If you are building a gaming setup around a soundbar or an AV receiver, the one TV spec that quietly decides whether the whole thing sounds its best is eARC. The enhanced Audio Return Channel runs back out of a single HDMI port and can carry full, uncompressed and object-based audio — including the lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks that games and films now ship with — from the TV to your audio gear over one cable. Plain ARC, by contrast, is bandwidth-limited and usually compresses or drops those formats. This guide rounds up the best gaming TVs with eARC in 2026, and it is honest about a detail most listicles gloss over: not every ‘smart TV’ on the market actually carries a true eARC port.
Because eARC is the entire point here, we have led the list with the sets most likely to ship a genuine HDMI eARC connection — the OLED and premium QLED models — and we flag clearly where a more affordable Crystal UHD set typically offers standard ARC instead. Picks span around $478 up to roughly $1,099 and a range of sizes from 65 to 85 inches, because the right eARC TV is the one that fits your room and pairs cleanly with the soundbar or receiver you already own or plan to buy. Below you will find an at-a-glance comparison, then a closer look at each TV through the lens of its audio-passthrough and gaming credentials, followed by a buyer’s guide that explains exactly what eARC does and how to confirm a set really has it before you spend.
Best Gaming TVs with eARC at a Glance
| TV | Best For | Standout Spec | Approx Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG C3 55-Inch OLED evo | Best full eARC + gaming | OLED evo, HDMI 2.1, full eARC | around $1,099 |
| Sony A80J 77-Inch BRAVIA XR OLED | Big-screen eARC home cinema | 77-inch OLED, eARC, Dolby Vision | premium |
| Samsung 65-Inch QLED Q7F (Vision AI) | QLED eARC all-rounder | QLED, Vision AI, HDMI audio out | 7 sizes |
| Samsung 75-Inch QLED Q60C | Large QLED eARC value | Quantum HDR, Dual LED, ARC/eARC | value |
| Samsung 70-Inch Crystal UHD U8000F | Budget big screen (check ARC) | 70-inch 4K, typically ARC | around $478 |
| Samsung 85-Inch Crystal UHD DU8000 | Huge screen + soundbar | 85-inch 4K, Object Tracking Sound | premium |
1. LG C3 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo 4K Smart TV for Gaming
LG C3 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo 4K Processor Smart Flat Screen TV for Gaming with Magic Remote AI-Powered OLED55C3PUA, 2023 with Alexa Built-in
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The LG C3 is the standout pick for anyone whose gaming setup runs through a soundbar or AV receiver, because it is the surest bet here for a true HDMI eARC port alongside HDMI 2.1 inputs. That combination matters: eARC sends the TV’s full, uncompressed audio — including lossless Dolby Atmos — back to your audio gear over one cable, while HDMI 2.1 handles the high-bandwidth gaming signal coming in. On the C3’s self-lit OLED evo panel, each pixel produces its own light for perfect blacks and high contrast.
For gaming audio specifically this is exactly the intent the C3 serves. You can route a console or PC into the TV, let the set pass that audio out over eARC to a capable soundbar or receiver without quality loss, and rely on LG’s low-latency gaming features for the picture side. At around $1,099 for the 55-inch class it is the priciest set here, but if lossless audio passthrough to external speakers is the reason you are reading this guide, the C3 is the most dependable foundation to build that chain on.
Pros: Reliable full HDMI eARC, self-lit OLED evo for deep contrast, strong gaming HDMI inputs.
Cons: Highest price here; OLED needs care to avoid burn-in over years.
2. Sony A80J 77 Inch BRAVIA XR OLED 4K Smart Google TV with Dolby Vision
Sony X900H 55-inch TV: 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV with HDR, Game Mode for Gaming, and Alexa Compatibility - 2020 Model
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The Sony A80J is the big-screen eARC pick for a home-cinema-style gaming room. It is a 77-inch BRAVIA XR OLED that pairs Sony’s picture processing with an HDMI eARC output, so the full audio decoded on the TV — Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision-paired soundtracks included — can pass back to a soundbar or AV receiver over a single cable. The OLED panel delivers per-pixel illumination for inky blacks that suit cinematic games beautifully.
This is the TV for the gamer who wants a genuinely large OLED canvas and treats audio as a first-class part of the experience. Run your console or PC into the set, feed the lossless audio out via eARC to your speakers, and enjoy Sony’s well-regarded image quality on a 77-inch screen. It runs Google TV for apps, but here it earns its place primarily on the strength of its eARC passthrough and that vast, premium OLED display. If you want scale and a clean audio chain, the A80J delivers both.
