
8
The audio return function requires some explanation as it is a new feature of HDMI 1.4.
The Audio Return Channel in HDMI 1.4 enables a TV, via a single HDMI cable, to send
de-embedded audio data “upstream” to an A/V receiver or surround sound audio
controller, increasing user flexibility and eliminating the need for a separate S/PDIF
audio connection.
HDMI enabled Digital Television Displays have always been able to receive multi-
channel audio through an HDMI connection, and this is still a typical situation, with the
TV positioned “downstream” from content sources and any connected audio equipment.
However, if a user had a TV with a built-in tuner or DVD player, and wanted to send
content “upstream” from the TV back to the audio system once it had been decoded, a
separate connection had to be installed from the display device back to the audio
amplifier, typically an S/PDIF cable.
An Audio Return Channel-enabled TV can either send or receive audio via HDMI,
upstream or downstream, depending on system set-up and user preferences which
means that limitations of the S/PDIF approach are minimized.
When Audio Return is set to “Off”, the standard rules of HDMI audio handling apply as
summarized in the following chart: Examination of the chart will show that there are
situations where you cannot always recover the decoded audio from the display device
using the S/PDIF approach due to bandwidth limitations or due to the display device not
being able to decode all audio formats.
Signal Type HDMI Input HDMI Output Coaxial Output
Non-Compressed
Digital PCM 2.0 (32K~192K) Supported Supported Supported
Digital PCM 5.1 (48K~96K) Supported Supported Unsupported
Digital PCM 7.1 (48K) Supported Supported Unsupported
Compressed
AC3 2.0 (48K) Supported Supported Supported
AC3 5.1 (48K) Supported Supported Supported
DTS 5.1 (48K) Supported Supported Supported
AC3+ 7.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
DTS+ 7.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
Digital HBR Compression
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
Dolby HD 5.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
DTS HD 5.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
DTS HD 7.1 Supported Supported Unsupported
Enabling Audio Return (turning it on via the OSD Menu), allows full support of audio that
has been de-embedded at the display device using the same HDMI cable that sent the
signal to the display device for the return audio path to the audio distribution system.