So you’ve got a home theater setup and you’re looking for something that allows you to get the best audiovisual experience possible. You might be running into some problems where your TV or Projector might give you the best video but it doesn’t support that Dolby Audio, so even though you have a sound system with Dolby support it doesn't work. To bypass the TV’s audio capabilities completely, to connect an older sound system to a new TV, to connect a newer sound system to an older TV, to connect multiple audio systems together, and for other such things, you probably need an Audio Extractor or Converter. If you’ve done your research and figured that much out already, you now might be thinking which exact model should you get.

Choosing the right audio extractor or converter depends on your display (TV, Projector, Monitor), your audio device, and how you are watching content. The most common mistake is choosing an audio extractor based only on the TV port, without checking what type of input the soundbar, receiver, speakers, or headphones actually support.

This guide will help you choose the right OREI audio extractor based on your setup.

Before You Choose an Audio Extractor or Converter

Before selecting a product, check three things:

1. Does your TV have HDMI ARC/eARC or maybe an Optical or Coaxial output?
2. What audio input does your soundbar, receiver, speakers, or headphones have?
3. Are you using TV apps or external media sources?

These three details will determine which product is compatible with your setup.

Step 1: Check Your TV Audio Port

Look at the ports on your TV.

Your TV may have one of the following:

• HDMI eARC
• HDMI ARC
• HDMI (no mention of ARC/eARC)
• Digital Optical (also known as S/PDIF or TOSLINK)
• Coaxial
• 3.5mm L/R (mostly found on older TVs)

What is ARC?

ARC stands for Audio Return Channel. It allows audio from the TV to travel back through the HDMI ARC port to a compatible soundbar, receiver, or audio extractor.

ARC is commonly used when you want audio from TV apps like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, or from the media sources connected directly to the TV’s other HDMI ports.

What is eARC?

eARC stands for Enhanced Audio Return Channel. It is a newer version of ARC and can support higher-bandwidth audio formats when both the TV and audio device support eARC.

If your TV has eARC but your soundbar only supports ARC, the soundbar will still be limited by its own ARC capability. An audio extractor cannot upgrade an ARC-only soundbar into a full eARC soundbar.

Step 2: Check the Audio Input on Your Soundbar, Receiver, Speakers, or Headphones

Next, check what type of input your audio device has.

Your audio device may have:

• HDMI ARC
• HDMI eARC
• Standard HDMI input with no ARC/eARC
• Optical / Toslink / SPDIF
• Coaxial
• RCA red/white
• 3.5mm AUX

This is very important because not all HDMI ports work the same way.

A soundbar or receiver with HDMI ARC/eARC is designed to receive TV audio from the TV’s ARC/eARC port.

A receiver with a regular HDMI IN port may only accept audio from an HDMI source device, such as a Blu-ray player, cable box, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or game console. A standard HDMI input does not mean the receiver can receive TV ARC/eARC audio.

Step 3: Check Whether You Are Using TV Apps or External Media Sources

The source of your content also matters.

You may be using:

• No external media source — using TV apps only
• One external media source — Fire Stick, Apple TV, Roku, cable box, Blu-ray player, game console, etc.
• Multiple external media sources — multiple HDMI devices that need to connect to the TV or audio system

If you are using TV apps, the audio usually comes from the TV itself. In this case, ARC/eARC support on the TV becomes very important.

If you are using an external HDMI media source, the audio extractor can often be placed between the media source and the TV/display.

Important Notes Before Buying

You May Not Need an Audio Extractor

If your TV has HDMI ARC or eARC and your soundbar or receiver also has HDMI ARC or eARC, you may not need an audio extractor.

You can just connect the soundbar or receiver directly to the TV’s ARC/eARC port using an HDMI cable.

Example:

TV: HDMI eARC 
Soundbar: HDMI eARC 
Recommended setup: Connect the soundbar directly to the TV’s eARC port.

Example:

TV: HDMI ARC 
Soundbar: HDMI ARC 
Recommended setup: Connect the soundbar directly to the TV’s ARC port.

