HDMI ARC for original XMC-1 & LG OLED Smart TV

[keithfree]

I just upgraded to LG's OLED65B6P Smart TV and am curious if anyone knows whether HDMI ARC can be used to get audio sourced from TV apps back to the XMC-1? Note this is the original XMC-1 with the HDMI 1.4B board. I've taken the below steps and then Netflix 4k content and much lower res content from the TV and get zero sound from the XMC-connected speakers. Any clues?

* Use an HDMI cable that supports ARC (http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10250&cs_id=1025502&p_id=9304&seq=1&format=2)

* Enable all options in XMC-1 HDMI-CEC menu (audio to tv, power on, power off, input change, & volume)
* Use the XMC-1 HDMI1 output, which supports ARC
* Use the TV's HDMI2 input, which supports ARC
* Use the TV's digital/hdmi arc audio out setting, and turned on SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
* Set the XMC to mode HDMI-ARC

Thanks in advance.

[novisnick]

For the TV apps I use an optical out to the XMC-1.

Theres most likely a better way, my Samsung apps are played through the UBD-K8500 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, so the optical is redundant.

[mickseymour]

Dec 3, 2016 23:48:17 GMT -5 keithfree said:

I just upgraded to LG's OLED65B6P Smart TV and am curious if anyone knows whether HDMI ARC can be used to get audio sourced from TV apps back to the XMC-1? Note this is the original XMC-1 with the HDMI 1.4B board. I've taken the below steps and then Netflix 4k content and much lower res content from the TV and get zero sound from the XMC-connected speakers. Any clues?

* Use an HDMI cable that supports ARC (http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10250&cs_id=1025502&p_id=9304&seq=1&format=2)

* Enable all options in XMC-1 HDMI-CEC menu (audio to tv, power on, power off, input change, & volume)
* Use the XMC-1 HDMI1 output, which supports ARC
* Use the TV's HDMI2 input, which supports ARC
* Use the TV's digital/hdmi arc audio out setting, and turned on SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
* Set the XMC to mode HDMI-ARC

That looks about right. I used ARC for 15 months with my Samsung UE46ES8000 and then after a factory reset of the XMC-1 it will not work. I tried everything but no joy. I ended up using an optical cable from the TV.

[qdtjni]

I've been using ARC on my XMC-1 since autumn 2014, first with a Pioneer Kuro, since Jan 2015 with a Samsung UE75HU7580 (same as the 8080 or something similar in US).
I use ARC for app as well as TV sound and it's been working fine apart from a short period where I had a HW problem.

Occasionally, it would stop working with the Pioneer and I had to power cycle the TV and the XMC-1 to make it work again.

[keithfree]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I tried cycling the power on the TV and XMC-1 before posting and that didn't help. Any other ideas? I'm under the impression that it's up to each hardware manufacturer to implement some or all of the ARC spec. Is that correct?

[socketman]

Keith, I am using ARC with a 2015 LG tv and the XMC-1. I had it setup and working for about 6 months and then I moved and then it took me a bit to get it all working but it works from all my apps now. ARC can be a real PITA in my experience but totally worth it.


On the XMC-1 HDMI 1 out is for ARC, and then I select HDMI ARC from the input list( The XMC does not automatically detect that you want to use ARC) for the audio from the TV to play on the XMC. I set my harmony remote up so I had an Activity called Netflix, this turns on the Tv sets its input to HDMI 2 which is ARC enabled on LG TV. It also turns on my XMC-1 and tells it to use HDMI ARC as its input.

On the LG tv in the advanced setting menu under sound tab I set it to HDI ARC/Optical out and under General tab I set Simplink to on and Auto Power Sync. it took a few times turning these setting on and off and a few reboots but now it works everytime.

[audiophill]

How do you like the tv I'm getting the 55" version this week

[glide]

Dec 4, 2016 14:09:48 GMT -5 keithfree said:

Thanks for the quick feedback. I tried cycling the power on the TV and XMC-1 before posting and that didn't help. Any other ideas? I'm under the impression that it's up to each hardware manufacturer to implement some or all of the ARC spec. Is that correct?

I use ARC with a 2016 LG OLED 55"

1.) Check all ARC settings are enabled in the XMC-1 Menu
2.) Check the LG TV and make sure ARC settings are enabled
3.) Unplug all HDMI cables from the TV *and* the XMC1 (unplug from *both* ends)
4.) Power cycle everything (don't just put the XMC1 in Standby - flip the switch on the back)

That seemed to do it for me when things would go wonky. Good luck - it's a total PITA to get it, and keep it, working.

[marietto]

I am in the same situation, LG 4KTV 55EF950V and XMC-1 . I did all the suggested steps but no luck.
I have to say that HDMI arc used to work some time ago then it stopped and I started using the Optical out. In the meantime LG upgraded their software and I also did upgrade the XMC-1 firmware as well.

Mario

[Gary Cook]

My experience from the Apple TV 4K thread, maybe of some help

Sept 28, 2017 18:49:54 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

Quick update, I received the HDMI 2.0 cable with ARC and ethernet on Tuesday, plugged it in and still no ARC
Try the UMC-200 set up, yep ARC on HDMI output, select "TV" on the remote to use that as an input and the UMC-200 display says "No Audio"
Next the Samsung TV, read the manual (yes, really), "Expert Settings" yep "ARC Enabled" and still "No Audio"
Surely I can't be the only one, try the web, bingo, in order for ARC to work CEC has to be enabled
What the hell has ARC got to do with CEC, I hate CEC, it turns things on when I don't want them on and it turns things off when I don't want them off
Worth a try, CEC "Enabled", bingo,  sound, and it's Dolby Digital according to the UMC-200, which is OK since I haven't seen any content so far that has better 
That'll have to do do until I  find a solution to the processor dilemma 

Cheers
Gary

[marietto]

I am glad Gary you were able to make it work.
As far as CEC I had the same feeling, i.e. I do not always want to tun on and off thigs. For example, I do not want to turn on the PS3 when I am just flipping inputs because I do not always recall the input number on the XMC-1 remote

In any case, in the CEC settings of the XMC-1 you can select On and OFF so that can help. My main use of the CEC with ARC would be to use the same TV remote to control the audio of the surround and change to the right input when I switch from say PS3 to the audio coming from the TV (either live channels or apps such as Netflix). Is that too much to ask?
Was that the promise of ARC and CEC? Simplify and reduce the number of cables? 

Still unsuccessfully trying to make it work my next step is to get a new cable. I already try 2 but no luck. I do not know what else to try.

[wilburthegoose]

I actually gave up. Had it working for 2 weeks, and no more. I am now successfully using a Toslink from the LG to the XMC-1.

To be honest, I wish that Emotiva had used a more "common" IR command set for the XMC-1. My DirecTV remote can't control the XMC-1. It appears that the XMC-1 is relatively rare, so DirecTV won't bother providing remote codes for it

[LCSeminole]

ARC and CEC are really great concepts for home theater, but extremely ill-conceived when it comes to the different manufacturers and their much differing protocols for these so-called features. I gave up on ARC and CEC some time ago as they only succeeded in doing one thing for me.......and that was raise my blood pressure!!!