[Sosa]

Just purchased Samsung's latest soundbar + subwoofer system, the HWD550, and I'm having a hard time figuring out the audio connection. The manual starts by telling me to connect the TV and Soundbar via HDMI but doing only that produces no sound. Apparently this is just for the purpose of obtaining Audio Return Channel (ARC) benefits, so I still need an audio connection? I thought HDMI would carry video and audio? Or is it that my 2009 LNB650 doesn't support this ARC and this is why I don't get audio?

The manual continues giving me two methods for the audio connection: analog, for which a is cable provided, and digital/optical. This seems to imply that the HDMI connection above is only part of the audio connection process. Is my understanding here correct?

I'm reading that digital/optical is a better audio connection, so I should go by an optical cable right?

[Sosa]

It must be that my 2009 TV does not support this HDMI 1.4 standard. I'm reading monoprice description of ARC:
"The new Audio Return Channel allows the HDMI connection between a television and A/V receiver to transmit audio two ways, both upstream and downstream. This eliminates the need for a separate audio cable and ensures you maintain the high digital audio quality of HDMI. Your experience is further enhanced by the LipSync functionality of HDMI which matches the audio and video of your programming compensating for any processor delays. "
So the whole point of it was to replace the audio cable. Now just need to confirm what HDMI standard is in the TV.

No that can't be it, 1.3 HDMI should be good enough for sound even if I don't get this ARC stuff...

Alright, I had a friend answer this question for me: the TV does not have HDMI out, the manual was referring to having having device such as a cable box connect to the soundbar receiver and the receiver back to the TV with video and audio. I'm cable tv free, so I don't have that need. So I'll just purchase a digital cable from monoprice.