/r/HTIB. The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on Blu-ray: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. Is HDMI ARC better than optical?Mar 13, 2014Both HDMI and optical pass digital audio from one device to another. There is no difference when it comes to passing multi-channel audio like Dolby digital. And these strands are made of glass. But in that case, you can’t use 60 frames per second. HDMI ARC, transmit both audio and video signals , With Optical cable Video signals can not be send. Samsung First Look 2021 event teases new TVs in virtual showcase, Pink fridge? Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. On lesser gear, it's a lot less likely you'll hear a difference. Better, a little...Regardless of the gear you use, as mentioned there's also no way to get Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio with an optical connection. Optical cables do not support 7.1 audio channels because they can’t … When hooking up an audio system or sound bar, you generally have to choose an HDMI or optical digital-audio connection. Hence, you don’t need to use other remotes to control various devices. HDMI ARC adds control over the TV from downstream devices (power, volume, etc). The manufacturing cost of this cable is more expensive compared to the previous one. Although optical audio cables are immune to electrical noise, they are quite fragile compared to HDMI cables. It has replaced all the other connectivity options, especially for the set boxes, Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles. Most sound bars, for example, lack the fidelity to do anything with the additional resolution. So if you want just a single cable between two devices, HDMI is your pick. HDMI is an abbreviated form of High Definition Multimedia Interface. But the cost of that decision is reflected in the limited amount of codecs that can be carried on an optical connection. You need to update the Arc in this case. On the other hand, optical TOSLINK cables are less prone to such interferences, as they are non-metallic and use glass threads for signal transmission. Moreover, HDMI ARC also enables CEC technology. Video source to HDMI inputs (TV will process video and send the audio to digital-out) The Beam comes with and HDMI cable and an Optical adapter. The app has a setting to "Auto Wake on Sound". Bottom LineUse HDMI when you can. The basicsBoth HDMI and optical pass digital audio from one device to another. On the other hand Dolby Digital is surprisingly good, and unless you have decent gear, you probably won't hear much (if any) improvement with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA. HDMI ARC cables use very low voltage to transmit the audio signal. Simply put, you’ll get better quality audio than you would with an optical cable. When it comes to video quality, the HDMI cable is the name that comes first in our mind. Discuss: HDMI vs. optical: Which digital-audio connection to use? The setup is in a small space and I like the size, looks and output of the analog speakers so I'd like to keep them. The simplest advice is to go with HDMI when you can. Where as, Optical Cables sends audio signals in the form of light waves through the fiber optic cables, so the loss of signals is very limited. When it comes to the Hence, “e” stands for “enhanced”. And  they do not support Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Blue Ray and DTS HD. It is always better for you to go with HDMI. One of the benefits of HDMI ARC is quality audio, HDMI ARC produces quality sounds from any device, even old devices, especially when you make use of HDMI eARC, numerous home entertainment systems, optical cables support surround sound that’s up to 5.1 channels, which is also good for smart TV, game console and soundbar. Besides it allows you to send it to the AV receiver. For the cables of high definition multimedia interference, copper is used. For CES, Samsung says, 'Why not?'. The latest HDMI standard, v1.4, adds another useful feature – ARC, or “Audio Return Channel”. It is because not all HDMI cables come with the same quality. And both of them used for different purposes. By using these cables, you can get the ultimate benefits from Blu-Ray discs or a modern game console. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. They look similar and can work, but an analogue interconnect has different impe… Going to the Basics Both HDMI and optical cables pass the digital audio from one device to another. Does Optical Cable make a difference? This cable can support all kind of sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. In case you are willing to send audio files by using a single hdmi cable, then you can use this cable. The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on Blu-ray: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. These don’t support TrueHD, DTS HD, or Dolby Digital Plus also. On a decent system, with decent speakers, you might notice that the high-res formats are a little more open, a little smoother sounding. By sending audio both ways, ARC does away with the need for optical audio cables (also called S/PDIF), cutting down on pointless clutter that likely already causes you a headache at home. Having