HDMI ARC/eARC Functionality Questions and Concerns

Function
#1

I am moving from a NAD M33 with my living room setup to a Enleum AMP-23R but am hoping to find a DAC/Streamer/preamp solution that preserves a lot of the functionality I enjoyed about the M33 and the BluOS ecosystem. It honestly made having a 2 channel system paired with the Samsung Frame TV in the living room a breeze for whenever we want to throw on something to watch. I really enjoyed that HDMI ARC was seamless on it, volume control from the TV remote always worked, and the M33 would wake from standby when you turn the TV.

Unfortunately, it seems there are not a lot of 2 channel hifi products out there that have embraced HDMI ARC/eARC, but the inclusion of HDMI ARC on the 150B is what drove me toward Hifi Rose after being impressed with what I have heard/seen when I have had the opportunity to hear HiFi Rose products in the past. I was just getting ready to pull the trigger on ordering a 150B, but now on these forums I am hearing that the connection is unstable? And that it does not have CEC, which I assume means no auto wake/start and that you cannot use the TV remote to control the volume on the 150B? If that is true, that is very disappointing, as I assume that is not a feature that could be sorted out via a software update?

This also bring me then to how the HDMI eARC is implemented on the RS520. While I don’t need the integrated amp functionality and would prefer the reference quality of the 150B, if eARC on the RS520 gets around some of those functionality issues of the 150B I might have to go that route.

If anyone could demystify the exact functionality of ARC/eARC in the Hifi Rose devices I would greatly appreciate it. I checked the manuals and could not figure it out, and when I chatted with my preferred dealer they said they would just suggest connecting optical and they only use the HDMI output for RoseTube so couldn’t comment on the reliability of HDMI ARC/eARC in these devices.

#2

@Inoculator

RS150B does not support eARC. There must be an eARC/ARC selection screen on the TV you are using, but if you sellect eARC, it will not be able to connect to Rose devices.
You must select ARC to use it. Even if it is set to eARC and connected, since the receiving side is ARC, it will be converted to a sampling rate of 48Khz and output. HDMI ARC of RS150B is Stereo 16bit LPCM in standard and supports only one sampling frequency out of 32kHz/44.1kHz/48kHz, and DVD standard 48kHz is the main type. Therefore, 192kHz (HDR) of eARC is not supported.

Thank you

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#3

I really appreciate the response, and clarification of what sampling rates will be supported in ARC vs eARC. When I get my 150B I will be sure to set TV to ARC not eARC.

Can you comment on my CEC concerns? Specifically trying to understand if when I have my TV ARC port going to the 150B ARC port if I will be able to control the 150B volume via my TV remote. Also curious if it supports auto wake/startup when detecting HDMI signal or auto source switching to HDMI if signal is detected. Both of these are things BluOS do that are very handy for the whole family using my system.

Apologies for not totally understanding the ARC/CEC protocols and what is or is not supported by the 150B currently, or could potentially be supported in the future. I appreciate your help and any clarification.

#4

@Inoculator

RS150 is designed to operate HDMI CEC commands only when HDMI ARC is being used as an input.
Only 4 commands are supported: Vol±, Mute, and Power Off.
If HDMI ARC is not used as an input, the HDMI CEC command does not work because all signals through HDMI ARC are blocked.

Also, after powering off using the HDMI-CEC command while using HDMI ARC mode, the device can be turned on again only by using the power button of the device. We are considering removing the off order as well).

In actual use, it seems correct to say that only volume up/down and mute control is possible through HDMI CEC while using HDMI ARC In mode.

Finally we don’t support auto wake/startup when detecting HDMI signal.

Thank you

1 Like
#5

That is perfect and just the clarification I need, thanks! I feel much better about things knowing it at least support CEC volume control.

#6

I have had my 150b for almost a week now and HDMI ARC has been working for me for the most part. Have just had two minor dropouts (so maybe some room for reliability improvements) but overall has been solid. I have not actually been running into my 150b trying to turn off when I turn off my TV as mentioned in @ROSEHAN 's last comment, so that CEC command must not be connecting. That is fine though as lots of the time turning the TV off just means switching to using Roon.

If I was able to make ARC feature requests though it would be:

-Togglable options for power-up/shutdown or sleep along with the TV
-Togglable option for auto-detecting source switch (so if for example, I have been using another app, then turn on my TV, it would detect audio via ARC and automatically switch to ARC). M33 did this and it was great for the family room as it meant I could just listen to Roon and not worry about the audio system switching back HDMI ARC when my wife or kids use the TV. I realize this probably is not easy to implement and could not be as simple as software.
-A quicker way to switch to ARC source. In general having to go into the In-Out setting menu for source switching to HDMI ARC is cumbersome, would be nice to be able to at least shortcut it somehow.
-VU Meters in HDMI ARC mode, unless I am missing something, there is not an easy way to do this. I have occasionally gotten them to pop up by going to the Home app and then going back and they load up.

Loving the 150b though! The inclusion of HDMI ARC at all was a differentiating factor in me going for the 150b as so few products in this segment offer it, it is just a step short of being a truly great implementation though.

#7

Really grateful for this post. While waiting for the NAD M66 to drop, I got interested in the 150b, but the lack of eARC and auto sensing on that port (like my Node X) will be a deal killer for our living room. If I listen to Roon and then my family comes to watch TV, if they have to do anything more than turn the TV on and adjust the volume then it’s 1992. NAD has got this figured out… I’m disappointed that Rose does not… the 150b is an otherwise nice product