TV audio into DAC via eARC or better

I believe all streaming services including Netflix involve compressed audio.  It’s my understanding that the full advantage of EARC cannot be obtained via streaming.

As others have said, I use optical out from my Sony oled to my Benchmark DAC1 for my 2 channel bedroom/tv system and am amazed by the sound.

BTW, Netflix allows you to change the sound from 5.1 to 2 channel so the digital output from the Sony tv is not doing the 2 channel downmix and the sound is indeed improved.

@chauncey

If you’re not after Dolby Atmos then Arc or optical connection is more than adequate from your TV to your DAC. Those who post here with an assumption that streaming offers compressed video and audio, either don’t have the adequate bandwidth or lacks the proper hardware.

@chauncey Another option is the Wyred4Sound Remedy Reclocker, it takes the Toslink in and cleans it up and outputs a SPDIF signal, I get a nice uptick in sound quality compared to Toslink into my Bricasti M3. https://wyred4sound.com/collections/digital-converters/products/remedy-reclocker

Interesting.  I forgot I have a Mutec reclocker I use to use for my DAC but I removed it for USB when I upgraded by Schiit Yggy a few years back.  I should try it on my TV audio!

https://www.mutec-net.com/product_mc-3-plus-usb.php

I'm not sure if this is specifically relevant to your needs, but I have recently experimented with a number of options to allow my basic living room stereo (also have a media room) to integrate reasonably with a television.

I played with using higher end receivers as a pre/pro for this 2 channel system, eventually replaced the receiver with a 4k pre/pro.  Most recently I acquired an NAD C658 (where I had intended to add the 4k MDC video switching board, thus allowing video switching on a pure 2 channel component).  Around this same time, I happened to walk past a Samsung The Frame 75" TV (open box) that I picked up on the cheap...

To my surprise, the feature that most people probably find to be The Frame's greatest annoyance (the external "one connect" box) ended up being a huge bonus in my system.  All of the video is integrated within the Samsung ecosystem and it connects to my DAC/pre with the toslink connection only (eliminating the HDMI not "playing nicely" concerns).  I am also able to play Apple/Tidal music directly on my DAC/pre via Airplay or BluOS (without "waking up" the TV).

This was all a pleasant surprise for me as I ended up not needing the MDC 4k video card for the NAD while having a semi-decoupled audio/video setup that is very user friendly.