Please Help! HDR - Atmos - ARC - Cables & Splitters

realplex

Novice Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
26
Age
41
Location
Saudi Arabia
Hello there,

I'm in need of some expert advice, my simple solution is now turning into a cry for help. Any advice would be very welcomed. I've arrived at some important questions, I'll mention those first, but I'll give a detailed explanation below.

1. Does ARC support Losey Dolby Atmos? Specifically with the BenQ w2700? And if so, which cable would be required for this (1.4/2.0/2.0a/2.0b/2.1)?

2. Is it possible to use a 4k splitter (connected to an Apple TV 4K) to output separately to a 4K HDR Projector and an Atmos Reciever?

3. How are people with HDR projectors that need a 10-15 meter cable meant to go about buying HDMI cables? It seems even hdmi.org prohibits the mentioning of "2.0a 2.0b or 2.1" on the packaging and doesn't endorse cables over 3 meters.

My dilemma:

I have a BenQ HDR 4K Projector with ARC (W2700) and a Yamaha YSP-5600 with Atmos.

The Projector supports 4K HDR and the Reciever supports ATMOS, however, I'm unable to get both HDR and ATMOS working together.

The reason is the YSP-5600 doesn't support HDR (so I can't connect the projector to the Output on the Reciever) and the ARC Setup only sends Dolby Surround (according to the decoder message (which normally shows "Atmos")).

This may be due to cables, although I'm using short 2.1 and 2.0 cables for testing which I believe support HDR and Atmos.

Right now, the only solution I feel might work is to buy a splitter (question 2 above) and send two signals from my Apple TV 4K (HDR to the Projector and Atmos to the AVR). I heard this might not work due to the 2-way communication of HDMI cables...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thank you
 
Hello there,

I'm in need of some expert advice, my simple solution is now turning into a cry for help. Any advice would be very welcomed. I've arrived at some important questions, I'll mention those first, but I'll give a detailed explanation below.

1. Does ARC support Losey Dolby Atmos? Specifically with the BenQ w2700? And if so, which cable would be required for this (1.4/2.0/2.0a/2.0b/2.1)?

2. Is it possible to use a 4k splitter (connected to an Apple TV 4K) to output separately to a 4K HDR Projector and an Atmos Reciever?

3. How are people with HDR projectors that need a 10-15 meter cable meant to go about buying HDMI cables? It seems even hdmi.org prohibits the mentioning of "2.0a 2.0b or 2.1" on the packaging and doesn't endorse cables over 3 meters.

My dilemma:

I have a BenQ HDR 4K Projector with ARC (W2700) and a Yamaha YSP-5600 with Atmos.

The Projector supports 4K HDR and the Reciever supports ATMOS, however, I'm unable to get both HDR and ATMOS working together.

The reason is the YSP-5600 doesn't support HDR (so I can't connect the projector to the Output on the Reciever) and the ARC Setup only sends Dolby Surround (according to the decoder message (which normally shows "Atmos")).

This may be due to cables, although I'm using short 2.1 and 2.0 cables for testing which I believe support HDR and Atmos.

Right now, the only solution I feel might work is to buy a splitter (question 2 above) and send two signals from my Apple TV 4K (HDR to the Projector and Atmos to the AVR). I heard this might not work due to the 2-way communication of HDMI cables...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Your easiest route is to bite the bullet and replace your AVR with one that can pass HDR. I had a not dissimilar situation with my previous AVR, tried to use ARC as a workaround but gave up due to the evil that is HDMI CEC. I bought a new AVR - problem solved.

As far as HDMI cables are concerned, there are only Standard Speed, High Speed or Ultra High Speed cables ("Premium" High Speed are just allegedly tested to prove their High Speed status). You just need a quality High Speed cable for 4K/60 HDR.

With regard to length, 5M is the realistic limit for 4K/60 transmission. Above that, you need a more specialised fibre optic hybrid HDMI.
 
THe best you'd get via ARC is lossy compressed Dolby Digital PLus (DD+), but Atmos metadata can be packaged with this and DD+ is what the streaming services such as Netflix use to deliver Atmos. Enhanced ARC (eARC) is a more recent addition and can convey anything you'd ordinarilly be able to convey via conventional HDMI so unlike conventional ARC it xan convey HD formats such as DTS-HD Master Audio and TRueHD as well as multichannel PCM.

HDMI cables aren't categorised by HDMI versions. The version numbers relate to the HDMI hardware and not cables. If looking for a cable that will ve compliant with both ARC and eARC then I'd suggest using cables rated HIGH SPEED and ethernet channel compliant. This is one very reliable and affordable option:

Amazon product ASIN B014I8SSD0
Try not to use long cables and try to keep them shorter than 5m if possible.


Your soundbar is neither eARC or HDR compliant, but you could use a UHD disc player that includes 2 HDMI outputs. You'd use one to convey the HDR encoded video directly to an HDR compliant display while the second HDMI output is used to convey HD audio to the non HDR compliant soundbar.

Note that a conventional splitter wouldn't resolve your issue. The PJ's EDID and the soundbars EDID would srill be in effect and the source would use the least capable audio device to determine the audio and the least capable video device to determine what video it should output. If splitter the signal in the manner you suggest then you'd need something more specialised such as the HDFury AVR Key:

Amazon product ASIN B076FVJ4F6

This is an HDMI audio extractor as opposed to being an HDMI splitter.



As already mentioned, you shouldn't really use conventional copper HDMI cables longer than about 5m. This often causes issues with PJs because they are inordinately located some didyance away from other devices and sources. In such instances then it isregulary suggested th HDMI over fibre be used. THis allows for higher bandwidth signals to be carried over longer distances than you'd reliably be able to achieve if using regulat copper HDMI cabling. If you've HDMI cable runs greater than 8m then you'd be advised to look at using Hybrid HDMI over Fibre cabling for those runs.
 

The latest video from AVForums

Is 4K Blu-ray Worth It?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom