BK-4929 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the BK-4929?

The OREI BK-4929 is an 8K@60Hz 4-port HDMI switch with eARC audio extraction. It allows you to connect up to four HDMI media sources to one TV while also sending high-quality audio to an eARC soundbar or AVR through a dedicated Soundbar(eARC) output.

The BK-4929 is designed for modern home theater and gaming setups where users want to connect multiple devices such as a PS5, Xbox Series X, Apple TV, Blu-ray player, PC, cable box, or streaming device to one TV and one eARC soundbar.

Unlike some eARC switches where one HDMI input is used for the soundbar, the BK-4929 has a separate eARC output for the soundbar. This means all four HDMI inputs remain available for media source devices.

The BK-4929 supports HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3, with a video bandwidth of 48Gbps, and video resolutions up to 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz. It also supports advanced video and gaming features such as HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, VRR, ALLM, QMS, QFT, and SBTM.

IMPORTANT — BK-4929 Has 4 HDMI Inputs Plus a Separate eARC Soundbar Output

The BK-4929 has four HDMI inputs for media sources and a separate Soundbar(eARC) output.

This means you can connect four HDMI devices at the same time without using one of those inputs for the soundbar.

For example:

HDMI Input 1: PS5
HDMI Input 2: Xbox Series X
HDMI Input 3: Apple TV / Fire TV / Roku
HDMI Input 4: Blu-ray player / PC / cable box
TV(eARC): Connect to TV
Soundbar(eARC): Connect to eARC soundbar or AVR

This makes the BK-4929 different from models where the soundbar takes up one of the HDMI input ports (example: BK-401ARC).

IMPORTANT — BK-4929 Can Extract Audio Directly from Media Sources

The BK-4929 can send audio directly from the selected HDMI media source to the connected eARC soundbar.

This means your soundbar can receive audio from the connected HDMI sources even if your TV does not support ARC or eARC.

For example, if you connect a PS5, Xbox, Apple TV, or Blu-ray player to the BK-4929, the unit can send video to the TV and audio directly to the eARC soundbar through the Soundbar(eARC) output.

This is useful for customers who have an eARC soundbar but an older TV that does not support eARC or ARC.

IMPORTANT — BK-4929 Can Also Extract Audio from an ARC/eARC TV

If your TV supports ARC or eARC, the BK-4929 can also receive audio from the TV through the TV (eARC) port and send it to the connected soundbar.

This allows audio from TV internal apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, or Hulu to play through the eARC soundbar.

To use this setup, connect the BK-4929’s TV (eARC) port to the ARC/eARC HDMI port on your TV, connect the soundbar to the Soundbar(eARC) port, and enable ARC/eARC in the TV settings.

IMPORTANT — BK-4929 Does Not Convert ARC TV to eARC

The BK-4929 does not upgrade or convert an ARC-only TV into eARC.

If your TV only supports ARC, the audio returned from the TV will still be limited by ARC bandwidth and ARC-supported formats.

For Dolby Atmos or other high-bandwidth audio formats through an eARC soundbar, it is recommended to connect external media sources directly to the BK-4929 and allow the BK-4929 to send audio directly from the source to the soundbar.

For example, connect your Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Blu-ray player, PS5, or Xbox directly to the BK-4929 instead of relying on the TV’s ARC audio return.

IMPORTANT — BK-4929 Does Not Have Optical, RCA, or 3.5mm Audio Outputs

The BK-4929 is designed for HDMI eARC audio systems only.

It does not have:

Optical output
Coaxial output
RCA output
3.5mm audio output

If your audio system only supports Optical, RCA, or 3.5mm input, this is not the correct product. The BK-4929 is intended for eARC soundbars or eARC-compatible AVRs.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
IR Window	Front panel	Receives signals from the included IR remote
Power LED	Front panel	Green LED turns on when the device is powered
IN 1/2/3/4 LEDs	Front panel	Shows which HDMI input is selected
OUT LED	Front panel	Lights up when the HDMI TV output is connected to a display
AUTO LED	Front panel	Lights up when auto switching is enabled
eARC LED	Front panel	Shows ARC/eARC status: on, flashing, or off
eARC Button	Front panel	Enables or disables the eARC/ARC function
Switch Button	Front panel	Short press switches input source; long press enables/disables auto switching
HDMI IN 1/2/3/4	Rear panel	Connect HDMI source devices such as game consoles, streaming devices, Blu-ray players, PCs, or cable boxes
TV(eARC)	Rear panel	HDMI output to TV. Connect to the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port when using TV ARC/eARC audio
Soundbar(eARC)	Rear panel	Connect to an eARC/ARC soundbar or AVR
Service	Rear panel	USB-C firmware update port
DC 5V	Rear panel	Connect the included 5V power adapter

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect your HDMI source devices to HDMI IN 1, IN 2, IN 3, and IN 4 on the BK-4929.
Connect the TV (eARC) port on the BK-4929 to your TV using an HDMI cable.
If your TV supports ARC/eARC and you want TV app audio, connect the HDMI cable to the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port.
Connect your eARC soundbar or AVR to the Soundbar(eARC) port on the BK-4929.
Connect the included power adapter to the BK-4929 and plug it into power.
Turn on the TV, soundbar, and connected HDMI source devices.
Press the eARC button to enable ARC/eARC if you want to use TV’s internal apps for audio.
Use the front-panel Switch button or the included IR remote to select the HDMI source.
Enable ARC/eARC in your TV settings if you want to hear audio from TV internal apps.
Confirm video appears on the TV and audio plays through the connected eARC soundbar.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

For 8K@60Hz, 8K@30Hz, or 4K@120Hz, use Ultra High-Speed HDMI 2.1 cables.

