Which has better sound output: hdmi cables or optical cables?

Question

Which has better sound output: hdmi cables or optical cables?

Answer 1

If your audio source and receiver are compatible, HDMI cable has better sound.

Answer 2

Since all cables carry a digital signal with enough bandwidth for multi-channel audio, the only factor you need to worry is cable quality in terms of signal drop-out. No cable is going to be "richer" or "woodier" than any other cable as some audiophiles would suggest; so long as the cable itself is good enough quality to not drop any data.

The only thing I find slightly dubious with HDMI is the size of the connector. Since the size of the connector itself is so small, I only worry that the quality of signal could suffer unless a high quality cable with a decent connector (eg gold-plated) is used.

Answer 3

HDMI... The competition is not even close.  They  are much more efficient at channeling the sound.  Optical Cables are outdated in this day and age

Answer 4

They both produce a digital sound, so they should basically be the same.  I prefer HDMI due to it being a single cable...

Answer 5

Optical cables (and digital coaxial cables) are capable of all the audio formats supported by DVD-Video.

That includes 1.5 Mbps dts, 448 Kbps Dolby Digital and Linear PCM stereo tracks up to 24-bit/96kHz, although the latter are extremely rare to find.

Optical will not support multi-channel MLP found on DVD-Audio discs.

HDMI will support all the new formats found on Blu-ray Disc like dts-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD as well as Linear PCM 5.1 tracks up to 24-bit/192kHz and 7.1 tracks up to 24-bit/96kHz. HDMI will also support multi-channel DSD tracks found on Super Audio CD and multi-channel MLP tracks found on DVD-Audio discs.

Analog RCA jacks can also be used for all the same formats that HDMI supports, although DSD, dts-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD have to be converted to analog first, they cannot be bitstreamed through RCA, only through HDMI.

If you have a receiver capable of HDMI and you're using HDMI to pass your video, it only makes sense to use HDMI for your audio as well. However those people with older receivers and pre/pro's not supporting audio through HDMI will likely be using analog cables over digital.

When it comes to DVD-Video you are not likely to notice a difference with optical over HDMI, but when you get into high resolution audio HDMI is your best choice. A single cable can replace 8 RCA connectors (7.1 analog) and three component connectors.

Answer 6

optical  is a much richer sound

Answer 7

They are both digital and therefore are both the same in terms of audio/video quality. The only advantage of HDMI is that both digital video and audio are on the same cable and it is the only way to get the new audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master...unless you use 6ch analog outputs on the back of a blu-ray player.

Answer 8

From my experience, I have not noticed a huge difference (since my parents hate using Prologic II and usually use 6 Ch. Stereo).

I do know that if you use the Digital/Optical audio, you can use DTS and things like that.

DTS is good since it will use all of your speakers for real.

Answer 9

it depends what your listening to , im  a pro-av installer, you only need hdmi for 1080p ie bluray, otherwise optical or digi coax is fine, so far hdmi has hand shaking issues whit other devices ie receivers or tv's and so for its not worth the issues in my opinion, but very soon it may be so dont count it out.........