Got questions? We have answers!
What is the problem?
eARC is a feature that comes integrated with TV’s built on the HDMI2.1 standard (HDMI input / eARC output). It is also implemented on some TV’s built on the HDMI 2.0b standard and is connected to an audio video receiver or soundbar via HDMI output / eARC input.
This allows for full audio playback up to and including Atmos over True HD from TV applications and external HDMI sources and processed by an eARC capable sound system. eARC is not a perfect standard as some formats are yet to be supported. Some may never be as manufacturers drop support for them over eARC.
On the receiving end, HDMI2.1 AVR equipment has technical challenges and a high cost to route 1500MHz/48Gbps signals. Some manufacturers might choose to offer eARC capable sound systems with only eARC inputs like SONOS did with the SONOS Arc soundbar. Many manufacturers are expected to provide eARC only capable solutions over the years to come as HDMI2.1 becomes more widely adopted.
This way manufacturers do not have to implement the processing of video signals which alleviates the license fee and support issues that would go along with it.
The problem with this implementation is that the full capabilities can only be realized with an eARC TV, The market is saturated with televisions, both new and old, that do not have the eARC capabilities. Typical examples include projectors, PC monitors and ARC 5.1 TV’s.
What is the solution?
An eARC TV is able to accept HDMI signals via its inputs and offers FULL AUDIO via eARC from one of them (HDMI input / eARC output). Our challenge was to design and create a device that will act as an eARC TV. It should be capable of receiving HDMI signals via an HDMI input and offering FULL AUDIO via another HDMI input / eARC output. This is the basis of what Arcana is capable of doing.
This did not exist in HDMI until now. Normally you cannot connect an HDMI OUTPUT to another HDMI OUTPUT (Arcana) or an HDMI INPUT to another HDMI INPUT (Maestro/Diva/Vertex2/SHARC). We did it.
How to set up?
For more detailed instructions please refer to the GETTING STARTED section.
-If you need to transfer full audio from one HDMI source then all you need is Arcana. Connect your source HDMI output to the Arcana HDMI input. Connect the HDMI output to your TV and connect the eARC output to SONOS Arc or your eARC/AVR sound system.
-If you need to transfer ARC for TV audio and have full audio from one external source then all you need is Arcana. Connect your source HDMI output to the Arcana HDMI input. Connect the HDMI output to your TV ARC input and connect the eARC output to SONOS Arc or your eARC/AVR sound system.
-If you need to transfer full audio from multiple HDMI sources, you can use Arcana connected to the output of any HDMI switcher, matrix, or splitter (including any of the following HDfury devices: Integral2/Vertex1/Vertex2/Diva/Maestro).
-If you need to transfer ARC for TV audio and have full audio from multiple HDMI sources, you can use Arcana connected to the output of any HDMI switcher, matrix, or splitter (including any of the following HDfury devices: Integral2/Vertex1/Vertex2/Diva/Maestro).
-If you need to transfer ARC or eARC for TV audio and have full audio from an external source (up to four) then you can use Arcana at the Vertex2/Diva/Maestro audio output.
-Alternatively, you can also process the TV ARC or eARC signal and feed an HDMI switcher input by using by using SHARC from thenaudio.com
Please note that if you have an HDMI2.0b source and HDMI2.0b display, the HDMI switcher/splitter/matrix needs to be rated as HDMI 2.0b as well otherwise you will not receive the full audio and video signal. You may be able to find a working switcher/splitter/matrix from Amazon for 30$ if you are lucky but be prepared to send it back as many cheap HDMI devices are not able to sufficiently handle the maximum 18Gbps/600MHz signal as well as host of other issues including no 4:2:2 support for many of them.
Do i need a special HDMI cable?
Yes, from your source to the Arcana and from the Arcana to the display you will need cables that can fully support transfer of 18Gbps/600MHz as long as your equipment is capable of sending such bandwidth.
We recommend HDfury With a min length of 6ft(2m) and max length of 12ft(4m) in copper. If you need longer cables, you should consider active or fiber cables. We recommend the 4K120 from Zeskit and Kabeldirekt on Amazon.
From Arcana to SONOS Arc, the HDMI cable only needs to support ARC/eARC, such as the HDMI cable that is already supplied with SONOS Arc.
How does Volume control by TV or source remote works?
Currently with Arcana, your display will be able to see and control the source connected to the Arcana input.
We also added CEC volume control from the TV or source to SONOS Arc or your AVR/eARC sound system.
Please note that the SONOS Arc has IR learning capabilities so you can also program it to recognize any remote including your TV or source remote for volume control.
Click here to visit SONOS page about IR learning
My TV is ARC, can this device makes it eARC?
If your TV has ARC input, it cannot be converted to eARC short of buying new TV. The capabilities that your TV has over the ARC connection (5.1 or Atmos/DD+ for LG TV’s and some others) will remain unless the manufacturer decides to update it via firmware.
To overcome the limitation (or if there is no ARC connection such as in a projector or monitor) people are running theirs apps from external HDMI sources from which they can get FULL AUDIO up to Atmos over TrueHD.
Arcana takes ANY HDMI output from ANY HDMI device and passes the HDMI signal to TV and whatever sound format supported by the eARC device (typically SONOS Arc or ANY eARC AVR), including Atmos over TrueHD.
For example: External HDMI source > Arcana > one output to TV/projector/monitor and one output to SONOS Arc.
Arcana allows for the transfer of FULL AUDIO including Atmos over True HD from any source, It does not alter anything on your TV. The ARC port of your TV does not gain any additional functionality.
Arcana converts any HDMI Video/Audio output from any device (source, switcher, splitter, matrix and any of our devices) into a suitable HDMI eARC port where SONOS Arc can receive FULL AUDIO including Atmos over TrueHD as well as an other format that your TV may not support.
Can Arcana solves lip sync issue from eARC TV to SONOS ARC?
Yes! There is one thing people tend to forget, so far there is absolutely no TV that we know of that will modify its own internal EDID based on what CDS it can read from the connected eARC RX. It simply downmixes or re-encodes (with delay) the incoming audio according to what eARC RX can handle. This is why when connected to an eARC TV, the SONOS Arc can have serious lip sync issues. All that will be fixed with Arcana.