An Audio Extractor Will Not Upgrade Your Soundbar or TV

An audio extractor cannot make a soundbar or TV support audio formats that the soundbar or TV itself does not support.

For example:

If your TV has eARC but your soundbar only supports ARC, an audio extractor will not make the soundbar support full eARC features like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.

If your TV does not support Dolby Atmos output through its ARC port, an audio extractor will not add Dolby Atmos capability to the TV.

The final audio format depends on the source device, TV, extractor, and audio device all supporting that format.

Standard HDMI Is Not the Same as HDMI ARC/eARC

Some receivers and soundbars have HDMI ports that are only standard HDMI inputs.

If the port does not say ARC or eARC, it may not be able to receive TV audio from the TV’s ARC/eARC port.

In that case, you may need to use an extractor based on the source device, or you may need a different product depending on your setup.

Recommended Setups

Scenario 1: TV Has eARC and Soundbar/Receiver Has eARC

Setup:

• TV has HDMI eARC
• Soundbar or receiver has HDMI eARC
• You are using TV apps or external media devices connected to the TV

Recommended solution:

You usually do not need an audio extractor. Connect the soundbar or receiver directly to the TV’s HDMI eARC port.

Why this works:

Both devices support eARC, so the TV can send audio directly to the soundbar or receiver.

Important note:

Make sure eARC is enabled in your TV audio settings. You may also need to set the TV audio output to HDMI ARC/eARC.

Scenario 2: TV Has eARC and Soundbar/Receiver Has HDMI ARC Only

Setup:

• TV has HDMI eARC
• Soundbar or receiver has HDMI ARC
• You want to send TV audio to the soundbar or receiver

Recommended solution:

You usually do not need an audio extractor. Connect the soundbar or receiver directly to the TV’s HDMI eARC/ARC port.

Why this works:

Most eARC TVs are backward compatible with ARC devices. The connection should work as an ARC connection.

Important note:

The soundbar or receiver will still be limited to ARC capability. An audio extractor will not make an ARC-only soundbar support full eARC audio features.

Scenario 3: TV Has ARC and Soundbar/Receiver Has HDMI ARC

Setup:

• TV has HDMI ARC
• Soundbar or receiver has HDMI ARC
• You want audio from TV apps or devices connected to the TV

Recommended solution:

You usually do not need an audio extractor. Connect the soundbar or receiver directly to the TV’s HDMI ARC port.

Why this works:

Both devices support ARC, so TV audio can return to the soundbar or receiver using the HDMI ARC connection.

Important note:

Make sure the HDMI cable is connected to the ARC-labeled HDMI port on both the TV and the soundbar/receiver.

Scenario 4: TV Has ARC and Audio Device Has Optical or Coaxial Input

Setup:

• TV has HDMI ARC
• Audio device has optical or coaxial input
• You want audio from TV apps or devices connected to the TV

Recommended product:

DA41 
https://www.orei.com/products/hdmi-earc-arc-to-digital-audio-converter-dts-5-1-da41

Why this works:

The DA41 is designed for setups where the TV sends audio through HDMI ARC, and the audio needs to be output to an optical or coaxial audio device.

Use this when:

• Your TV has HDMI ARC
• Your receiver, soundbar, or speaker system has optical or coaxial input
• You are mainly using TV apps or devices connected to the TV

Important note:

This type of setup is for extracting ARC audio from the TV. It does not convert an optical receiver into an HDMI ARC/eARC soundbar. Also, the audio format from your TV's settings should be set to Dolby Digital or PCM, based on what your audio device supports. In any case, an Optical or Coaxial based audio device will not support Dolby Digital Plus, Atmos or DTS:X.

Scenario 5: TV Has eARC and Audio Device Has Optical or Coaxial Input

Setup:

• TV has HDMI eARC
• Audio device has optical or coaxial input
• You want to send TV audio to an older receiver, soundbar, or speaker system

Recommended product:

DA41 
https://www.orei.com/products/hdmi-earc-arc-to-digital-audio-converter-dts-5-1-da41

Why this works:

This setup requires a product that can receive ARC/eARC audio from the TV and output audio through optical or coaxial.

