Have you been hearing a lot about the HDMI ARC soundbars, but you don’t know what they are?
This article brings you all of the answers!
Whether you already know what these soundbars are all about, or if you are just hearing about them for the first time this article can come in handy. Aside from the general information on the HDMI ARC soundbars, we also gathered the top 5 models and made full reviews on each one. If you are interested to learn more, just keep on reading.
Things To Know About HDMI ARC Soundbars
What Is A HDMI ARC Soundbar?
HDMI ARC is an abbreviation for the “High Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel”. With it, you will get the upstream as well as downstream signals through a single HDMI cable between your TV and any other ARC-equipped A/V device. It is a way a very common feature included with soundbars.
How to connect the soundbar to HDMI ARC?
When you are connecting HDMI ARC to your TV you will first have to connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI output, which is found at the back of your soundbar. Then connect the other side of this cable to the ARC HDMI input which is found on your TV. Turn on the soundbar, your TV and any other external device connected to them. You can also connect soundbar without HDMI ARC to your TV through optical audio inputs.
How Much Do HDMI ARC Soundbars Cost?
Since there are many soundbars with the ARC HDMI feature on the market, they aren’t more expensive than the ones without it. Usually, the price will vary between a few hundred dollars. The place we recommend you to check out for some best deals on the Amazon website.
Best 5 ARC HDMI Soundbar Reviews
Best Tv Soundbar HDMI ARC
Yamaha YAS-207BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
DTS Virtual: X Technology
The first best soundbar HDMI ARC we are mentioning in this article for you is the Yamaha YAS-207BL Sound Bar model. This one comes with the wireless subwoofer which offers you a deep, powerful bass as well as a more flexible placement. It is the world’s first soundbar that ever came with the DTS Virtual: X Virtual 3D surround sound technology.
Design And Size
This soundbar is very slim which is perfect for smaller spaces. It comes with the overall measurements of 4.3 x 36.7 x 2.4 inches and it weighs 6 pounds. It comes in a sleek black color which will perfectly complement your TV. The included subwoofer has the dimensions 7 1/8 x 17 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches.
Easy Control And Connectivity
With this soundbar, you also get a quite easy set up because it comes with the included optical cable and the HDR pass-through which you can use to connect the TV and the soundbar. There is an HDMI ARC output on this soundbar. There are three ways to operate this soundbar and they are through the included remote control, free app or the TV remote.
Bluetooth Made Better
Another benefit you will get with this Yamaha soundbar HDMI ARC is the Bluetooth technology. You can use it to stream music wirelessly from different compatible devices. Also, it has an enhanced feature of compressing music sources, so streaming music will sound better than ever.
- Bluetooth technology
- DTS Virtual: X Virtual 3D surround sound technology
- HDR pass-through included
- Optical cable included
- feature of compressing music sources
Best ARC Compatible Soundbar
Sony HT-S350 Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer
Clear And Powerful Sound
The second best, ARC soundbar we think is worth sharing is by the brand Sony. We are talking about their HT-S350 Soundbar that comes with 2.1 channels and is also equipped with the wireless subwoofer. It is also very powerful and has a total power output of 320 Watts. With the Vocal enhancement technology, all of the voices are much clearer and you can easily distinguish them from the background sounds.
Different Sound Modes
Together with this soundbar you also will get seven different sound modes. Depending on what you are currently using the soundbar for you can choose between the Cinema mode, Game Studio mode, Sports mode, News mode, Music mode, etc. Thanks to this mode you get the best out of every type of content.
S-Force PRO Front Surround
An additional feature that is included with this HDMI ARC soundbar is the S-Force PRO Front Surround technology. It is a virtual surround sound technology that will make you feel like the sound is coming all around you. It emulated the cinema surround sound, but without any additional rear speakers. It also uses the HDMI ARC one-cable connection to create that surround sound experience, so there is no extra clutter.
- S-Force PRO Front Surround technology
- the total power output of 320 Watts
- seven different sound modes
- Vocal enhancement technology
Best Small Soundbar With HDMI ARC
Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System
Powerful, Rich And Clear Audio
The next HDMI ARC with soundbar we want to review for you is the Bose Solo 5 TV soundbar. This is the easiest solution if you want that cinema-like sound right in your home. It uses some of the most advanced technologies which will produce not only powerful and rich but also very clear audio. Thanks to the additional Dialogue mode every single word and the smallest details will stand out.
