HDA-929 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the HDA-929?

The OREI HDA-929 is a 4K HDMI eARC audio extractor that separates the audio signal from an HDMI source (such as a Blu-ray player, streaming device, gaming console, or PC) and routes it to a soundbar or AV receiver, while simultaneously passing the full 4K video signal to the connected display.

Unlike a basic HDMI splitter, the HDA-929 is purpose-built for audio extraction — it outputs audio via a dedicated eARC/ARC HDMI port to soundbars that support eARC, and also provides a second HDMI audio-only output for legacy AV receivers that have HDMI inputs but lack ARC or eARC. It can also work in reverse: extracting audio from a TV's eARC/ARC port and routing it to any downstream audio device.

HDA-929 vs HDA-927 — Key Difference

The HDA-927 extracts audio from an HDMI source or a TV's ARC/eARC port and outputs via HDMI to an AVR — but it does NOT support eARC soundbars (Sonos Arc, Bose 700/900).

The HDA-929 adds a dedicated eARC/ARC output port (labelled SOUND BAR) specifically designed for eARC-capable soundbars like Sonos Arc and Bose 700/900.

If your soundbar has an eARC/ARC HDMI input (not just optical or 3.5mm), use the HDA-929. If your soundbar only has optical or analogue inputs, see the HDA-927 or HDA-912.

Product at a Glance

Technical Specifications

Specification	Value
HDMI Version	HDMI 2.0b
HDCP Compliance	HDCP 2.3
Video Bandwidth	18Gbps
Max Video Resolution	4K@60Hz — 24-bit RGB / YCbCr 4:4:4
Color Depth	8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit
Color Space	RGB, YCbCr 4:4:4, YCbCr 4:2:2, YCbCr 4:2:0
HDR Support	HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Audio Formats	LPCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-EX, DTS-96/24, DTS High Res, DTS-HD Master Audio, DSD
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes — via Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus (Atmos object metadata)
Power Supply	5V / 1A — 100–240V universal adapter (included)
Design	Compact, rack-friendly form factor
Package Contents	HDA-929 unit, 5V/1A power adapter, user manual
Warranty	1 year — full OREI support

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / Control	Location	Function
HDMI IN (SOURCE)	Rear panel	Accepts HDMI signal from source device (Blu-ray, PC, game console, streaming stick)
HDMI OUT 1 (SOUND BAR / eARC)	Rear panel	eARC/ARC output — connects to soundbar's ARC/eARC HDMI port (Sonos Arc, Bose 700/900, Samsung HW-series)
HDMI OUT 2 (AUDIO ONLY / TV)	Rear panel	Audio-only HDMI output for legacy AVRs — also doubles as the TV connection port when used in ARC/eARC extraction mode
SERVICE (USB)	Front panel	Firmware update port
POWER LED (red)	Front panel	Lit when unit is powered on
HDMI IN LED (green)	Front panel	Lit when a valid HDMI source signal is detected on the input
ARC/eARC LED (green)	Front panel	Lit when ARC or eARC handshake is established
DC 5V	Rear panel	Power input — use only the supplied 5V/1A adapter

How the HDA-929 Works — Two Operating Modes

Mode 1 — Source Audio Extraction (TV Without ARC)

In this mode, the HDA-929 sits between an HDMI source (e.g. a Blu-ray player, Apple TV, PS5) and the TV. It passes 4K video through to the TV while simultaneously extracting the audio and routing it to the soundbar or AVR.

Connect your HDMI source (Apple TV, PS5, Blu-ray) to the HDMI IN port on the rear of the HDA-929.
Connect the HDA-929 HDMI OUT 2 (labelled 'TV') to any standard HDMI input on your TV.
Connect the HDA-929 HDMI OUT 1 (labelled 'SOUND BAR') to the eARC or ARC HDMI port on your soundbar.
Connect the 5V power adapter to the DC 5V port on the HDA-929. The red POWER LED will illuminate.
Power on all devices. Confirm the green HDMI IN LED and ARC/eARC LED illuminate on the HDA-929 front panel.
Set your TV's audio output to the correct HDMI input (the one connected to HDA-929 OUT 2) — your TV is receiving video only in this mode.
Enable eARC or ARC on your soundbar if prompted. Atmos content should now play through the soundbar.