Important note:

Optical and coaxial audio have format limitations. It does not convert an optical receiver into an HDMI ARC/eARC soundbar. Also, the audio format from your TV's settings should be set to Dolby Digital or PCM, based on what your audio device supports. In any case, an Optical or Coaxial based audio device will not support Dolby Digital Plus, Atmos or DTS:X.

Scenario 6: TV Has ARC/eARC and Audio Device Has RCA Inputs

Setup:

• TV has HDMI ARC or eARC
• Audio device has RCA red/white inputs
• You want to connect the TV to older speakers, stereo receiver, or amplifier

Recommended product:

DA25 
https://www.orei.com/products/hdmi-earc-arc-to-rca-l-r-analog-audio-converter-with-3-5mm-jack-support-da25

DA26 
https://www.orei.com/products/orei-hdmi-arc-audio-down-mixer-with-dolby-5-1-da26

Why this works:

This setup requires a product that can receive TV ARC/eARC audio and convert it to analog RCA audio.

Use this when:

• Your speaker system has red/white RCA inputs
• You are using TV apps or devices connected to the TV
• You need analog stereo audio output

Important note:

RCA is stereo analog audio. It will not carry surround sound formats like Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Atmos. When using the DA25, the audio format from the TV should be set to PCM or Stereo. The DA26 can decode Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, so that's the setting you can keep on your TV. In any case, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X won't work.

Scenario 7: TV Has ARC/eARC and Audio Device Uses 3.5mm Headphones or Speakers

Setup:

• TV has HDMI ARC or eARC
• Audio device uses a 3.5mm AUX input
• You want to connect headphones, powered speakers, or a small speaker system

Recommended product:

[Add recommended ARC/eARC to 3.5mm model here]

Why this works:

This setup requires a product that can extract TV audio through ARC/eARC and output stereo analog audio through 3.5mm.

Important note:

3.5mm output is stereo analog audio. It is best for headphones, small powered speakers, or basic stereo audio systems.

Scenario 8: TV Has No ARC/eARC and You Have One External HDMI Media Source

Setup:

• TV does not have ARC/eARC
• You are using one HDMI media source, such as Fire Stick, Apple TV, Roku, cable box, Blu-ray player, or game console
• You want to send video to the TV and audio to a receiver, soundbar, speakers, or headphones

Recommended product:

[Add recommended HDMI audio extractor model here]

Why this works:

The audio extractor sits between the HDMI source and the TV. It passes video to the TV and extracts audio separately to your audio device.

Typical connection:

Media source → HDMI audio extractor → TV/display 
Audio extractor → optical/coaxial/RCA/3.5mm audio device

Use this when:

• Your TV does not support ARC/eARC
• You are not relying on TV apps for audio
• You have one HDMI source device

Important note:

If you are using TV apps and the TV has no ARC/eARC or audio output, a standard HDMI audio extractor may not be able to extract audio from the TV apps because the audio is generated inside the TV.

Scenario 9: TV Has No ARC/eARC and You Have Multiple External HDMI Media Sources

Setup:

• TV does not have ARC/eARC
• You have multiple HDMI devices, such as Fire Stick, Apple TV, cable box, Blu-ray player, gaming console, or laptop
• You want to switch between sources and extract audio

Recommended product:

[Add recommended HDMI switch with audio extraction model here]

Why this works:

A switch with audio extraction allows multiple HDMI sources to connect to one TV while sending audio separately to a soundbar, receiver, speakers, or headphones.

Typical connection:

Multiple HDMI sources → HDMI switch/audio extractor → TV/display 
HDMI switch/audio extractor → audio device

Use this when:

• You have more than one HDMI source
• Your TV does not have ARC/eARC
• You want audio output to optical, coaxial, RCA, or 3.5mm

Scenario 10: Projector Has No Audio Output and You Are Using One HDMI Source

Setup:

• You are using a projector
• The projector has no useful audio output
• You are using one HDMI source, such as Fire Stick, Apple TV, Roku, cable box, or Blu-ray player
• You want audio to external speakers or a receiver

Recommended product:

[Add recommended HDMI audio extractor model here]

Why this works:

The extractor separates audio from the HDMI source before the signal reaches the projector.

