Why is the eARC LED on the HDMI Audio Extractor / Switch flashing?

Our HDMI 2.1 Audio Extractors (e.g. AX210, AX211, AX310) and Switches with Audio Extractor (SW411, AX340, AX341) are equipped with an eARC function. If the connected TV or video projector is linked to our device via its HDMI eARC or HDMI ARC port, the internal audio from these displays can also be output via the sound system. You can therefore play sound from the TV’s internal tuner (cable or satellite TV) or TV apps through the sound system. To do this, the eARC function is activated and the eARC LED remains lit. 

If the eARC LED is flashing instead, there is an error. Depending on the display connected, you can either resolve this or ignore it. This flashing may be caused by the following:

• The TV or projector is not connected via its HDMI ARC or HDMI port, but via a different HDMI port. In that case, reconnect the HDMI cable and use the port labelled HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC on your TV or video projector.
• A video projector or monitor is connected that does not support HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC. In that case, leave eARC switched off. Such a display usually does not have its own apps for playing videos, and eARC is not required.
• HDMI-eARC or HDMI-ARC is switched off on the TV or video projector. Or HDMI-CEC device control is disabled (also known as Anynet+ on Samsung, Simplink on LG, Braviasync on Sony, Easylink on Philips, Vieralink on Panasonic). Please switch the function on the TV or projector on.
• The HDMI cable between the extractor’s eARC port and the display’s ARC/eARC port must be fully functional and support ARC/eARC. Some older cables, cables with repeaters or HDMI extenders may not be capable of this. Very long HDMI cables of 15 m or more can also cause this problem. Replace the cable if you also wish to play the TV’s internal audio through the sound system. (Note: when using HDMI-eARC, issues such as audio dropouts may occur with cable lengths exceeding 10 m. eARC is only intended for short cable lengths, or use a special HDMI fibre-optic cable).
• The source device with active HDMI-CEC is switched off, but the display is active. If the flashing bothers you, press and hold the eARC LED for 5 seconds and the Extractor will switch off. Pressing eARC again will switch the Extractor back on.

To use HDMI-CEC control and conveniently adjust the soundbar volume using the remote control for your source device or TV, for example, eARC must be enabled. The eARC LED will then remain lit. If you are using a computer monitor or similar display, HDMI-CEC control is not possible, as such monitors do not usually support the control commands.

In rare cases, you may still be able to control everything as desired even though the eARC LED is flashing. You can simply ignore this. Even if the eARC LED is flashing, the audio from the source device can still be extracted without restriction.

Auto-Power Function

Another advantage: when the eARC LED is lit, there is a constant CEC connection between the devices. If all devices support CEC, they will switch on and off together – in sync with the FeinTech device.

Good to know:

If you connect a PC as a source (or another player without HDMI-CEC support), the eARC function behaves depending on the capabilities of the TV. As long as the eARC LED is lit, the audio is sent through the TV back to the sound system. If the TV only has an HDMI-ARC connection, therefore not all possible audio formats are supported. 

If you use a source device with HDMI-CEC, or leave the eARC function switched off, audio is transmitted losslessly directly to the sound system. So with most media players the audio is independent from the display.