Samsung TV & Audio HW-B650 3.0 Channel 330 Watt Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Bluetooth B650 ARC ONLY Error Fix: Standard ARC Only — No eARC Support

Error code B650 ARC ONLY on the Samsung TV & Audio HW-B650 3.0 Channel 330 Watt Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Bluetooth means: Standard ARC Only — No eARC Support. The HW-B650 supports standard HDMI ARC only — it does NOT have eARC. Implications: (1) maximum audio format is lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps) over ARC, (2) cannot pass lossless formats: no Dolby TrueHD, no DTS-HD Master Audio, no Dolby Atmos via TrueHD (only lossy Dolby Digital+ Atmos over ARC), (3) 2-channel PCM stereo is supported. For Blu-ray discs with lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA soundtracks, the TV will transcode to lossy Dolby Digital before sending over ARC. This is a hardware limitation of the HW-B650 — eARC requires updated HDMI chipset not present in this model. Use optical cable as equivalent-quality alternative for DD 5.1.

The most successful fix is "Upgrade to Soundbar Model with eARC Support" (hard difficulty, ~120 minutes). This fix costs nothing. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated low severity. It is generally not urgent and can often be resolved with a simple DIY fix.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Upgrade to Soundbar Model with eARC Support") is rated hard difficulty and takes about 120 minutes. Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, HDMI 2.1 certified cable.

DIY cost: $0. Professional repair typically costs $400-$600. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Samsung TV & Audio HW-B650 3.0 Channel 330 Watt Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Bluetooth has 8 other known error codes, including: ARC (HDMI ARC Input Mode — Connection Issues), ARC NO AUDIO (No Sound via HDMI ARC/eARC Connection), AUDIO DROPOUT (Audio Drops Out Intermittently), AUTO STANDBY (Soundbar Auto Powers Off After 15-20 Minutes), B650 BASS MANAGE (Bass Hump / Gap at Crossover Between Soundbar and Subwoofer), and 3 more.