eARC uses two internal pins of the HDMI cable for low-jitter, high-bandwidth audio transmission

Lattice Semiconductor announced the release of the SiI9437 and SiI9438, the first HDMI 2.1 eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) audio receiver and transmitter devices.

eARC is a highly promising technology that significantly improves home theater connectivity. This simple and barrier-free new audio technology is also included in the recently announced HDMI 2.1 specification. The currently available eARC technology was developed by the HDMI Forum, an organization comprised of over 80 leading consumer device manufacturers.

eARC technology supports a seamless connection between audio devices and the TV. Device selection and volume control can be operated using the TV remote without the need for any additional audio device connections. eARC utilizes two pins inside the HDMI cable to transmit high-bandwidth audio with low jitter, and also enables the transmission of bidirectional communication signals for discovering and controlling audio functions.

These pins are the same ones designed for HDMI Ethernet channel functions. This feature of eARC represents a tremendous improvement compared to the older TOSLINK and SPDIF audio outputs. Older technology requires separate cables and connectors, yet does not support communication between audio devices and TVs.

"We were pleased to collaborate with DTS (now Xperi) and Lattice to develop eARC technology, as it allows us to resolve long-standing compatibility issues that are critical to home theater," said Joanna Skrdlant, General Manager of Home Audio and Solutions Licensing at Xperi. "We believe that the new devices to be introduced to consumers with eARC technology will significantly enhance the home theater experience. Not only can audio content now be freely delivered to listeners via connected TVs, but the incredibly amazing experiences of DTS:X Immersive Audio and DTS-HD Surround Audio—which are typically found on UHD Blu-ray discs, standard Blu-ray discs, and streaming services—will also be delivered intact."

Marshall Goldberg, Marketing Manager at Lattice Semiconductor, stated, “The purpose of HDMI is to promise consumers two things: one is to provide the best digital audio and video quality, and the other is to enable these tasks to be easily accomplished through automatic setup.” He added, “eARC technology represents a significant advancement in home theater connectivity because it provides much better audio quality than TOSLINK or SPDIF without the need for the complex switching procedures required through AVR devices.” "Furthermore, the completely new device discovery method ensures compatibility between equipment when products from different manufacturers are connected to a single home theater system," he said.