Mode 1 Tip

In Mode 1, the TV connection is via HDMI OUT 2 (labelled 'TV' on the rear panel). The audio goes to the soundbar via OUT 1 (labelled 'SOUND BAR'). The TV does not need to support ARC or eARC in this mode.

Mode 2 — TV eARC/ARC Extraction (Legacy AVR Without ARC)

In this mode, the HDA-929 connects to the TV's eARC/ARC HDMI port and extracts the audio return signal, routing it to an AVR or amplifier that has an HDMI input but does not support ARC or eARC. This allows older AVRs to receive TV streaming audio (Netflix, Disney+, TV app audio) in full fidelity.

Connect the TV's eARC/ARC-labelled HDMI port to the HDA-929 HDMI OUT 2 (labelled 'TV' on the rear panel).
Connect the HDA-929 HDMI OUT 1 (labelled 'SOUND BAR') to the HDMI input on the legacy AVR.
Connect the 5V power adapter. The POWER LED illuminates.
In your TV's audio settings, enable ARC or eARC and set digital audio output to Bitstream (not PCM).
Power cycle: turn off TV and AVR, then power on AVR first, then TV. The ARC/eARC LED on the HDA-929 should illuminate.
Select a streaming source on the TV — audio should now play through the AVR

Mode 2 Tip

In Mode 2, you are using the HDA-929 in reverse — the TV is the source, and the AVR is the destination. This is specifically for AVRs that have HDMI inputs but cannot receive ARC/eARC natively.

Enable ARC/eARC in TV settings (see the eARC troubleshooting article for brand-specific steps). The ARC/eARC LED on the HDA-929 front panel will illuminate when the handshake is established.

Use Cases — When to Choose the HDA-929

🎵 Sonos Arc / Bose 700 / Bose 900 — No Direct HDMI Source Input

Situation: Soundbars like Sonos Arc and Bose 700/900 only accept audio via their eARC/ARC HDMI port — they have no standard HDMI video input. If you want to send audio from a Blu-ray player, Apple TV, or gaming console directly to the soundbar without relying on the TV's eARC passthrough, the HDA-929 acts as the bridge.

How HDA-929 helps: Connects between the HDMI source and the TV; extracts audio from the HDMI stream and sends it to the soundbar's ARC/eARC port. Full Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio is preserved.

Used with: Sonos Arc, Bose 500, Bose 700, Bose 900, Samsung HW-Q990C, LG SN11RG

🎮 Gaming Consoles (PS5 / Xbox Series X) — Dolby Atmos to Soundbar

Situation: PS5 and Xbox Series X output Dolby Atmos over HDMI. Many soundbars can only receive Atmos via their eARC port — not a generic HDMI input. If your TV does not reliably pass Atmos through eARC, the HDA-929 can sit between the console and the soundbar directly.

How HDA-929 helps: Place HDA-929 between the gaming console and the TV. Audio (including Dolby Atmos) is extracted and sent directly to the soundbar's eARC port. Video at 4K@60Hz with HDR10+ is passed through to the TV unchanged.

Used with: PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch (docked), PC with RTX 4060+ GPU

📺 Apple TV 4K — 4K@60Hz + Dolby Atmos at Correct Resolution

Situation: Apple TV 4K limits its output to 1080p when connected through certain HDMI audio extractors that do not support 18Gbps bandwidth. The HDA-929's 18Gbps 4:4:4 support allows Apple TV 4K to maintain 4K@60Hz output while extracting Dolby Atmos audio to the soundbar.

How HDA-929 helps: Connect Apple TV 4K to HDA-929 HDMI IN. Set Apple TV to match display frame rate and 4K SDR or HDR. Audio extracted to soundbar via OUT 1. Confirmed working at 4K@60Hz when source is set correctly.

Used with: Apple TV 4K (2nd gen, 3rd gen), Sonos Arc, LG soundbars with eARC

📻 Legacy AV Receivers — Receive TV Streaming Audio

Situation: Older Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, and Marantz receivers have HDMI inputs but lack ARC or eARC capability. When the TV streams Netflix or Disney+, audio cannot return to these receivers. The HDA-929 extracts the TV's eARC audio return and delivers it as a standard HDMI signal to the AVR.