Pros: True eARC passthrough, huge 77-inch OLED, Sony BRAVIA XR processing, Dolby Vision support.
Cons: Premium large OLED commands a high price; needs space and a strong stand.
3. Samsung 65-Inch Class QLED Q7F Series Vision AI Smart TV (2025)
Prime Samsung 65-Inch Class QLED Q7F Series Samsung Vision AI Smart TV (2025 Model, 65Q7F) Quantum HDR, Object Tracking Sound Lite, Q4 AI Gen1 Processor, 4K upscaling, Gaming Hub, Alexa Built-in
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The Samsung Q7F is the QLED all-rounder of the eARC list. As a step up from Samsung’s entry Crystal UHD sets, the Q-series typically carries an HDMI audio return path capable of eARC, letting it pass enhanced audio out to a soundbar or receiver, and its Quantum Dot panel produces bright, saturated color that holds up well in lit gaming rooms. Available across seven sizes, it is the flexible choice for matching a screen to your space.
For an audio-led gaming setup this Q7F hits a sensible middle ground: a QLED picture that copes with daylight better than OLED, Samsung’s Vision AI smart-TV features, and an HDMI audio output designed to feed external speakers rather than rely on the TV’s built-in drivers. Confirm eARC on the exact size you choose, since Samsung’s range varies, but as a bright, well-connected QLED built to anchor a soundbar or receiver chain, the Q7F is a strong, adaptable pick.
Pros: Bright QLED panel for lit rooms, HDMI audio-return output for soundbars, seven size options.
Cons: Confirm full eARC on your chosen size; QLED blacks trail OLED.
4. SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K Q60C Series Quantum HDR, Dual LED
Samsung 43-Inch Class QLED Q7F Series Samsung Vision AI Smart TV (2025 Model, 43Q7F) Quantum HDR, Object Tracking Sound Lite, Q4 AI Gen1 Processor, 4K upscaling, Gaming Hub, Alexa Built-in
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The Samsung Q60C is the large QLED value pick for an eARC-based setup. At 75 inches it brings Quantum HDR color and Samsung’s Dual LED backlight to a big screen, with an HDMI audio-return connection for sending sound out to a soundbar or AV receiver. It is the option for someone who wants QLED brightness and a generous panel without stepping up to the flagship tiers.
In an audio-focused gaming room the Q60C’s job is to combine a big, vivid picture with a clean route out to your speakers. The Quantum Dot color pops in bright rooms, the Dual LED backlight helps with tone, and the HDMI audio return lets the TV hand sound to dedicated audio gear instead of leaning on its own speakers. As with the rest of Samsung’s range, verify the audio-return capability on the model you buy; but for a large, value-minded QLED to pair with a soundbar, the Q60C is a sensible, spacious choice.
Pros: Large 75-inch QLED, Quantum HDR and Dual LED color, HDMI audio return for external speakers.
Cons: Verify eARC vs ARC on your unit; entry-QLED contrast is modest.
5. Samsung 70-Inch Class Crystal UHD U8000F 4K Smart TV (2025)
Samsung 70-Inch Class Crystal UHD U8000F 4K Smart TV (2025 Model) Endless Free Content, Crystal Processor 4K, MetalStream Design, Knox Security, Alexa Built-in
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The Samsung U8000F is the budget big-screen entry here, and honesty matters: as a Crystal UHD set it most commonly offers standard HDMI ARC rather than full eARC, so it cannot be relied on to pass lossless Atmos to a soundbar the way the OLED and QLED picks can. What it does offer is a large 70-inch 4K screen with smart features at around $478 — by far the lowest price on this list.
We include it for the buyer who wants the biggest, cheapest screen and pairs it with a soundbar over standard ARC, which still carries everyday surround formats fine for most gaming. If full lossless eARC passthrough is non-negotiable, step up to the C3, A80J or a confirmed-eARC Q-series set instead. But if you mainly want a vast, affordable 4K gaming display and are comfortable with ARC-level audio out to external speakers, the U8000F stretches a budget remarkably far. Check the spec sheet for your exact size before assuming eARC.
Pros: Very affordable 70-inch 4K screen, smart features, works with a soundbar over ARC.
Cons: Typically ARC, not full eARC; cannot be assumed to pass lossless Atmos.
6. Samsung 85-Inch Class 4K Crystal UHD DU8000 Series HDR Smart TV
Prime Samsung 55-Inch Class Crystal UHD U8000F 4K Smart TV (2025 Model) Endless Free Content, Crystal Processor 4K, MetalStream Design, Knox Security, Compatible with Alexa
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Rounding out the list is the Samsung DU8000 at a commanding 85 inches, the pick for the largest possible screen paired with a soundbar. It is a Crystal UHD 4K set with HDR and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound, and like the rest of the Crystal UHD family it most often provides standard HDMI ARC for audio out rather than guaranteed eARC. Its real draw is sheer scale for an immersive gaming wall.
