The short answer
Check the HDMI cable, the input's supported video mode and the complete audio route. Atmos availability depends on the source format and every device in the chain; eARC is not required for every Atmos setup.
Step one: work out what each HDMI port actually does
Most people assume four HDMI ports are identical. They are not — a television typically has at least two special ones:
| Device | Which port |
|---|---|
| Soundbar / AV amplifier | The port labelled eARC (or ARC) — usually only one per set |
| PS5 / PS5 Pro / Xbox Series X | A port that carries high frame rates (4K120). Some sets support it on all four ports, some on only one, and some cap the whole set at 4K60 |
| Set-top box, streaming stick, Blu-ray player | Check the required resolution, HDR/HDCP support and input mode before choosing a remaining port, especially for a 4K Blu-ray player. |
| Computer | Confirm the input's resolution, refresh, HDR and 4:4:4 support. PC mode can help on some models; text also depends on scaling and panel subpixel layout. |
How do you tell which port qualifies? Do not trust the words "HDMI 2.1" on the box — that is an interface version, not a bandwidth guarantee. Read the "HDMI (High Frame Rate)" row on the official specification sheet: it should state 4K 120 or 4K 144. Samsung's own support documentation gives an example where a Neo QLED paired with an Xbox Series X must use HDMI 4, "the only port that supports 120hz" on that set. Sizes within one series can differ, so check model by model. For why frame rate matters at all, see our refresh rate article.
Choosing an HDMI cable: four types covered in this guide
Use the recognised cable name and certification label when comparing cables. The four types below are the selection covered here, not a complete list of every official category.
| Official cable grade | Bandwidth | What it carries |
|---|---|---|
| High Speed | 10.2Gbps | 1080p and 4K@30 — not worth buying for a new set |
| Premium High Speed | 18Gbps | 4K60 with HDR — plenty for films, streaming and set-top boxes |
| Ultra High Speed | 48Gbps | 4K120 and 8K60 modes; choose by the source and complete connection path, not gaming alone |
| Ultra96 | 96Gbps | 8K@60 and 4K@240 at 4:4:4 — for the newest interface generation, not yet needed in a typical 2026 home |
Choose by the required video mode: Premium High Speed suits common 4K60 viewing modes; 4K120 needs a compatible Ultra High Speed cable and input. A console used at 4K60 does not automatically require a new cable. Check certification and the maker's supported cable length, especially for long runs.
Soundbars: eARC versus ARC versus optical
All three produce sound. What differs is the format that survives the trip:
- eARC: can carry high-bandwidth audio, but both devices and the TV passthrough route must support the format. TrueHD Atmos returned from a TV requires compatible eARC; direct HDMI into a Sound Bar is a separate route.
- ARC supports stereo PCM and compatible compressed surround formats. DD+ Atmos needs support at both ends and through the TV; lossless TrueHD Atmos does not use ordinary ARC.
- Optical — the oldest route, typically compressed 5.1 with no Atmos. Its advantage is that it sidesteps HDMI handshake problems entirely.
How to wire it: one HDMI cable from the soundbar into the television's eARC port, with everything else plugged into the television. It is the simplest layout and the soundbar follows automatically when you change input. If your soundbar has its own HDMI inputs you can instead route the console through the soundbar — but only after confirming its exact resolution, frame rate, VRR and HDR passthrough support for the full route.
Check the source's Atmos track, the Sound Bar decoder, the TV's passthrough capability, the return port and the cable required by the manuals. A TV's PCM option may downmix or remove Atmos, but Dolby MAT can carry Atmos with PCM-based audio; do not assume every PCM route loses Atmos.
Note that our soundbar warranty runs for one month — different from the three years on televisions, so factor that in before ordering. Browse models in the soundbar collection.
Consoles: what the makers actually say
A PS5 or PS5 Pro showing a black screen or 1080p120 may have a cable, port or video-setting mismatch. Check the supported mode and try a known-working connection; these symptoms do not rule out a console, TV or port fault.
On Samsung models with Input Signal Plus, check the manual's setting for the chosen port and video mode. A common path is Settings → Connection (or General) → External Device Manager → Input Signal Plus; names and automatic behaviour vary by model and firmware.
Nintendo Switch 2 — Nintendo's official specification gives a maximum of 3840×2160 at 60fps on a television, with 120fps available when 1920×1080 or 2560×1440 is selected, and HDR10 support. So a Switch 2 alone is no reason to upgrade your cable for 4K120.