How HDA-929 helps: Connect TV ARC/eARC port to HDA-929 OUT 2 (TV). Connect HDA-929 OUT 1 (SOUND BAR) to the legacy AVR HDMI input. The AVR receives up to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio from streaming apps.

Used with: Denon AVR-X2400H, Yamaha RX-V series, Onkyo TX-NR series, Marantz SR5009, Marantz SR5015

💻 PC / GPU Audio to Soundbar (Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre)

Situation: Modern NVIDIA and AMD GPUs output Dolby Atmos via HDMI. PCs lack a dedicated eARC output port, so soundbars cannot receive Atmos directly. The HDA-929 bridges the GPU's HDMI output to the soundbar's eARC input while sending video to the monitor.

How HDA-929 helps: Connect GPU HDMI output to HDA-929 HDMI IN. OUT 2 to monitor. OUT 1 to soundbar eARC port. Enable 'Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre' in Windows Sound settings and select the HDA-929 as the output device.

Used with: NVIDIA RTX 3000/4000 series, AMD RX 6000/7000 series, Windows 10/11, Dolby Access app

🎬 Home Theatre — Projector + Soundbar (No ARC on Projector)

Situation: Projectors typically do not have ARC/eARC ports. Audio from a Blu-ray player or Apple TV cannot return from the projector to the soundbar via ARC. The HDA-929 extracts audio at the source — before the signal reaches the projector — and sends it directly to the soundbar.

How HDA-929 helps: Source (Blu-ray / Apple TV) → HDA-929 HDMI IN. HDA-929 OUT 2 → Projector HDMI input. HDA-929 OUT 1 → Soundbar eARC port. Audio and video operate independently.

Used with: Any projector with HDMI input, Sonos Arc, Bose soundbars, eARC-capable soundbars

Compatibility

Source Device Compatibility

Source Device	Compatibility Notes
Apple TV 4K (2nd/3rd gen)	Set Apple TV to match frame rate and 4K output. If displaying 1080p only, lower Apple TV output to 4K SDR first, then re-enable HDR. Confirmed working at 4K@60Hz.
PS5	Set PS5 HDMI output to 4K@60Hz. Enable Dolby Atmos in PS5 Audio settings. Confirmed working.
Xbox Series X	Enable Dolby Atmos under Xbox Settings > General > Volume & Audio Output. Confirmed working at 4K@60Hz.
PC (NVIDIA RTX / AMD RX)	Use Display Port to HDMI adapter or direct HDMI if GPU has HDMI 2.0 port. Enable Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre in Windows. Confirmed working.
Blu-ray Players	All Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA Blu-ray sources confirmed working at full resolution.
NVIDIA Shield Pro	Reported compatibility issue on some firmware versions — update Shield firmware to latest before use.
Amazon Fire TV Cube	Confirmed working. Set Fire TV audio to Dolby Atmos passthrough in Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio.
Roku (streaming stick)	Confirmed working in Mode 1. ARC output from Roku TV confirmed working in Mode 2.
Streaming sticks (general)	Compatible. Ensure stick supports HDCP 2.2 or 2.3 — older sticks may fall back to 1080p.

LED Status Reference

POWER LED (red) — On: unit is powered. Off: check DC adapter and power outlet.

HDMI IN LED (green) — On: valid HDMI source signal detected. Off: check source device and HDMI cable.

ARC/eARC LED (green) — On: ARC or eARC handshake established. Off: ARC not enabled on TV or soundbar, or wrong HDMI port.

All LEDs on but no audio: check TV audio output format is set to Bitstream, not PCM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the HDA-929 actually do?

A: The HDA-929 takes an HDMI signal from a source device (Blu-ray player, streaming stick, gaming console, PC) and splits it into two outputs: 4K video to a TV or display, and audio to a soundbar or AV receiver. It also works in reverse — extracting audio from a TV's eARC/ARC port and routing it to a legacy AVR. This allows full Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and high-resolution audio formats to reach soundbars and receivers that cannot receive audio directly via HDMI.

