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    Gaming soundbars explained: latency, eARC, VRR passthrough

    For gaming, a soundbar's audio latency and HDMI features matter more than for films. RTINGS advises latency as close to 0 ms as possible over ARC/eARC.[1] eARC carries lossless and object-based formats over one HDMI cable,[2] and a bar that sits between console and TV needs passthrough that keeps VRR, ALLM and 4K 120Hz, which not every bar supports.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedUpdated Gaming

    A soundbar used for games has two jobs a film-only bar does not: it must not add noticeable delay, and it must not break the console’s video features when it sits in the HDMI chain.[5][3] This explainer covers the specs that decide both. ContentLora does not test soundbars; measurements and findings come from the HDMI standards body and from RTINGS, an independent lab.

    Latency: why delay matters more in games

    If sound arrives late, gunshots and footsteps no longer line up with the picture, and in online games that can cost you.[5] When the soundbar gets audio from the TV over ARC or eARC, most TVs already keep sound and picture in step, so the bar itself should add as little delay as possible, ideally close to 0 ms.[1] Some brands, such as Samsung, let you adjust the audio delay by hand.[5]

    RTINGS measures latency separately for ARC, HDMI-in and optical. Over ARC/eARC the target is near 0 ms because most TVs synchronise their ARC/eARC output.[1] Over a bar’s own HDMI input, the target is to match the display’s video latency.[6] Lip Sync Correction is mandatory on eARC and optional on ARC.[7] Wireless rear speakers can add their own delay: RTINGS found the JBL Bar 1000MK2’s detachable satellites lag the bar and subwoofer with Dolby Atmos.[8]

    eARC: one cable, better formats

    eARC is the newer version of the HDMI audio link between TV and soundbar. One cable carries sound from anything plugged into the TV, including the best surround formats.[2]

    eARC supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, 32-channel uncompressed audio, and Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS:X.[2] With the console plugged into the TV, eARC sends the console’s audio on to the bar, while the video stays on the TV’s own HDMI input.[2][1]

    VRR and ALLM passthrough

    Consoles and PCs use VRR (variable refresh rate) to avoid tearing and stutter, and ALLM to switch the TV into game mode automatically.[9][10] If you plug the console into the soundbar instead of the TV, the bar has to pass those signals on. Not all do. RTINGS lists the Samsung HW-Q800H as passing VRR, HDR and ALLM,[3] while the Hisense AX5140Q has no 4K 120Hz passthrough.[4] Some bars have no full HDMI input at all, such as the Sonos Arc Ultra.[11]

    HDMI VRR lets the source deliver frames as fast as it can rather than at a fixed rate, reducing lag, judder and tearing.[9] ALLM signals the sink to enter a low-latency mode automatically.[10] A bar in the chain must pass 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM untouched. RTINGS reports HDMI 2.1 passthrough on the Samsung HW-Q990F, 4K 120Hz passthrough on the HW-Q990H, and VRR, HDR and ALLM passthrough on the HW-Q800H.[12][13][3] It found the JBL Bar 1000MK2 short of HDMI 2.1 passthrough requirements and the Hisense AX5140Q without 4K 120Hz passthrough.[8][4] If a bar lacks these, connecting the console to the TV and using eARC avoids the problem.[2]

    Virtual surround versus real speakers

    Single-unit bars often fake surround with processing. RTINGS describes the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 using “phantom speakers” to simulate a wider sound.[14] Systems with separate rear speakers, such as the Hisense AX5140Q, place real speakers behind you.[4]

    Virtualisation varies by product: the Sony Theater Bar 9 uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping with phantom speakers, and the Samsung HW-Q800H offers a virtual surround mode that upmixes stereo.[14][3] Some budget bars instead downmix surround audio. RTINGS reports this for the 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q600F.[15] Discrete systems such as the 5.1.4 Hisense AX5140Q and 11.1.4 Samsung HW-Q990H use physical rear and height channels.[4][13]

    A quick checklist

    • Latency over ARC/eARC close to 0 ms.[1]
    • eARC on both TV and bar.[2]
    • If the console goes through the bar: 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM passthrough.[3]
    • Wireless satellites checked for added delay.[8]

    For specific models, see the gaming soundbar buyer’s guide.

