ARC channel or TOSLINK for audio signal?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › ARC channel or TOSLINK for audio signal?

floydie

472 posts

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#151672 1-Sep-2014 18:34

my new house will have the media cupboard about a 12-15 meter cable run away from the TV.

ive just discovered that my TV and reciever will do audio return channel, (Read the instructions dummy)
i'm currently using a short toslink cable in the current house...
so the question is should i use ARC and save myself having to buy a 15 meter toslink cable or will i get better sound from the toslink over the ARC via HDMI???

Andib

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#1119833 1-Sep-2014 18:49

Personally I'd use ARC, One less cable is always good.
At 15M a decent HDMI cable will do it no problems.

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jnimmo

1073 posts

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#1119835 1-Sep-2014 18:52

You'll get just as good quality sound etc through ARC- it is all the same digital signal. If it was a new build, wouldn't hurt to put in Toslink in case you get any equipment which is dodgy with ARC.
Otherwise, just run with ARC and if you have any issues you could get a toslink then.

Andib

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#1119837 1-Sep-2014 18:55

Make sure you have an easy conduit w/ pullthrough for future upgrades!!
Have a mate who thought he didn't need to do this 7 years ago and only ran component & AV cables. Fair to say the cables hanging down the wall now don't look as intended!

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floydie

472 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1119855 1-Sep-2014 19:11

the house is going to be laced with draw wires... so far for the lounge I am running...

2xHDMI 1 used, 1 spare (only need 1 hdmi as a have the onkyo reciever for all inputs)
3xcat5 1 used, 2 spare
1x rg6
1x 3.5mm stereo jack for a remote extender
Toslink (only if ARC is flakey)

Andib

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#1119866 1-Sep-2014 19:16

floydie: the house is going to be laced with draw wires... so far for the lounge I am running...

2xHDMI 1 used, 1 spare (only need 1 hdmi as a have the onkyo reciever for all inputs)
3xcat5 1 used, 2 spare
1x rg6
1x 3.5mm stereo jack for a remote extender
Toslink (only if ARC is flakey)

Although it's not going to make much difference over short distance I would probably go with cat6 over 5, For little $$ extra per box it does future proof you a bit more if you plan on using the ethernet runs for something more than just network e.g HDMI over ethernet

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floydie

472 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1119870 1-Sep-2014 19:20

the cat5 is just for a network connection and the two spares are just there for whatever (PC remote reset button HDD LED or something)

DeepBlueSky

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1119872 1-Sep-2014 19:25

Remember the long HDMI cables need to be amplified, I bought a cable from Jaycar I'm sure the price has gone up but the cable is a 15m and works well they also have longer cables too.

Here is the link.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=WQ7432&w=hdmi+15m&form=KEYWORD

Dunnersfella

4063 posts

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#1120022 1-Sep-2014 21:50

ARC drives me bananas... some products just don't seem to play together how they should. Even brand-in-brand!
I'd certainly run both to keep your options open.

floydie

472 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1120026 1-Sep-2014 21:59

just did a remeasure on the plans and i can get away with a 12m run.
cheers for the advice guys. I think i'll still go for a hdmi + toslink cable..at least i know it works.

richms

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#1120056 1-Sep-2014 22:19

I find 2 HDMIs is better, as it means the media playing devices all end up on one input and the games devices on the other, so that I can leave game mode on for the games consoles and not worry about why do I suddenly suck at this game, when I have not got game mode turned on.

Richard rich.ms