Flexible Set-Up
This soundbar is great because you can position it in several different ways. That can either be on the shelf, tabletop or the wall. For the last option, you will need to get the additional wall mount. After you have placed it where you want it to be, you will have to use the audio cable to connect it with your TV. You can use the HDMI ARC connection if your TV is compatible or an optical cable provided in the box if it is not.
Universal Remote Control
The great thing about this Bose soundbar ARC is that you won’t have to have a separate remote control to use it. You can just use the universal remote for your TV, Blue-ray player, soundbar and any other device connected to your TV.
Size and design
The design of this soundbar is very modern, yet sleek at the same time. It comes in black color which is very universal and matches with most types of home decors. It won’t stand out too much or clutter up your space, which is another benefit.
- cinema-like sound
- HDMI ARC connection
- Controlled by a universal remote
- very modern but sleek design
Best Soundbar With HDMI ARC Input
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar
Soundbar With Most Advanced Technologies
Another one of the HDMI ARC soundbars we want to share with you is by Polk Audio. More specifically we are reviewing their Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound model. This is a premium, ultra-slim soundbar that comes equipped with the wireless subwoofer. It also has five very powerful full-range drivers included. It uses some of the most advanced technologies such as Polk’s exclusive voice adjust technology and the Dolby Digital Decoding technology. With these two the sound clarity is maximized and the voice delays are reduced.
Fits Most Places
Because this soundbar is only 2 inches tall, it has the option to fit almost anywhere. If you want to place it under your TV, you don’t have to worry about it blocking your view. Another way to place this soundbar is to mount it to the wall.
Upgrade Your Home Theater Experience
This soundbar is ideal for watching movies or TV shows on your 4K HD Smart TV. Not only will you get the exceptional picture quality, but you will also get a crystal-clear sound. You also will get numerous connection possibilities and you can plug in any audio sours via optical input, aux or HDMI ARC. Because all of the cables you will need are included in the package, the set up will last just a couple of minutes.
Wirelessly Stream Music
Thanks to the built-in Bluetooth technology you will get to wirelessly stream the music from all of your favorite streaming apps such as iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, etc. The connection of your smartphone or any other smart device couldn’t be faster and easier.
- built-in Bluetooth technology
- optical input, aux and HDMI ARC
- five very powerful full-range drivers included
- Dolby Digital Decoding technology
- Polk’s exclusive voice adjust technology
Best 2.0 Channel HDMI ARC Soundbar
JBL Bar Studio 2.0 Channel Soundbar
Home Theater Experience
The very last HDMI ARC soundbar reviewed in this article is the JBL Bar Studio 2.0 Channel soundbar. This is an all in one soundbar that comes with the built-in dual bass port. Thanks to the double bass ports you will get to turn your TV sound into real cinema sound. It will provide you with the stellar sound when watching your favorite TV series, movies and listening to music.
Bluetooth Streaming And Other Connections
Just like with all of the previously reviewed soundbars, this one also comes with Bluetooth features. Through Bluetooth, you can connect to different compatible external devices and stream your music or any other content directly from them. There is a single HDMI cable included to connect the TV and the soundbar.
Slim And Compact Design
The great thing about this soundbar is that it is quite small and compact. It fits into most tight places and can even be mounted onto your wall. The dimensions of this soundbar are 33.7 x 6 x 5.1 inches and it is super lightweight with only 3.1 pounds.
- HDMI ARC connection
- Built-in Bluetooth technology
- double bass ports
Conclusion: What Is The Best HDMI ARC Soundbar?
Out of these five models we had to chose only two as the best ones. It was a hard task since all of these soundbars we recommend, but the two we chose are the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar and the JBL Bar Studio 2.0 Channel Soundbar. The JBL model uses the HDMI ARC for wired connection but also can stream wirelessly via Bluetooth. The Polk Audio model also has built-in Bluetooth technology, as well as the optical input, aux, and the HDMI ARC. Both soundbars are very powerful and you will get that home theater experience with them.
If you would like to read a similar article on the HDMI soundbars check it out on the link and find out the difference between HDMI and HDMI ARC connection. All of the best Bluetooth soundbars are listed and fully reviewed in this article. If you want a general overview of the best soundbars and different categories, this is the article for you!