    Questions readers ask

    Should I connect my console to the TV or to the soundbar?

    If the soundbar connects to the TV by ARC/eARC, RTINGS notes that most TVs keep ARC/eARC audio and video in sync, so the bar's own latency should be as close to 0 ms as possible. If the console plugs into the soundbar's HDMI input, the bar's audio latency should match the display's video latency, and the passthrough must keep gaming features such as VRR.[1][6][3]

    What is the difference between ARC and eARC?

    eARC carries uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, up to 32 channels, and formats such as Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. RTINGS notes that Lip Sync Correction is mandatory on eARC but optional on ARC.[2][7]

    What is VRR passthrough?

    VRR lets a console or PC send frames as fast as it can, reducing lag, judder and tearing. A soundbar with VRR passthrough keeps that working when the console is plugged into the bar. RTINGS lists the Samsung HW-Q800H as supporting VRR, HDR and ALLM passthrough.[9][3]

    Does virtual surround work for games?

    Some bars use processing to simulate surround from a single unit. RTINGS describes the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 using phantom speakers this way, and the Samsung HW-Q800H offering a virtual surround mode to upmix stereo.[14][3]

    Sources

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Status shows how well established it is.

    1. [1]

      RTINGS advises that because most TVs synchronise ARC/eARC audio and video, a soundbar's audio latency over that connection should be as close to 0 ms as possible. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    2. [2]

      HDMI eARC carries audio from a TV to a soundbar or AV receiver over a single HDMI cable and supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, up to 32 channels, and formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS:X. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    3. [3]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q800H as a 2026 5.1.2-channel bar-plus-subwoofer whose video passthrough supports VRR, HDR and ALLM, with a virtual surround mode but no DTS format support. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    4. [4]

      RTINGS describes the Hisense AX5140Q as a 5.1.4-channel system with dedicated satellites and no 4K 120Hz video passthrough. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    5. [5]

      RTINGS says gamers should make sure soundbar latency does not affect their performance against other players, and that some makers such as Samsung offer manual audio-sync controls. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    6. [6]

      For a soundbar's own HDMI input, RTINGS advises that audio latency should match the display's video latency as closely as possible. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    7. [7]

      RTINGS notes that Lip Sync Correction is mandatory on eARC but only optional on ARC. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    8. [8]

      RTINGS found that the JBL Bar 1000MK2's detachable wireless satellites show latency relative to the bar and subwoofer with Dolby Atmos, and that it does not meet HDMI 2.1 video-passthrough requirements. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    9. [9]

      HDMI Variable Refresh Rate lets a console or PC deliver frames as fast as it can and reduces or eliminates lag, judder and frame tearing. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    10. [10]

      HDMI Auto Low Latency Mode lets a console or PC signal a display to switch automatically into a low-latency game mode. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    11. [11]

      RTINGS notes that the Sonos Arc Ultra, an all-in-one bar Sonos says reproduces a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience, has no full HDMI input. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    12. [12]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q990F as the 2025 flagship successor to the HW-Q990D, with broad audio-format support and HDMI 2.1 video passthrough. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    13. [13]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q990H as the 11.1.4-channel successor to the HW-Q990F, with 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough and some bass compression near maximum volume. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    14. [14]

      RTINGS describes the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 as a 2024 standalone flagship bar that uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and phantom speakers to simulate surround sound, but notes it cannot get very loud. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    15. [15]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q600F as a 2025 mid-tier 3.1.2 soundbar that downmixes surround audio. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Apr 10, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Gaming soundbars explained: latency, eARC, VRR passthrough." ContentLora, updated Oct 10, 2026. https://contentlora.com/explain/gaming-soundbars-explained

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