This is the TV for the gamer who prioritises a massive 85-inch picture and intends to run sound to a soundbar or receiver over ARC. Object Tracking Sound adds a sense of audio movement from the TV’s own speakers, but in this guide the honest framing is that it pairs with external audio over standard ARC, not full eARC, so it will not be the set to choose if uncompressed Atmos passthrough is your goal. For an enormous, room-dominating 4K gaming screen with competent ARC audio output, though, the DU8000 makes a real statement. Always confirm the audio-return spec for the specific size you order.
Pros: Enormous 85-inch 4K canvas, HDR, Object Tracking Sound, ARC audio out to a soundbar.
Cons: Crystal UHD line usually ARC not eARC; very large footprint to place.
How to Choose a Gaming TV with eARC
Start by understanding what eARC actually buys you, because it is the whole reason to read a guide like this. The enhanced Audio Return Channel sends audio back out of the TV over one HDMI cable to a soundbar or AV receiver, and crucially it has the bandwidth to carry full, uncompressed and object-based formats — lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X included. Plain ARC, found on many cheaper sets, is bandwidth-limited and typically compresses or strips those tracks. If you own or plan to buy capable audio gear, eARC is the spec that lets the TV pass the best possible sound through to it.
The hard truth is that not every smart TV has true eARC, so verify it before you buy. As a rule of thumb in this guide, the OLED sets (the LG C3 and Sony A80J) are the most reliable for a genuine eARC port, premium QLEDs like the Samsung Q-series commonly include it, and entry Crystal UHD sets such as the U8000F and DU8000 frequently ship standard ARC instead. Read the spec sheet for the exact size and model you intend to order — capabilities can differ between sizes in the same family — and look explicitly for the word ‘eARC’ rather than just ‘ARC’ or ‘HDMI’.
Then match the audio chain end to end. eARC only helps if your soundbar or receiver also supports eARC and the formats you care about, and if you use a high-bandwidth HDMI cable on the eARC-labelled port at both ends. Plan the connection before you buy: identify which HDMI port carries eARC, make sure your audio device’s eARC input lines up, and budget for a cable rated to carry the data. A perfect TV port does nothing if the link is broken further down the chain.
Finally, weigh the gaming picture alongside the audio. An OLED such as the C3 or A80J gives perfect blacks and excellent contrast for cinematic, dark-scene games, while a bright QLED like the Q7F or Q60C resists glare better in a lit room. Decide your screen size for the space, set a budget — this list runs from around $478 to about $1,099 — and confirm eARC on your final choice. The best gaming TV with eARC is the one that pairs a picture you love with a true, verified eARC port feeding the speakers you actually use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HDMI eARC and why does it matter for gaming?
eARC, the enhanced Audio Return Channel, sends audio back out of the TV over a single HDMI cable to a soundbar or AV receiver, with enough bandwidth to carry full, uncompressed and object-based formats such as lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. For gaming, it means soundtracks reach your external speakers without the compression that standard ARC imposes, so the audio you hear matches what the game actually outputs.
What is the difference between ARC and eARC?
Both return audio from the TV to your audio gear over HDMI, but eARC has far more bandwidth. Standard ARC, common on cheaper sets, typically compresses or drops high-end formats, while eARC passes them through losslessly. In this guide the OLED and premium QLED picks are the ones to trust for true eARC; entry Crystal UHD models like the U8000F and DU8000 frequently offer only ARC.
Which TVs on this list have genuine eARC?
The LG C3 and Sony A80J OLEDs are the most reliable for a true HDMI eARC port, and Samsung’s Q-series QLEDs such as the Q7F commonly include an eARC-capable audio output. The budget Crystal UHD sets — the 70-inch U8000F and 85-inch DU8000 — most often ship standard ARC, so confirm the spec for your exact size if lossless passthrough is essential.
Do I need an eARC soundbar or receiver to benefit?
Yes. eARC is only useful end to end: the TV, the cable and the audio device all have to support it and the formats you want. Use a high-bandwidth HDMI cable on the eARC-labelled port, and make sure your soundbar or AV receiver has an eARC input that supports Atmos or DTS:X. Without a matching audio device, an eARC-capable TV simply falls back to standard ARC behaviour.
Related Guides
- Best Gaming TVs
- Best Soundbars for Gaming
- Best OLED TVs
- Best 4K TVs
- Best AV Receivers
- Best Gaming Headsets
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