Are you wondering how to connect projector to receiver via HDMI? If yes, you’ve landed on the right page.
While setting up a home theater, an AV receiver plays an important part in connecting multiple devices. However, it isn’t straightforward, and if you’re doing it for the first time, you’ll need help.
Hence, in this article, I’ve created a detailed guide on how to connect a projector receiver via HDMI in 5 simple steps.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
How to Connect Projector to Receiver via HDMI
You’ll need to keep a few things handy to connect a projector to a receiver via HDMI.
AV Receiver: A modern receiver that supports the latest audio and video technologies and has plenty of HDMI ports.
Projector: A projector with an HDMI input
Source Device: You’ll need a source device, like a laptop, DVD player, gaming console, etc., to run signals from the receiver to the projector
3-4 HDMI Cables: You’ll need a few HDMI cables to connect the source device to the AV receiver. You must also connect the AV receiver to the projector and soundbar/speakers.
Speakers or Soundbar: To complete the setup, you’ll also need a speaker or soundbar setup to receive audio signals from the AV receiver. (Optional)
5-Step Guide to Connect Projector to Receiver with HDMI
Step 1: Turn off all devices
Make sure all the devices are turned off and removed from their sockets. You must do this to prevent any accidental electric shocks or issues.
Step 2: Connect Source Device to Receiver
An AV Receiver works as a hub between the source devices, projector and speakers. To use the projector, you’ll need to connect a source device, like a laptop, gaming console, DVD player, etc., to the receiver.
Connect a source device to the receiver via an HDMI cable.
An AV receiver has multiple HDMI input ports. Therefore, you can connect multiple source devices to the receiver.
Note: Suppose you have a smart projector or a streaming media device (Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Chromecast) connected to your projector for viewing content. In that case, you don’t need to connect a source device to the receiver.
Step 3: Connect the Receiver to Projector
Run an HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC out port from your AV receiver to the projector’s HDMI port.
If your projector has an HDMI ARC port, connect the receiver to it.
Step 4: Power on all devices and select the correct HDMI input
Once you’ve connected all the devices, power them on. Select the correct HDMI input on your receiver. If you’ve connected the source device to the HDMI 1 port, then select that on the receiver.
Do the same with the projector; select the correct HDMI input. It will automatically detect it if no other devices are connected to the projector.
Step 5: Check the Connection
Now that you’ve connected all the devices and selected the appropriate HDMI inputs. It’s now time to check the system.
HDMI ARC isn’t enabled by default in some projectors, e.g., Viewsonic projectors. If it’s the same case for your projector, be sure to turn on HDMI ARC through the projector settings.
Now test the system by checking if you can see your source device’s screen on your projector. If you can see that, congratulations, you’ve made the connection right.
A few high-end AV receivers also require a first-time setup to make sure all devices are connected properly. If your AV receiver requires that, please go through the entire setup process.
Step 6: Connect Speakers/Soundbar to the Receiver (Optional)
If you have additional speakers or a soundbar, connect them to the receiver and complete your home theater setup.
Most modern home theater speakers and soundbars support HDMI ARC connection for playing audio. If your speaker system has an HDMI ARC connector, connect your AV receiver to the speakers via an HDMI cable.
Suppose you have an entry-level AV receiver. In that case, it’ll only have a single HDMI ARC out port. If you’ve connected it to the projector, you must use the coaxial, RCA, or AUX port to connect your receiver to the speaker.
Check this video guide on properly connecting your speaker/soundbar to an AV receiver.
Having said that, to get your overall system to support the latest audio technologies like Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, DTS, etc., it’s much better to connect the speaker to the AV receiver via an HDMI cable.
If your AV receiver has only a single HDMI ARC out port. In this case, you’ll need an HDMI Switch with ARC functionality.
Troubleshooting Tips
Are you encountering issues with your setup? Here are a few tips to help you troubleshoot:
- No Video/Audio: Make sure all connected devices are powered on, and you’ve selected the correct inputs on the receiver and projector.
- Poor Quality Video/Audio: You could face this issue due to poor-quality HDMI cable(s). Make sure your HDMI cables aren’t old and are in good shape. If you have older HDMI cables, switch them for newer ones that support 4K resolution @ 60Hz refresh rate.
- Audio Delay: Suppose the audio and video aren’t in sync. In that case, you may need to adjust your receiver’s ‘Audio Delay’ or ‘Lip Sync’ setting.
Will an HDMI receiver work if my projector doesn’t have an HDMI ARC connector?
Yes, an HDMI receiver will still work with your projector even if it doesn’t have an HDMI ARC connector.
The HDMI ARC feature is useful for sending audio from the projector back down the HDMI cable to the AV receiver. However, if you’re using an external device like a DVD player, gaming console, laptop, etc., you don’t need a projector with an HDMI ARC connector with your setup.
The typical flow is Source Device > Receiver > Projector. Generally, the audio from the source device is sent to the speakers through the receiver, not the projector.
However, if you have a smart projector or connected devices like Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Chromecast to your projector, you want the audio from the projector to play through the receiver.
In this case, a projector with an HDMI ARC connection is necessary. Else, you’ll have to connect the projector to the speaker via an aux port, RCA, or composite cables, but that defeats the whole purpose of an AV receiver.
Also Read: 3 Best Projectors with HDMI ARC and eARC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect any projector to a receiver using HDMI?
As long as both the projector and receiver have HDMI ports, you can connect them. However, always check the specific models and their connectivity options to ensure compatibility.
What if my AV receiver only has one HDMI output, but I want to connect the projector and an HDMI ARC soundbar simultaneously?
For this scenario, you’ll need an HDMI switch with ARC functionality or an HDMI audio extractor to separate the audio and video signals.
Can I still connect a projector to the receiver via HDMI if the projector doesn’t have an HDMI ARC port?
Yes! ARC is mostly used for sending audio signals from a TV or projector to the receiver. If your projector doesn’t have an HDMI ARC port, you can still connect it to your receiver using a standard HDMI port for video signals.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you answer how to connect the projector to the receiver via HDMI.
An AV Receiver acts as a hub and is an important device for a home theater setup.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
Thank You!