Q: What is the HDMI OUT 2 (Audio Only) port used for?

A: HDMI OUT 2 serves two purposes depending on which mode you use. In Mode 1 (source extraction), OUT 2 is connected to the TV to deliver the 4K video signal — it is labelled 'TV' on the rear panel. In Mode 2 (ARC/eARC extraction), OUT 2 is connected to the TV's ARC/eARC port to receive the audio return signal from the TV. The label 'Audio Only' refers to the audio-only signal it passes to a connected legacy AVR via OUT 1 when used in conjunction with TV audio return.

Q: Can I use the HDA-929 with my Sonos Arc soundbar?

A: Yes — the HDA-929 is specifically designed for eARC soundbars like Sonos Arc. Connect the HDA-929 HDMI OUT 1 (SOUND BAR) to the Sonos Arc's HDMI eARC port. Note: Sonos Arc requires true eARC — it cannot receive Dolby Atmos via standard ARC. Confirm your TV's HDMI port supports eARC (not just ARC) and that eARC is enabled in the TV's audio settings. If Sonos still shows PCM after following the setup steps, the TV may be outputting ARC rather than eARC — check the TV spec sheet.

Q: Does the HDA-929 work with a Bose 900 soundbar?

A: Yes. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 has an eARC HDMI input and is compatible with the HDA-929. Connect HDA-929 HDMI OUT 1 to the Bose 900's HDMI port. Ensure eARC is enabled in your TV settings and that the source device is outputting Dolby Atmos in Bitstream format.

Q: My Apple TV only works at 1080p when connected through the HDA-929 — how do I fix this?

A: This is one of the most common HDA-929 support issues. First, confirm you are using a Premium High Speed HDMI cable (18Gbps rated) between the Apple TV and the HDA-929. Then in Apple TV Settings > Video and Audio, temporarily lower the format to 1080p SDR, confirm the HDA-929 ARC/eARC LED is on, then gradually increase back to 4K HDR. The HDA-929 fully supports 4K@60Hz 4:4:4 — the 1080p limitation is caused by incompatible or non-rated HDMI cables, not the unit itself.

Q: HDA-929 vs BK-929 — which should I choose for Dolby Atmos and HDMI 2.1?

A: If your source devices output 4K@60Hz (PS5, Xbox Series X, Apple TV, most Blu-ray), the HDA-929 covers all use cases at this resolution. If you need 4K@120Hz (PS5 120Hz gaming mode, Xbox Series X 120Hz), or 8K support, or want a 3.5mm headphone/analogue output in addition to HDMI, choose the BK-929 or BK-931 instead. The HDA-929 is HDMI 2.0b (18Gbps); the BK-929 and BK-931 are HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps).

Q: Will the HDA-929 work with a projector that has no ARC port?

A: Yes — use the HDA-929 in Mode 1. Connect your source to HDMI IN, connect HDA-929 OUT 2 to the projector HDMI input, and connect HDA-929 OUT 1 to the soundbar's eARC/ARC port. Audio is extracted before the signal reaches the projector, so the projector does not need ARC/eARC. This is the recommended setup for home theatre projector installations with a separate soundbar.

Q: Can I update the firmware on the HDA-929?

A: Yes. Download the latest HDA-929 firmware from support.orei.com. Copy only the .bin firmware file (not a zipped version) to the root of a FAT32-formatted USB drive. Insert the drive into the SERVICE port on the front panel of the HDA-929. The unit will detect the file automatically and update. The update process is indicated by the front panel LEDs — do not remove the USB drive or disconnect power during the update. Always confirm the firmware filename includes 'HDA-929' to avoid installing firmware from a different model.

Q: Does the HDA-929 support CEC / volume control?

A: Yes. The HDA-929 passes CEC commands through the connection chain. This allows TV remote volume control to operate the connected soundbar via CEC (Anynet+ on Samsung, Simplink on LG, BRAVIA Sync on Sony). Ensure CEC is enabled on both the TV and the soundbar. If volume control is not responding, power cycle all devices and confirm CEC is enabled in both the TV and soundbar settings menus.