Soundbar HDMI Passthrough vs TV eARC for a Games Console
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Quick verdict
Connect the console to the TV when that preserves the video features you need and the TV passes the required audio correctly. Use soundbar passthrough when the bar has a suitable HDMI input and supports the complete signal. A soundbar’s eARC socket alone is not a console input.
This comparison uses the manufacturer sources linked below and practical buying criteria. It does not claim a controlled hands-on test or original performance measurements. Cover artwork is an AI-generated concept illustration, not a photograph of a tested branded product; the separate graphic explains the decision.
At a glance
Route | Signal path | What must work |
TV first | Console → TV → soundbar via eARC | TV video input and audio passthrough |
Soundbar first | Console → soundbar → TV | Soundbar HDMI input and video passthrough |
Either route | Check the exact modes | Resolution, refresh rate, VRR and audio format |
Draw the route before comparing products
With the TV-first route, the television receives the console picture and sends audio back to the soundbar. With the soundbar-first route, the bar receives the source signal, handles the audio and passes the picture onward to the television.
The two arrangements solve different connection problems. Count sockets and read their labels rather than assuming that any HDMI connector accepts a console. Some bars provide only the return-audio connection to the television.
Keep the video requirements together
If 4K at 120 Hz or VRR matters, confirm the complete mode through every intervening device. A bar described as 4K-compatible may support a different combination from the one you want. HDR and colour-format requirements deserve checking too.
Sony’s HT-A5000 help guide separates supported video formats from HDMI settings. That is a useful model for research: read both the capability table and the configuration instructions. Firmware can affect available functions, so check the current documentation.
TV-first can keep the picture path simple
Connecting the console directly to a suitable television input avoids routing its picture through an audio device. This is attractive when the TV has the required port and can return the intended audio format over its supported eARC path.
It is not automatically an audio win. Check the television’s passthrough capabilities and the soundbar’s accepted formats. A feature printed on one box does not prove the entire source-to-speaker chain supports it.
Passthrough can solve a different limitation
A properly supported soundbar input can be useful when the TV’s audio passthrough is restrictive or when the soundbar supplies a needed connection. Compare the exact input count and modes before deciding it provides useful extra ports.
Also consider everyday switching and remote control. A theoretically capable arrangement is less appealing if the household repeatedly has to change several inputs just to start a game. Follow the manufacturer’s setup path and test the intended routine.
Who should buy, and final choice
Prioritise a soundbar with appropriate passthrough only if that route solves a real connection or audio requirement. If TV-first already carries the picture and audio correctly, an unused input may not justify a higher price.
For value, make a small device-and-port plan before purchase. Then test the console’s reported output and the soundbar’s received format after setup. The winning route is the one that preserves the functions you use and remains simple to operate.
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