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eARC / ARC Audio Adapters & Extractors | HDMI Audio Extractors & Embedders
eARC / ARC Audio Adapters & Extractors | Up to HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos, DTS
About eARC / ARC Audio Adapters & Extractors
VigilLink's eARC and ARC Audio Adapters & Extractors solve one of the most common AV integration challenges: routing audio from an ARC or eARC-equipped TV to a soundbar, AV receiver, or amplifier that wasn't designed to pair directly with that specific display. The product family spans HDMI 2.1 at 48Gbps for 8K and 4K@120Hz signal chains, and HDMI 2.0 at 18Gbps for 4K@60Hz installations — with models optimized for full-featured AV receivers, eARC soundbars, legacy amplifiers, and simple 2-channel analog stereo outputs.
All models support CEC control, enabling TV remote volume adjustment of the connected audio destination without additional control wiring. The lineup includes seven models covering every combination of audio destination (receiver, soundbar, amplifier, analog stereo), HDMI generation, and output format (HDMI, S/PDIF optical, analog L/R).
Choosing the Right eARC / ARC Audio Adapter
8K HDMI 2.1 eARC — Full AV Receiver (VLHA-H21ERAD): The VLHA-H21ERAD is the most capable model in this subcategory, supporting 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 video at up to 8K@60Hz 4:2:0 and 4K@120Hz 4:4:4, with full HDR10+, Dolby Vision, VRR, ALLM, QMS, and QFT passthrough. It de-embeds eARC or ARC audio from the TV and simultaneously delivers it via an HDMI output to the AV receiver, an S/PDIF optical output, and a 3.5mm analog L/R output — making it the right choice for high-performance home theater and commercial screening room installations where a full AV receiver must receive audio from multiple output formats simultaneously. CEC control from the TV to both source and AV receiver is supported.
8K HDMI 2.1 eARC — Soundbar or Amplifier (VLHA-H21EMR / VLHA-H21DWM): The VLHA-H21EMR routes eARC audio from a 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 TV to a single HDMI eARC soundbar output — the direct path for SONOS ARC, Beam, and all other eARC-capable soundbars. The VLHA-H21DWM routes eARC or ARC audio from a 48Gbps source to an existing HDMI amplifier or AV receiver — including legacy AVRs without native eARC — via an HDMI audio output with L/R analog breakout. Both support the full HDMI 2.1 audio format suite including LPCM 7.1CH, Dolby TrueHD, Atmos, DTS-HD Master, and DTS:X, and include CEC volume control.
4K HDMI 2.0 eARC/ARC — Soundbar or Receiver (VLHA-ERAD): The VLHA-ERAD handles eARC and ARC audio extraction from any HDMI 2.0b source at 18Gbps, routing audio to a dedicated HDMI soundbar output and two additional HDMI outputs — making it the right choice for HDMI 2.0 installations using SONOS ARC, BOSE soundbars, or ARC-capable AV receivers. Supports LPCM, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, and DTS-HD Master Audio.
4K HDMI 2.0 eARC — HDMI Output to Amplifier (VLHA-EREX): The VLHA-EREX extracts eARC audio from an HDMI 2.0 TV and outputs it via a dedicated HDMI audio output (720p black screen) to an existing AV amplifier, solving the specific scenario where the amplifier is not eARC-capable but does accept HDMI audio input. Supports full Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from eARC source.
ARC Extractors — 2-Channel Analog Stereo (VLHA-RCEX / VLHA-REXD): For installations where the audio destination is a simple stereo amplifier, headphone system, or 2-channel zone speaker — without HDMI input — the VLHA-RCEX and VLHA-REXD extract ARC audio from any ARC-enabled TV and output it as 3.5mm and RCA analog stereo. The VLHA-RCEX passes PCM 2.0 directly to the stereo output. The VLHA-REXD adds active downmix, decoding Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 bitstreams to 2-channel PCM stereo at the analog output — the correct choice when the TV source may output surround encoded content that the stereo amplifier cannot decode.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the VLHA-H21ERAD and the VLHA-ERAD?
The VLHA-H21ERAD is an HDMI 2.1 model operating at 48Gbps, supporting 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and the full HDMI 2.1 feature set including HDR10+, Dolby Vision, QMS, and QFT. It outputs audio simultaneously via HDMI, S/PDIF optical, and analog 3.5mm — making it the right choice for an AV receiver installation in an 8K or high-frame-rate signal chain. The VLHA-ERAD operates at 18Gbps HDMI 2.0b, supports up to 4K@60Hz, and provides dedicated HDMI soundbar and dual HDMI audio outputs for eARC/ARC-capable soundbars and receivers. Choose the VLHA-H21ERAD for HDMI 2.1 sources and full AV receivers; choose the VLHA-ERAD for HDMI 2.0 installations with soundbars or ARC receivers.
Can I use these adapters to add Dolby Atmos from a streaming TV to a non-Atmos amplifier?
Dolby Atmos can only be decoded by an Atmos-capable amplifier or soundbar — these adapters route the audio signal but do not decode or downgrade the format. If your amplifier or soundbar does not support Dolby Atmos or TrueHD, the device will either downgrade to a compatible format automatically (e.g., Dolby Digital 5.1) or output stereo, depending on the amplifier's compatibility. For analog stereo outputs with active downmix, the VLHA-REXD decodes Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 to PCM stereo at the adapter itself.
What is the VLHA-EREX and when should I use it instead of the VLHA-ERAD?
The VLHA-EREX extracts eARC audio from an HDMI 2.0 TV and outputs it as an HDMI audio-only signal (720p black screen) to an existing AV amplifier that accepts HDMI input but is not eARC-capable. This solves the scenario where the amplifier predates eARC but can still accept HDMI audio input from a lower-bandwidth source. The VLHA-ERAD, by contrast, is designed for eARC/ARC soundbars and AV receivers that accept the full eARC audio over HDMI. Choose VLHA-EREX for legacy HDMI-input amplifiers; choose VLHA-ERAD for eARC soundbars or ARC receivers.
Do the compact ARC extractors (VLHA-RCEX / VLHA-REXD) support surround sound?
Both models output 2-channel analog stereo. The VLHA-RCEX passes PCM 2.0 directly and does not decode surround formats — if the TV outputs a Dolby or DTS bitstream, the VLHA-RCEX will not produce audio on the analog output. The VLHA-REXD includes active downmix circuitry: it decodes PCM 2.0, Dolby 5.1, and DTS 5.1 from the ARC channel and outputs the result as stereo PCM on the 3.5mm and RCA outputs. For installations where the TV may output surround content, choose the VLHA-REXD.
Are these adapters compatible with SONOS ARC, SONOS Beam, and BOSE soundbars?
Yes. The VLHA-H21ERAD explicitly supports Dolby Atmos/DTS:X from eARC TVs to SONOS ARC, SONOS Beam, and any eARC soundbar via its HDMI eARC soundbar output. The VLHA-H21EMR is similarly optimized for eARC soundbars including SONOS ARC and Beam. The VLHA-ERAD is explicitly designed for compatibility with SONOS ARC, BOSE 500, and BOSE 700 soundbars. These models negotiate the eARC handshake and pass the correct audio format to the soundbar automatically.