# Audioquest HDMI Cable For I2S - eARC or regular? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cables\ **Created:** [December 29, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437 "2024-12-29T15:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mikemalter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mikemalter/32/253880_2.png) [@mikemalter](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mikemalter)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/1 "2024-12-29T15:51:14Z")
I’m looking at cables for I2S and looking at Audioquest cables. They offer eARC and regular HDMI cables, and I can’t understand the difference between the two from reading materials on their website. Can someone please let me know if I want the eARC or regular HDMI cable? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![roger-macklin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9e8a1a/32.png) [@roger-macklin](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/roger-macklin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/2 "2024-12-29T16:01:39Z")
Not the eARC. ---
**Author:** ![mikemalter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mikemalter/32/253880_2.png) [@mikemalter](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mikemalter)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/3 "2024-12-29T16:03:08Z")
Thanks for your reply. Can you say more about what the differences are please? ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/4 "2024-12-29T16:26:23Z")
There is a post on Dragon48: > [@Audioquest Dragon Thread](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-dragon-thread/25863/17?page=2): > > I am still slumming it with an Inakustik Referenz. But I am sure cleaning signal multiple times never hurts. Maybe that’s the cable Galen is working on? Post 20 on there was some discussions on the difference between eArc and Arc. ---
**Author:** ![mikemalter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mikemalter/32/253880_2.png) [@mikemalter](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mikemalter)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/5 "2024-12-29T16:38:11Z")
Got it thanks. I’m trying a Thunderbird USB sent from the Cable Company and wanted to double check. ---
**Author:** ![paul172](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul172/32/308402_2.png) [@paul172](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/paul172)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 3:36am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/6 "2024-12-30T03:36:36Z")
I have been told that eARC does not work with I2S. You may want to clarify that with PS Audio but I’ve had many from AQ told me it does not. ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 8:38am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/7 "2024-12-30T08:38:49Z")
But it is more expensive so we can see the attraction. ---
**Author:** ![anabelllebachoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@anabelllebachoy](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/anabelllebachoy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 11:02am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/8 "2024-12-30T11:02:38Z")
Since eArc allows you to separate out the digital audio from the video signal, my guess is an eArc cable does not have video lines connected. ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/9 "2024-12-30T13:38:10Z")
eARC stands for Enhanced Audio Return Channel, a feature of HDMI 2.1 that allows for higher quality audio transmission from a TV to a soundbar or AV receiver: - **Improved bandwidth** : eARC has a higher bandwidth than HDMI ARC, which allows for higher quality surround sound technologies. - **Supports high-bitrate audio formats** : eARC supports audio formats up to 192 kHz, 24-bit, and uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1. - **Backward-compatible** : eARC is backward-compatible with ARC. - **Automatic processor delay correction** : eARC can automatically correct processor delays to ensure audio and video match. - **Lip sync correction** : eARC can correct lip sync. To get the best audio quality, all components in your system must be eARC-compatible. If any component is only ARC-compatible, your bandwidth may be limited by that device. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/4X/0/e/9/0e9da40358d019c6fee034b3f7bcaa3d8a411dc4.jpeg "HDMI ARC and eARC Explained | Simplify Your System!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CFNbzHYNJc) ---
**Author:** ![mikemalter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mikemalter/32/253880_2.png) [@mikemalter](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mikemalter)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/10 "2024-12-31T21:40:06Z")
Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question. I understand now that the eARC versions of Audioquest HDMI cables will not work with I2S. ---
**Author:** ![Deadhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Deadhead](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Deadhead)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/11 "2025-12-08T22:57:19Z")
I’m confused. I just ordered an AQ Vodka 48 HDMI cable for use with my directstream dac MK1. Photos of the cable package doesn’t say anything about eARC on the front, but on the back of the packaging it does talk about eARC. Can anyone tell me if this is a cable that will work as an i2s connection or should I hurry up and cancel my order? ---
**Author:** ![tomhail](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tomhail/32/40944_2.png) [@tomhail](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tomhail)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/12 "2025-12-08T23:20:05Z")
Can you upload a screenshot of the webpage? ---
**Author:** ![Deadhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Deadhead](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Deadhead)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/13 "2025-12-09T01:09:11Z")
![IMG_6263](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/4X/d/6/6/d6671a6a64419aa3e572e32af7797d7d4ffdcd34.jpeg) Thanks Tom! What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![tomhail](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tomhail/32/40944_2.png) [@tomhail](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tomhail)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audioquest-hdmi-cable-for-i2s-earc-or-regular/40437/14 "2025-12-09T02:27:02Z")
Well, it seems that any description of the Vodka 48K HDMI cable depicts eARC. “Taking performance even further, all 19 conductors, comprising A/V and eARC signals, all Ground-Reference drains, and control and power conductors, are properly controlled for the most efficient dissipation of Radio-Frequency Noise.” So based on that and the post right before yours, the Vodka is indeed eARC and is not compatible with i2S.