Also switch on Game Mode (or automatic low latency, ALLM). It is the single biggest reduction in input lag available to you — a bigger difference than any picture setting. For game-focused sets, see the gaming TV collection.
Hong Kong broadcast TV: set-top box or streaming?
Two facts to separate first:
- Hong Kong digital terrestrial television uses the DTMB standard (GB 20600-2006), in force since 1 August 2007 — different from the DVB-T2 common in Europe and Southeast Asia.
- A television's built-in tuner follows its market version, and versions do not all carry the same tuner. So "will this set pick up free-to-air channels from an aerial" is a question to answer from that model's official specification sheet, not with a blanket rule. Ask before you order.
If the set cannot, or you simply do not use an aerial, Hong Kong offers three routes: a set-top box (myTV SUPER, Now TV and similar — these plug into HDMI and have nothing to do with the set's tuner), streaming apps installed on the television itself, or a pay-TV operator's box. Streaming apps do carry system requirements — myTV SUPER, for instance, lists Samsung Tizen 5.0 or above, LG webOS 4.0 or above, and Android 9.0 or above. Our TV operating system article compares what each platform can install.
One remote for everything: HDMI-CEC
Samsung calls it Anynet+, LG calls it SIMPLINK, everyone else calls it HDMI-CEC — the same feature. With it on, switching on a console wakes the television and jumps to the right input, and the television remote controls soundbar volume. If you find the set-top box switching itself on annoying, this is where to turn it off.
Five symptoms and their usual cause
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| 1080p120 only or black screen | Possible cable, port or mode mismatch; hardware faults also require diagnosis |
| Sound Bar plays but has no Atmos | Check track, app, decoder, passthrough and ARC/eARC route; a TV PCM setting may downmix |
| Picture blanks for a second and returns | Possible cable or handshake issue; check supported mode and a known-working connection. Persistent faults need diagnosis. |
| Green or purple tint, or sparkling noise | Possible signal-mode or bandwidth mismatch; check the model's input settings and a known-working cable before diagnosis. |
| Gaming feels half a beat behind | Game Mode is off |
If a picture problem persists after the connections are right, what is covered and how on-site visits work is set out in the international-version warranty policy. To start from choosing a set, see the smart TV collection.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new HDMI cable for gaming?
It depends on the console. For 4K120 on a PS5, PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X, PlayStation officially requires an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supporting HDMI 2.1, into a port that supports HDMI 2.1. A Switch 2 tops out at 4K60 on a television, reaching 120fps only at 1080p or 1440p, so it alone is no reason to upgrade. For films and set-top boxes, Premium High Speed is enough.
Why is my soundbar not producing Dolby Atmos?
Check the track and the whole route. Dolby Digital Plus Atmos may use compatible ARC; TrueHD Atmos returned from a TV needs compatible eARC, while direct HDMI input to a Sound Bar does not use TV audio return. A PCM menu option may downmix, but Dolby MAT must be distinguished from ordinary PCM.
Are all four HDMI ports on a TV the same?
No. Usually only one supports eARC for a soundbar, and high-frame-rate capability varies model by model — some sets support 4K120 on all four ports, some on only one, and some cap the entire set at 4K60. Do not rely on "HDMI 2.1" printed on the box; read the "HDMI (High Frame Rate)" row of the official specification sheet.
How do I receive Hong Kong free-to-air channels?
Hong Kong digital terrestrial television uses the DTMB standard (GB 20600-2006, in force since 1 August 2007). A set's built-in tuner follows its market version and versions differ, so check that model's official specification sheet and ask before ordering. If you are not using an aerial, a set-top box, streaming apps or a pay-TV operator's box all work — none of them depends on the set's tuner.
My PS5 shows a black screen — is the TV faulty?
A black screen does not by itself identify the faulty device. Check the cable, supported input mode and the model's enhanced-input setting, then try a known-working source or input. If the problem persists, arrange diagnosis rather than assuming two settings will fix it.
About this article
Cable grades and eARC format support come from HDMI Licensing Administrator official material; console requirements from PlayStation and Nintendo official specifications; menu paths from Samsung official support documentation; the Hong Kong terrestrial standard from the Communications Authority. Port capability for any individual model follows that model's official specification sheet.