We recommend HDMI 2.1 cables under 15 ft for the best 8K performance. For 4K60, shorter Premium High Speed HDMI cables are recommended for stable performance.

Understanding the eARC Button and eARC LED

The eARC button enables or disables the ARC/eARC function.

The eARC LED shows the current ARC/eARC status:

eARC LED Status	Meaning
On	ARC/eARC is enabled and communication is working properly
Flashing	ARC/eARC is enabled but communication is not working properly
Off	ARC/eARC is disabled

If the eARC LED is flashing, check that the HDMI cable is connected to the correct ARC/eARC HDMI port on the TV, ARC/eARC is enabled in the TV settings, and the soundbar is connected to the Soundbar(eARC) port.

Understanding Auto and Manual Switching

The BK-4929 supports both manual and automatic HDMI input switching.

In manual mode, you can select HDMI IN 1, IN 2, IN 3, or IN 4 using the front-panel Switch button or the included IR remote.

In auto switching mode, the unit can automatically switch to an active input when a source device is connected or powered on.

Press and hold the Switch button for about 3 seconds to enable or disable auto switching.

What Soundbars or AVRs Is the BK-4929 Compatible With?

The BK-4929 is designed for eARC/ARC soundbars and AVRs that connect through HDMI ARC/eARC.

It is commonly used with eARC soundbars such as Sonos Arc, Sonos Beam, Bose Smart Soundbar models, Samsung Q-series soundbars, LG soundbars, Sony soundbars, and other HDMI ARC/eARC audio systems.

The soundbar or AVR should be connected to the Soundbar(eARC) port.

The BK-4929 does not connect to soundbars or speakers using Optical, RCA, Coaxial, Bluetooth, or 3.5mm audio.

What Source Devices Is the BK-4929 Compatible With?

The OREI BK-4929 is compatible with HDMI source devices such as:

PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Apple TV
Roku
Fire TV
NVIDIA Shield
Blu-ray players
UHD Blu-ray players
Cable boxes
Satellite boxes
Gaming PCs
Laptops with HDMI output
Media players

For 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz, the source device, HDMI cable, and TV must all support the required HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI BK-4929 used for?
A: The BK-4929 is used as a 4x1 HDMI switch and eARC audio extractor. It lets you connect up to four HDMI sources to one TV while sending audio to an eARC soundbar or AVR.

Q: How is the BK-4929 different from BK-401ARC?
A: The BK-4929 has four dedicated HDMI inputs plus a separate Soundbar(eARC) output. On models like the BK-401ARC, one input may be used for the eARC soundbar, reducing the number of available media source inputs.

Q: Can I connect four media devices and a soundbar at the same time?
A: Yes. The BK-4929 has four HDMI inputs for media devices and a separate Soundbar(eARC) output for the soundbar.

Q: Can the BK-4929 send audio to my eARC soundbar if my TV does not support ARC or eARC?
A: Yes. The BK-4929 can extract audio directly from the connected HDMI media sources and send it to the eARC soundbar, even if the TV does not support ARC/eARC.

Q: Can the BK-4929 get audio from my TV’s built-in apps?
A: Yes, if your TV supports ARC/eARC and the BK-4929 is connected to the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port. This allows TV app audio from apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, or Prime Video to play through the connected soundbar.

Q: Does the BK-4929 convert ARC to eARC?
A: No. The BK-4929 does not upgrade an ARC-only TV to eARC. If your TV only supports ARC, the TV audio return will still be limited to ARC-supported audio formats.

Q: How do I get Dolby Atmos if my TV only supports ARC?
A: Use an external media source connected directly to the BK-4929, such as Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Blu-ray player, PS5, or Xbox. The BK-4929 can send audio directly from the media source to the eARC soundbar instead of relying on the TV’s ARC audio return.

Q: Does the BK-4929 have Optical or 3.5mm output?
A: No. The BK-4929 does not have Optical, RCA, Coaxial, or 3.5mm audio outputs. It is designed for HDMI eARC soundbars and AVRs only.

Q: Does the BK-4929 support 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz?
A: Yes. It supports up to 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz with HDMI 2.1 and 48Gbps bandwidth, depending on the source, TV, and HDMI cables.

Q: Can I use the TV remote to control the soundbar volume?
A: Yes, if the TV and Soundbar both support CEC and it is enabled in the settings.

Q: Why is the eARC LED flashing?
A: A flashing eARC LED means ARC/eARC is enabled, but communication is not working properly. Check the TV’s ARC/eARC settings, confirm the TV is connected to the correct ARC/eARC HDMI port, and make sure the soundbar is connected to the Soundbar(eARC) port.