What is HDMI Pass-Through? When is HDMI Passthrough Useful?

What is HDMI Pass-Through? When is Passthrough Useful?

The capability for high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) signal forwarding is included in current home entertainment products such as ultra-high-definition televisions, Blu-ray disc players, video game systems, and surround sound speaker bars. This functionality allows an HDMI-compliant apparatus to pass along an incoming HDMI audio/video feed to another device without modifying or analysing the data stream.

The signal can journey unchanged from an original HDMI source gadget via a go-between unit to ultimately reach the intended display screen or audio speaker setup. HDMI pass-through circumvents unnecessary decoding and recoding steps that could potentially diminish quality. Appliances equipped with HDMI thru-put streamline connectivity and enable pristine transfer of the highest-fidelity signals.

It simply acts as an HDMI signal transmitter. The key benefit of HDMI Pass-Through is that it allows seamless transmission of the original source signal between multiple devices.

This prevents loss of quality that can occur when a device processes and re-encodes the signal. Now let's go over some common examples where HDMI Pass Through delivers major advantages.

Use Case 1: Soundbars
One of the most popular uses of HDMI Pass Through is on soundbars. Let's say you connect your 4K Blu-ray player directly to your TV using one HDMI cable.

To also hear the sound through the soundbar, you would need to use a separate audio connection between the Blu-ray player and soundbar. This forces the player to split and process the audio, degrading quality.

Instead, connect the Blu-ray player directly to the soundbar's HDMI In port. Now the player's HDMI output can pass the full high-quality 4K HDR video + multi-channel audio signal through the soundbar and onwards to the TV via the soundbar's HDMI Out or ARC port.

HDMI Pass Through soundbars like the JBL Bar 5.1 let you create this kind of single-cable HDMI connection for seamless integration.

Use Case 2: Gaming Consoles
Modern gaming consoles rely on HDMI to output 4K graphics and surround sound. Connecting them via HDMI Pass Through ports on the TV ensures the original 4K 60Hz or 120Hz HDR signal passes through without any loss of quality.

4K Passthrough on gaming TVs like the LG C2 or Samsung QN90B prevents lag, compression artifacts or dropped frames. This enables a smoother, more immersive gaming experience.

Use Case 3: AV Receivers
For home theatre buffs, HDMI Pass through receiver is indispensable. Connecting 4K sources like Blu-ray players and media streamers to AVR ports lets the receivers transmit the signal to the TV without needing to decode or process the signal.

This prevents unwanted video/audio delay or loss of HDR/bandwidth. flagship AVRs like the Denon AVR-X4700H feature 8K HDMI Pass Through to handle the very latest sources.

Use Case 4: Dolby Audio
Here's an advanced use case. Dolby audio formats like Dolby Atmos are encoded on TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus carrier signals. TVs only support basic Dolby Digital and pass these advanced signals as-is to soundbars and AVRs.

This HDMI Pass through of Dolby encoded audio ensures you experience the full object-based audio without transcoding losses.

So in summary, these are the key scenarios where HDMI Pass-Through simplifies connections while delivering pristine AV quality:

- Between media sources and soundbars
- Gaming consoles to 4K TVs
- Blu-ray players/streamers to AV receivers
- Passing Dolby Atmos/DTS:X signals from TV to audio gear

HDMI Pass-Through is all about maintaining the purity of source signal across multiple devices. So when buying HDMI-connected equipment, always check for HDMI Pass Through capability. It guarantees you the very best AV quality that the source device can deliver.

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[JimBoomer]

Another good example for Passthrough. My Apple TV plugged into my TV, then my TV is connected to my soundbar via eARC. When I enable Pass-through on the TV, my soundbar gets the unaltered Dolby Atmos signal from the Apple TV to the soundbar. In turn, stops sound delay added from additional TV processing :)

[KrashTheMusician]

I've never used my pass through on my oled. Gotta see if I hear a difference. Great video simple and to the point

[sanketjain]

Hello sir, some 4k passThrough receivers mention 4k hdr support but not hdr 10+. If we are talking about paas through why does it matter what video formats the sound bar supports?

[justinjustice]

I need a clarification please.
Whether I connect a videogame console to a HDMI audio extractor because I need to separate signals, and the device specs say "HDMI pass-through", will the video signal suffer for any delay or it will pass directly without any delay?
This is a very important information for gamers.
Thank you for the attention 🙏

[arnavsheelvant]

Hey, would you sat pass through is better than pcm?

[prasadreddy]

I have connected one of the hdmi port to Tatasky HD set top box and if i buy hdmi cable and connect to hdmi arc to TV through sound bar will it give output with better sound or should i need to go with optical fiber. Please advice

[jamesproudlove]

Great Post. You made it simple & easy to understand & put into practise. Thank you!

[lastsinner]

So I have a soundbar and a Bluetooth subwoofer Samsung set for my new pioneer 50-in Xumo TV. I don't know what to select auto PCM or passthrough? I am lost even after watching the video

[drmaddi]

Very nice video thanks, mate. Can I passthrough my 4K PC signal like this too? Cheers

[Esignn]

Passthrough fixed my delay from the TV to my Homepods. I have a Samsung S95B using eArc. It was on auto before.

[gmMJ]

I have a Samsung Q-950A soundbar and a LG75NanoTPA75 TV connected vide eARC. Connected to the TV are my PS4, 4-K Apple TV and my set-top box. Could you assist me and tell me which settings in LG TV should I search for the 'pass through' . Thank You.

[NguyenHoangMario]

Help me bro! I have home theatre 5.1 sony to Tv HDmi Arc . is it support 5.1 by tv box stick Firetick ?

[dannyboy]

So I can connect my apple tv 4k box to my Yamaha tsr 700 av receiver and since both are capable of producing Dolby Atmos it will work even though my optoma gt1090hdr projector has no arc or earc only regular HDMI?

[colin]

I have an Xbox series S that is giving audio lag of half a second in games, to my Atmos sound bar, my TV is also Atmos, Atmos is working but would this be solved by using pass through? Also do I connect Xbox to soundbar then soundbar to the hdmi I used to have the Xbox using on the TV? Any help is appreciated.

[INAusWorld]

I have got u80g 8k tv with earc 2.1 hdmi cable connected to SAMSUNG N950 sound bar to arc. When selected auto no sound from rear speaker. Even though it display dolby atmos on soundbar.
What should i do.
Can you help
Thanks

[hemantratnakar]

My Denon AV 1612 HDMI ports are not passing audio or video. Can you help me to fix this?

[anujkhemka]

My ZEB 9900 says it support’s 4K pass through and Dolby vision
But has no HDMI out port
Hot to connect fire TV stick and TV

[rahulyadavBERLIN]

Sir Yamaha 11.2 ya marantz 11.2 me se kon sa best rahe ga

[Shobhitsahu.]

Sir in my tv
1-auto
2-passthrough
3-pcm
4-dolby digital
Which can I use ?
5-dolby digital plus

[ShSh-lvfw]

I have Amazon 4K Firestick HDMI going to HDMI extractor's HDMI in. Extractor's HDMI OUT goes to NEC Projector and Optical Audio out goes to Samsung Home Theater system. Problem is, if I get Audio then I dont get the pic. If I get the pic, then dont get the audio. I tried different settings to set PCM/5.1/Dolby digital setting on firestick but I could never get audio and video at the same time. How can I fix this ?