choice ARC, supportive 4K, 3D Return of the audio channel in full.
• ⚡ Ultra High Speed: Required for eARC, HDR 10/12, dynamic HDR and uncompressed multi-channel sound.

The length of the cable also plays a role. 3 Any high-quality wire will do, but if you need to lay communications on the ground, you can use it. 5-10 It is better to buy active meters. HDMI-fiber optic cable, as at long distances the signal may fade, and the audio return function will cease to work stably.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting the soundbar to Xiaomi TV

The process of physical switching devices is quite simple, but requires attention to detail.First, make sure that both devices are off the socket to avoid voltage surges that can damage port controllers.Look for a socket labeled (ARC) or (eARC) on the back or side of the TV.

Connect one end. HDMI-cable to this TV connector, and the second to the port with the same marking on your soundbar or AV-If there are multiple inputs on the acoustic system, choose the one that is marked as HDMI OUT (ARC). After the connection, turn on the TV and external acoustics.

The Android TV system onboard Xiaomi usually automatically recognizes a new device. The screen may display a notification of the connection of the audio device. If this does not happen, proceed to the software setting in the menu of the TV. It is important that the soundbar is on standby or works until the moment the TV is turned on, so that the CEC protocol can correctly handshake.

Setting up audio output in the Android TV menu

Once you're physically connected, you need to activate the function in the software. MIUI for TV or pure Android TV may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You need to go to the audio settings section and select the priority output device.

Walk the way Settings → The device → Sound. → Audio output. In the list that opens, select HDMI ARC If this item is inactive (gray), it means that the TV does not see the soundbar or the cable does not meet the requirements. Some Xiaomi models require you to activate the switch "Auto-enable TV" or "Sync remotes", which is part of the protocol. CEC.

⚠️ Attention: If after the selection HDMI ARC So, you've lost all of the sound, check the digital output format. In the audio effects menu, try switching from "Auto" to "Auto" mode"PCM" or "Dolby Digital" as some old soundbars don't understand the new codecs.

You should also pay attention to the settings of a particular application, for example, YouTube or Netflix may have their own audio settings inside the application, which take priority over the system settings, make sure that the account or player settings do not select the output of sound to the TV speaker.

CEC protocol problems and volume control

One of the main advantages of using ARC is the ability to control the soundbar volume from the Xiaomi TV remote, which is responsible for CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), but this is often the source of problems: the remote may stop responding, or the TV will spontaneously turn off along with the acoustics.

Xiaomi TVs can call this feature Mi Remote Control, HDMI Control, or just CEC. If the control doesn't work, try finding this item in Settings → Preferences → Sign in and switch it to Off, wait 10 seconds and turn on On again. This will restart the management service.

• 🎛️ Remote conflicts: If you have a Mi Box or Mi Stick connected, they can also try to control sound, creating a conflict of commands.
• 🔊 Sound delay: sometimes activation CEC It causes audio and video to be desynchronized (lipsync) and is solved in the audio menu by setting the delay.
• 🔄 Cyclical turn on: when you turn on the TV, you can turn on the soundbar, even if you watched on-air TV. CEC The soundbar itself, if there is such an option.

It’s worth noting that implementing CEC on Android TV can sometimes be “capricious.” If standard methods don’t work, the only way out is to use a universal remote or adjust control via an IR port if your soundbar supports learning the remote of a Xiaomi TV.

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If the remote stops adjusting the soundbar volume, try reconnecting the Bluetooth remote (if wireless) or replacing the batteries. A weak IR signal can interrupt the volume control commands.

Comparison of methods of connecting an audio system

Beyond HDMI ARC, users often consider optical output (S/PDIF) or Bluetooth.To understand why HDMI ARC is the preferred choice for Xiaomi TV owners, it’s worth comparing these technologies in key parameters.

And you can see from the table that optical output is losing out on the ability to transmit modern audio and video formats, and it also doesn't allow you to control the system with a single remote control. Bluetooth is good for music, but it's not good for movies because of delays and loss of quality. So if your TV and soundbar have HDMI ARC, use this method.

⚠️ Note: When using an optical cable, remember that it does not transmit control signals (CEC). You will have to use two remotes: one for a Xiaomi TV, the other for a soundbar, which reduces the comfort of using it.

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HDMI ARC is the only way to get full control of the home theater from one remote and support for modern audio codecs on Xiaomi TVs.

Diagnostics and problem-solving

Despite the standardization, Xiaomi users often face a situation where ARC does not work, the most common problem is “no signal” or periodic loss of sound, 80% of the time this is solved by replacing the cable with a better one or reconnecting to another port if there are more than one.

Another common complaint is that there is no Dolby Digital sound in the apps, which may be due to license restrictions or app-specific settings. Try running a test video file from a flash drive that accurately contains track 5.1. If the flash drive is sounding and the online cinema is not, the problem is the app or the speed of the Internet.

It’s also worth checking for firmware updates. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix work bugs. HDMI-Controller. Go to Settings. → On TV. → Update the system and check the relevance of the software. Sometimes it helps to completely reset the settings of the TV, but this method should be resorted to last.