SB700 & SoundBar HDMI Splitter (ARC discoveries)

[NeonsNight]

There are TWO main questions here. Please can you help me with both:
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Question 1

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I know that the SoundBar 700 supports at least one HD format  

• "The Soundbars support Dolby Digitial HD. To be upgraded in the future for supporting Dolby Atmos/DTSX, a software and hardware update would be needed. However, the hardware update would only be parts such as the HDMI cable."

So it supports LPCM 2.0, DTS/DD5.1, & Dolby Digitial HD (aka Dolby TrueHD) and might get an update for Dolby Atmos/DTSX.

1. Is there a way to see what audio format the SoundBar is receiving using the Bose Music App?
   
   
2. What about LPCM 5.1/7.1, Dolby Digitial Plus, & DTS HD? Are they supported on the SB700?
   
   1. If not yet are they expected to be supported in the future like Atmos?

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Question 2

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I wanted to get an HDMI splitter to send the system the best sound possible since my TV only outputs PCM 2.0 via ARC (it does not support eARC). So I found a HDMI 4x2 switch and ordered it. I discovered that while I could watch everything on the TV like I expected it would not send sound to the SoundBar via HDMI (only Toslink). I tried troubleshooting and my setup works if I bypass the switch.

I had a HDMI 1x4 repeater and discovered to my surprise that even connecting a single source and sending out HDMI to both the TV and SB700 I could again watch TV but I could not hear anything on the SB700.

So I looked for another HDMI 4x2 switch for the SoundBar. I came across a Switch that is made specifically for SoundBars with HDMI B having only audio out.

I did some research and I discovered something. The manufacture warns against "HDMI ARC" ports:

• "HDMI output B has not sound on soundbar / receiver: check if your soundbar / receiver has a " HDMI IN" port. "HDMI ARC" port is not a real HDMI port can't accept HDMI signal input, but can only return audio from TV. "

They even wrote a blog post warning against using their SoundBar switch with Bose & Sonos systems:

• "First, if you've 3 or 4 sources, and want to streaming audio through HDMI port, a HDMI switch with four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output with audio / video to your TV, and one HDMI output with audio only. And your soundbar or receiver should be with "HDMI IN" port. Those are with "HDMI ARC" port only can't display audio from HDMI sources, but return audio from TV. It is not a real HDMI port. If your soundbar or receiver only has a "HDMI ARC" port, you can only use optical port. Sonos beam and BOSE 500 are two models with "HDMI ARC" port only."

So I have come to you now asking for help. 

I am looking for a (4-10)x2 HDMI switch that the Bose SoundBar 700 system will work with via HDMI to ensure that I get true 5.1/7.1 on audio formats it supports. ARC/eARC & CEC from the TV to other components would be needed as is HDMI 2.0/2.1 60hz 4:4:4 12bit ("whatever video & audio goes in; goes out" would be best if possible, but not essential if within reasonable limits). Basically it would be like having a HDMI receiver designed for SoundBars.

1. Are there any SoundBar HDMI switches out there that you know would work? 
   
   1. Are there any that are close to what I described?
      
      
2. If there are no SoundBar HDMI switches you know that could work. Can you let me know if there is such a thing as a HDMI to "HDMI eARC" converter box that I can use? Something similar to HDCP v2.2 to v1.4 converters?

[mschoenfelder]

Hi @NeonsNight , I have the same situation where I am trying to find a HDMI switcher capable of providing Video through one HDMI cable and audio through an ARC HDMI output.

I bought a similar 4x2 HDMI switcher and was told my setup was not possible with their device.

My question is even more generic and seems I am not understanding how ARC works, I would expect connecting the switcher ARC output into my soundbar ARC input to be the right thing to do .. otherwise I don't see the value for having the ARC on the switcher.

Anyways, at this point I am using optical and postponing the pain of finding a solution for later.

Thanks for opening this post, I will keep an eye on it.

[NeonsNight]

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@mschoenfelder wrote:

My question is even more generic and seems I am not understanding how ARC works, I would expect connecting the switcher ARC output into my soundbar ARC input to be the right thing to do .. otherwise I don't see the value for having the ARC on the switcher.

