TLDR: In the great majority of cases you don’t need to purchase a new HDMI 2.1 AVR/SOUND SYSTEM to support the latest audio formats – Our eArc processors together with your current sound system is all you will need for years to come.
With the current introduction of high-end streaming devices and movie streaming services we are seeing complex audio tracks such as MAT Atmos, DTS:X being played along with the video content.
This is a win for the consumer experience but comes at a force-fed high price tag. Currently only the latest and greatest sound systems can process the new standard audio transport from the new TV. If your sound system does not have this new capability then you simply won’t be able to listen to the audio as it was intended for the content
This transport is called eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel).
Even as great as this new capability is, the downside is that each component in the home theater system must support it. Upgrade is only possible by purchasing new equipment that has the hardware compatibility.
Near ALL sound systems sold in the past several years are fully capable of supporting the latest audio formats but simply won’t do it due to the lack of eARC capability.
Manufacturers want the consumer to upgrade a perfectly fine and capable sound system only to support the new eARC standard.
Thenaudio products, ZONE-2 eARC Audio Processor and SHARC eARC Audio Converter were developed to combat this eternal upgrade cycle. Both products can handle interfacing the new formats and will optimize the audio to utilize the current existing sound system fully.
For more information please continue to read our post on the matter by clicking here: STATE of the eARC
Use ZONE-2 and SHARC to prepare your home theater for PS5 and 8K era without changing any of your current audio systems.