Typical connection:

Media source → HDMI audio extractor → projector 
Audio extractor → speakers/receiver/soundbar

Important note:

This works best when the external HDMI source is connected before the projector. It may not help if the audio is coming from apps built into the projector unless the projector supports ARC/eARC or has a compatible audio output.

Scenario 11: Projector Has No Audio Output and You Have Multiple HDMI Sources

Setup:

• You are using a projector
• The projector has no useful audio output
• You have multiple HDMI sources
• You want to switch between sources and send audio to speakers or a receiver

Recommended product:

[Add recommended HDMI switch with audio extraction model here]

Why this works:

The switch lets you connect multiple sources, send video to the projector, and send audio separately to your audio system.

Typical connection:

Multiple HDMI sources → HDMI switch/audio extractor → projector 
HDMI switch/audio extractor → speakers/receiver/soundbar

Scenario 12: Audio Device Has Standard HDMI Input but No ARC/eARC

Setup:

• Your soundbar or receiver has HDMI input
• The HDMI port does not say ARC or eARC
• You want to get audio from the TV

Recommended solution:

This setup needs to be checked carefully. A standard HDMI input does not always accept TV ARC/eARC audio.

If your audio is coming from an external HDMI source, you may be able to connect the source through the receiver or use an HDMI audio extractor.

If your audio is coming from TV apps, a standard HDMI input on the receiver may not be enough. You may need an ARC/eARC-compatible audio device or an ARC/eARC extractor depending on your TV and available outputs.

Important note:

Do not assume that every HDMI port can receive TV audio. Look for the ARC or eARC label.

Quick Recommendation Guide

Common Questions

Can an audio extractor make my ARC soundbar support eARC?

No. An audio extractor cannot upgrade the soundbar’s internal hardware. If your soundbar only supports ARC, it will remain limited to ARC capability.

Can an audio extractor add Dolby Atmos?

An audio extractor cannot add Dolby Atmos if your source device, TV, or soundbar/receiver does not support Dolby Atmos.

To use Dolby Atmos, every part of the signal chain must support the required audio format.

Can I use an HDMI audio extractor with TV apps?

It depends.

If the audio is coming from TV apps, the extractor usually needs to receive audio from the TV through ARC or eARC. A standard HDMI audio extractor placed after an external source will not extract audio from apps built into the TV.

If you are using TV apps, check whether your TV has HDMI ARC or eARC.

Can I use an HDMI audio extractor with a Fire Stick, Apple TV, Roku, or cable box?

Yes, in many cases. If you are using one external HDMI source, the extractor can usually be placed between the source and the TV/display.

Typical connection:

Media source → HDMI audio extractor → TV/display 
Audio extractor → audio device

What if I have multiple HDMI sources?

If you have multiple HDMI sources, you may need an HDMI switch with audio extraction instead of a basic one-input audio extractor.

This allows you to connect multiple devices and switch between them while sending audio to your sound system.

What if I am not sure whether my TV has ARC or eARC?

Check the HDMI port labels on the back or side of the TV. The ARC/eARC port is usually labeled as:

• HDMI ARC
• HDMI eARC
• HDMI ARC/eARC

If you are not sure, check the TV manual or search the TV model number online.

What if I am not sure what audio input my soundbar or receiver has?

Check the label next to the audio input port.

Common labels include:

• HDMI ARC
• HDMI eARC
• HDMI IN
• Optical
• Toslink
• Coaxial
• RCA
• AUX
• 3.5mm

If the HDMI port does not say ARC or eARC, it may only be a standard HDMI input.

Still Not Sure Which Product You Need?

If you are not sure which product is right for your setup, please provide the following information:

1. Your TV model number
2. Whether your TV has ARC or eARC
3. The audio input on your soundbar, receiver, speakers, or headphones
4. Whether you are using TV apps or external HDMI media sources
5. How many external media sources you want to connect

With this information, we can recommend the best OREI product for your setup.