Samsung HW-Q600A 3.1.2ch 360W Soundbar w/Dolby Atmos/DTS:X (2021) Expired

Got it. Yes, ARC and eARC operate the same for the most part. At least from a consumer perspective. I'm going to get technical if you just want to know a bit more.

Standard 7.1 uncompressed Dolby TrueHD is already possible on HDMI 2.0 (possible since HDMI 1.4 actually). That's how people watch a Bluray to their surround receiver before passing the video to the TV without ARC. So why do people need eARC for uncompressed surround?....

...eARC operates using an additional pin of the pin array that was physically added in HDMI 1.4 spec... This pin though was originally meant for Ethernet (why you see some HDMI cables sold as, High Speed HDMI + Ethernet). It was never used officially in that capacity though, so with the revision HDMI 2.0b, they opted to make that Ethernet pin as a data channel for additional audio object and meta data. Basically, HDMI 1.4 through today's HDMI 2.1 standard have the same audio capability to transmit the same amount of data and the same kind of data, but without that 1 pin being told how to work the devices can't properly configure what you're trying to do.

This means the data needed for the best audio Bluray can provide already exists since 2009! The problem is no one really cares to implement eARC in HDMI 2.0 equipment. Largely because it would be messy trying to educate consumers and most importantly billing eARC as an HDMI 2.1 technology helps sell newer tech. You will find non-HDMI 2.1 devices with eARC though. Some splitters/matrixes like the Vertex2 from HDFury and Some TVs that can't do 4k/120hz, but still have eARC enabled HDMI ports. It's really up to the manufacturers to support and most do not.

So... confused how HDMI 2.0(non b) can transmit Dolby TrueHD uncompressed, but can't with ARC, well....

TL : DR: ...HDMI standards were set and agreed upon as distinct stages with distinct functionality. When HDMI 1.4 was finalized it didn't have that last pin designated for equipment to process uncompressed ATMOS using ARC. They stamped the approval on the HDMI 1.4 standard without uncompressed ARC ability because they had reserved that one pin for Ethernet. Once the market shifted they swapped that unused Ethernet pin to allow uncompressed audio over ARC, but the ARC standard was already set in stone so they had to make a new standard, eARC. And with that, they had to make a new HDMI revision and made is HDMI 2.0b. Going farward when they devised HDMI 2.1, they made eARC mandatory.

So..... one question you may have is if its just roughly a standard, couldn't they have just made firmware updates to support eARC on older HDMI 1.4 and 2.0 devices? For the most part... anything after HDMI 1.4 can handle Uncompressed Dolby TrueHD and ATMOS (when they were introduced as well as the Ethernet pin) so yeah, they could have made firmware updates technically, but that doesn't mean the totality of the internal components for whatever device can be updated. You will find some companies did make firmware updates to make their HDMI 1.4 devices into HDMI 2.0b eARC enabled, but most don't - much easier to try and sell something new, right?

So there it is.... you only "need" eARC if you want to watch uncompressed DolbyHD audio from a single cable from your TV to your soundbar/receiver AND have an uncompressed DolbyHD source from a Bluray or video file equivalent. No streaming platform exists right now that transmits Dolby TrueHD so regular arse compressed Dolby Digital+ is good enough and thus regular arse ARC is good enough too.

Thank you for coming to my TedX talk..... lol

That's a poor equivalent since MANY people using soundbars are the same people only using a single streaming device and/or apps built into their Smart TV.

As such, streaming platforms like Netflix that support DD+ ATMOS meta data is the only way people are getting ATMOS. Believe it or not, Blurays are a dying medium and even less people are torrenting them.

Without getting overly technical, eARC is possible on not just HDMI 2.1, but HDMI 2.0b, but that's all moot because streaming networks like Netflix will never stream PCM greater than 2 channel stereo. It will always be compressed DD(+) if using any form of surround sound.

Because of all that - Anyone watching ATMOS content not sourced in some fashion from a Bluray/Torrent of a BR only needs regular ARC.

TL : DR: This is a solid choice if all you do is stream.

Rtings rated the cheaper HW-Q600A higher than the more expensive HW-Q700A.

https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/t...3585/23516