Multiple HDMI ARC Connections

[VAcdr]

Need to connect DVD unit with HDMI ARC port and Roku unit with HDMI ARC port to Digital TV that has one HDMI ARC port.  Best solution for general public knowledge.  Thanks.

[emosun]

a switchbox

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-240Hz-Bypass-l-b-y-Switcher/dp/B09R1P5RKB#customerReviews

[Omon_Ra]

11 hours ago, VAcdr said:

Need to connect DVD unit with HDMI ARC port and Roku unit with HDMI ARC port to Digital TV that has one HDMI ARC port.  Best solution for general public knowledge.  Thanks.

The DVD player and Roku (I'm guessing stick/box, not soundbar?) don't use HDMI ARC. ARC is 'audio return channel', and is only for 'backfeeding' audio from a TV to an audio device (soundbar or AV receiver) through an 'input' (TV side) and an 'output' (soundbar/AVR side). If you don't have a soundbar or receiver, just plug them in whatever HDMI input you want on the TV and you're done. If you mean there aren't enough HDMI ports on your TV, ie, TV has 2 HDMI ports, one is ARC and is connected to a soundbar or receiver, but you still need to connect the Roku and DVD player, then @emosun 's switcher will solve your problem.

[dalekphalm]

On 4/19/2023 at 11:11 AM, VAcdr said:

Need to connect DVD unit with HDMI ARC port and Roku unit with HDMI ARC port to Digital TV that has one HDMI ARC port.  Best solution for general public knowledge.  Thanks.

As @Omon_Ra said, it sounds like you're doing something that is unnecessary.

 

The vast majority of TV's only ever have one ARC port. As noted, ARC = Audio Return Channel, and it serves only one purpose: To bring the audio from the TV back to an audio device, such as an AV Sound System or a Sound Bar.

 

If you have a DVD player and a Roku player, and you just want to connect them to your TV, you just need to connect them to any empty HDMI port. ARC is not required (and literally wouldn't do anything) in this scenario.

 

If you want to connect the DVD player and Roku player to an AV System or Sound Bar, you either connect these devices directly to the HDMI ports on the sound system, or you connect them to the TV on any port other than the ARC port. The ARC port would then connect the TV to the sound system. In this second scenario, audio would "flow" as follows:

DVD Player -> HDMI Output -> HDMI Cable -> TV HDMI input (Not the ARC input) -> TV HDMI ARC input -> HDMI Cable -> Sound System HDMI ARC Output port

 

So the audio flows from the DVD Player, to the TV, through the ARC port back to the sound system. ARC also works on the TV with non-HDMI sources (Eg: An old gaming console using the Optical port, or built-in apps or broadcast TV, etc).

 

I suspect you don't need or want ARC at all here. Can you clarify exactly what you're trying to accomplish?

[sm1th5]

Doesn't matter what hdmi ports they go in.