D60 Dolby Atmos, E-ARC or ARC?

[lazycat_1001]

I bought a D60 set that supports Dolby Atmos, but my TV only has ARC. Does that mean I won't be able to hear Dolby Atmos?
Also, when I connect through ARC, I can still hear the channels separated, the front speakers and rear speakers each play their own sounds. So, as I understand it, isn't that basically the same as Dolby Atmos? I don't really understand the difference.

 

[harshjain1906]

I bought a D60 set that supports Dolby Atmos, but my TV only has ARC. Does that mean I won't be able to hear Dolby Atmos?
Also, when I connect through ARC, I can still hear the channels separated, the front speakers and rear speakers each play their own sounds. So, as I understand it, isn't that basically the same as Dolby Atmos? I don't really understand the difference.

ARC is more than enough for daily use — you’ll still get proper surround sound with dialogues, bass, and rear effects. eARC just unlocks the full Dolby Atmos experience with overhead sounds.

For example, in Top Gun: Maverick you’d actually hear the jet flying above your head, not just around you. But remember, to get that you also need an eARC-compatible audio track (like Dolby TrueHD Atmos from Blu-ray). Those files aren’t as common on regular streaming.

So honestly, ARC is perfectly fine for everyday content. eARC is more for advanced setups and people chasing that next-level 3D effect but yes for that audio file also needed which must have e-arc / lossless audio.

 

[lazycat_1001]

ARC is more than enough for daily use — you’ll still get proper surround sound with dialogues, bass, and rear effects. eARC just unlocks the full Dolby Atmos experience with overhead sounds.

For example, in Top Gun: Maverick you’d actually hear the jet flying above your head, not just around you. But remember, to get that you also need an eARC-compatible audio track (like Dolby TrueHD Atmos from Blu-ray). Those files aren’t as common on regular streaming.

So honestly, ARC is perfectly fine for everyday content. eARC is more for advanced setups and people chasing that next-level 3D effect but yes for that audio file also needed which must have e-arc / lossless audio.

So it mean, if I'm using a 5.1 setup without any overhead (ceiling) speakers, there's basically no difference?

 

[harshjain1906]

So it mean, if I'm using a 5.1 setup without any overhead (ceiling) speakers, there's basically no difference?

Got it, makes sense now . So basically with the D60 (since it doesn’t have up-firing speakers), ARC is already enough for enjoying proper surround. eARC only really matters if the setup + TV both support full Atmos with height channels and lossless audio.

For everyday use like Netflix or Disney+, ARC with Dolby Digital Plus is more than fine .

 

[Ultimea Team]

Great question! Thanks for reaching out! This is a question many home audio enthusiasts ask, so let's break it down:

Does ARC support Dolby Atmos?

Unfortunately, standard ARC (Audio Return Channel) doesn't have enough bandwidth to transmit full Dolby Atmos audio from Blu-ray or high-bitrate streaming sources.

However, some streaming services (such as Disney+, Apple TV+, or Netflix) may send compressed Dolby Digital Plus signals that can be played via ARC.

What ARC does:
You can hear multichannel audio (such as Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS). This means the sound is assigned to specific speakers—left, right, center, surround, and so on. It's channel-based.

How can I enjoy full Dolby Atmos sound?

Check your TV's audio output settings:
Set it to "Auto" or "Bitstream" (non-PCM) to allow Dolby Atmos-enabled signals to pass through (if supported).

Try connecting your source directly:
Connect your media device (e.g., Fire Stick, Apple TV, Blu-ray player) directly to the soundbar's HDMI input (if available). This often bypasses the TV's ARC limitations.

Consider upgrading your TV in the future:
If you enjoy immersive audio, TVs equipped with eARC will fully unlock Dolby Atmos (including lossless formats) with your D60.

You're fully set up for exceptional sound—once everything is connected, you'll be ready for a truly cinematic experience .

Let me know if you need help checking your settings or connections. Enjoy the sound!