Most smart TVs are generally equipped with the HDMI ARC port. If your external soundbar or sound system also has ARC input, it will allow you to enjoy better performance through only a single HDMI cord. However, it’s annoying that many old external speakers or soundbar only has L/R or 3.5mm AUX audio input port, neither ARC input nor even a digital optical/coaxial port. If you want to use the ARC function, you need an HDMI ARC to analog audio converter, which has 2-channel L/R and 3.5mm AUX audio output port to allow you to connect your TV with your older audio receiver.
We found that when we searched “HDMI ARC to analog audio converter” on Amazon, too many products in the search results are similar but completely irrelevant, Some converters can use HDMI ARC function, but they are only available from SPDIF Optical port, and some have L/R & 3.5mm AUX analog port but do not support HDMI ARC function. If we didn’t look closely at the product description, we might easily buy the wrong product.
So we searched out all correct HDMI ARC to analog audio converters from confusing Amazon search results, and analyzed these product features and customer feedback, then listed the following best options currently.
Tiancai 192KHz HDMI ARC / Toslink (Optical,SPDIF) / Coaxial to 3.5 mm Jack + Stereo R/L + Toslink (Optical,SPDIF) + Coaxial Converter
Specs and Features:
- Input: 1* HDMI ARC + 1* Optical + 1* Digital Coaxial
- Output: 1* Analog 3.5mm Jack + 1* Stereo L/R + 1* Coax +1* Optical
- Support HDMI ARC/Optical/Coaxial input, to 3.5mm Jack, Stereo L/R, Coaxial and Optical output
- Supported format: DTS (Toslink Output) / Dolby-AC3 (Toslink Output) / DSD / LPCM. Supports sampling rates including 32 KHz, 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 96 KHz, and 192 KHz.
- 3.5mm AUX, stereo L/R, digital coaxial, and optical output ports can work simultaneously
- Set audio source format to PCM/LPCM before using HDMI ARC to 3.5mm jack or L/R
HDMI ARC to Analog Audio Converter
Specs and Features:
- Input: 1* HDMI ARC
- Output: 1* Analog 3.5mm Jack + 1* Stereo L/R
- Support HDMI ARC/Optical/Coaxial input, to 3.5mm Jack, Stereo L/R, Coaxial and Optical output
- 3.5mm AUX and stereo L/R output ports can work simultaneously
- Set audio source format to PCM/LPCM before using HDMI ARC to 3.5mm jack or L/R
Conclusion: At present, there are not many reliable products to choose from, we will actively pay attention to better similar products and update them here. In addition to transferring audio from HDMI ARC to 3.5mm and stereo L/R, many HDMI ARC devices will also increase the function of digital coaxial and optical interfaces, which is convenient for us to use it when we will replace the equipment in the future.