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HDMI ARC is a specialised TV HDMI input. It is unique among your other TV's HDMI inputs as it also has an "Audio Return Channel" where Video and Sound are sent to the TV, and the sound from the TV will be sent back to the source device. It appears that the Bose SoundBar 500/700 & Sonos SoundBeam will not allow you to send direct HDMI audio to the system but requires that specialised ARC channel to produce sound.

I can only assume that this is a hardware difference and not something that could be fixed via a firmware update. Though that is an assumption. 

I also assume that this might be the reason why some TV's are not working properly with the system as Bose opened up a whole fact-finding post called "HDMI ARC Soundbar reports". Though again that's an assumption.

[NeonsNight]

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@Tegan_M, @Hector_B, @Jeff_G, @Charlotte_G, @Keith_L, & @Jessie_O  you have answered other questions but missed this one.

Also can you please sort out your spam filter. I do not spam and I have not spammed, yet my posts are being blocked as spam.

Please don't annoy your customers this way by ignoring the requests to restore incorrectly marked posts 😑

[ThierryStephane]

@NeonsNight you are correct, and I think there is some confusion this post about ARC.

ARC will work only between the TV and the soundbar. It is a specific HDMI connection allowing to pass the standard HDMI signal (video + audio) from a source to the TV, and/or pass back the sound only in the opposite direction from the TV to the soundbar/AV receiver.

This requires a specific protocol / handshake. Connecting a splitter with an HDMI cable going directly in the soundbar will never work. Because your device doesn't support ARC (Like a compatible TV would).

What you would need to pass the sound directly to the soundbar is a standard HDMI port which the soundbar 700 doesn't have.

[NeonsNight]

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@ThierryStephane wrote:

@NeonsNight you are correct, and I think there is some confusion this post about ARC.

ARC will work only between the TV and the soundbar. It is a specific HDMI connection allowing to pass the standard HDMI signal (video + audio) from a source to the TV, and/or pass back the sound only in the opposite direction from the TV to the soundbar/AV receiver.

This requires a specific protocol / handshake. Connecting a splitter with an HDMI cable going directly in the soundbar will never work. Because your device doesn't support ARC (Like a compatible TV would).

What you would need to pass the sound directly to the soundbar is a standard HDMI port which the soundbar 700 doesn't have.

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Well, I hope that my main post doesn't come across as confused. 

I didn't realise that the HDMI port was ARC only. So that's why I have two questions for Bose to hopefully help give me and others a solution :

1. Are there any SoundBar HDMI switches out there that you know would work with the SB700? 
   1. Are there any that are close to what I described?
2. If there are no SoundBar HDMI switches you know that could work. Can you let me know if there is such a thing as an HDMI to "HDMI eARC" converter box that I can use? Something similar to HDCP v2.2 to v1.4 converters?

I think that an HDMI to HDMI eARC converter box could help quite a few people on this forum who currently cannot use their TV's HDMI ARC port with the SoundBar and help others like myself who wish to get the best out of their system.

[ThierryStephane]

@NeonsNight There are some HDMI switches that will work, but not to do what you want.

What is your sound source anyway ? Even if you found what you wanted most likely you wouldn't hear / notice any difference.

[Twan_D]

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@NeonsNight wrote:

Is there a way to see what audio format the SoundBar is receiving using the Bose Music App?

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What @NeonsNight wrote is already suggested a couple of times by more people. I would be really nice if this is added to the Bose Music App.

Bose, give it more priority on the feature request list. It would provide more insight into what the soundbar is offered from a source and we could also be clearer about potential problems.

[#9]

Is there a way to see what audio format the SoundBar is receiving using the Bose Music App?

[NeonsNight]

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@ThierryStephane wrote:

@NeonsNight There are some HDMI switches that will work, but not to do what you want.

What is your sound source anyway ? Even if you found what you wanted most likely you wouldn't hear / notice any difference.

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Almost all of my sources can output 5.1 from Blu-ray to streaming devices. I also have the sub & rears, so the system is set up and ready for 5.1.

What HDMI switches are you aware of that offer multiple inputs and 1 output to the TV and another ARC/eARC to the Soundbar? If you could please link them here it would be appreciated.

[Keith_L]

Hi NeonsNight,

Thank you for asking.

We wouldn't be able to recommend any HDMI splitters for you. With 3rd party solutions like this, we can't make any suggestions as we would not be able to confirm how well they would work. 

If others in the community have had experience with trying this and have any suggestions we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards,

Keith L - Community Support