used the Soundbar 500 for a few months and having periodic outages with the HDMI ARC TV sound, I gave up and switched to Optical. But still, it is not recommended by all the users. If you plug a regular HDMI cable into the ARC port, it will act as a regular HDMI. It implies that you need to use only one line for audio and video. Copyright © 2020. Tweet at him@TechWriterGeoff then check out his travel photography on Instagram. While we’re on the topic of connections that transfer both audio and visuals, there’s one last one that we should cover and that’s HDMI ARC. When it comes time to connect your shiny new sound bar or AV receiver, your two main choices are HDMI or optical digital audio. But if you can't it's not the end of the world. Many don't accept those formats at all. But the disadvantage is that this cable is susceptible to electromagnetic interference. It is compatible with virtually any sound format. Still have a question? HDMI vs Optical audio connection question. In this article we discussed about HDMI arc vs Optical. On the other hand, the optical cables are immune to interference and exact for very long runs. Digital Optical cables, also referred to simply as Optical cables, only allow for audio signals to be relayed between your source device and the speaker. The new updated version termed as HDMI eARC. Hey guys, I just got myself Sony BDVE6100 5.1. That, or get a new TV. Yes. However, HDMI ARC relays both audio and video signals through a single cable. By using it, you can connect the Blu-ray players, set-top box, different gaming consoles to the TV. We usually use the optical cable to send digital audio signals between two separate devices. It is always better for you to go with HDMI. The connector is a standard, circular RCA connector - the kind that’s found at either end of a pair of analogue interconnects.But don’t be tempted to try and use a standard RCA phono cable in place of a dedicated coaxial digital cable. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. These cables are compatible with all the latest audio formats. Unlike many other similar devices, the Soundbox isn't equipped with HDMI-ARC, so audio can't travel back down the HDMI lead from the TV to the Soundbox and needs an alternate route. What I read online from reviews is that Arc via HDMI is better than optical. Keaton, Pattinson, Affleck to all play Batman in 2022. If you were to drive off of HDMI, you'd need multiple inputs and a switching process to move between them. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Want to connect your shiny new soundbar or AV receiver? Attach the remaining end of the HDMI cable to the Beam. It is a single cable that helps to transmit high definition video and audio. You can use the cord on uncompressed PCM stereo audio, and 5.1/7.1 Dolby Digital and DTS multi-channel audio. Their latest versions of HDMI, 2.0 and up, can support audio bandwidth of up to 192 kHz and 32 channels. The main issue is these cables are virtually immune to interference. The main benefit of the HDMI-eARC is that it has got a massive improvement in bandwidth and speed. The intended use of the optical port on the Sooundbox is to take an optical audio link from a smart television, so that on-TV apps can output to the Soundbox. Then, the only options left to your are selection is HDMI Arc vs Optical digital audio. But the factor that creates a difference between these two is the passing ability of higher-resolution audio. The main job of the HDMI ARC cable is to transfer the audio signal from one line to the TV. Probably the most common audio cable format used to this day, you’ll find analog cabling in everything from PC speakers connected via that lime green 3.5mm dongle to headphones plugged into smartphones.Audio signals in analog cables are transmitted via electricity and are limited to transmitting two-channel stereo sound. In this case, the optical cables are not the perfect one for you. My father is convincing me that optical connection is currently being the best choice for the best 5.1 experience, however, I am browsing through some reddit threads and I mainly see people are recommending HDMI connection over Optical one. Another great option is HDMI ARC. Compared to the analogue, these are far better. In addition, HDMI ARC support all audio formats and the Optical  Cable have some limitations, even though they can transfer audio signals without any loss. The Case for HDMI ARC. In the case of a 2.1 line, you can view 120 frames per second in 4K. However...Depending on your gear, you might not have the option for HDMI. In practical terms, if you have a surround sound system, such as a 7.1 soundbar, the HDMI eARC will be your best choice. eARC has much higher bandwidth and it can support Dolby TrueHD audio. These are vital for most VR systems. If you’re still in the planning phase for your next home theater system, you might want to stick around. Maybe you have an older receiver. When comparing HDMI vs. optical audio cables for sound quality, HDMI is better than optical. Both cables can be had pretty cheap. You can control the Arc by using a single remote only. HDMI cables are an all-in-one solution. These formats can't get transmitted across optical. Is HDMI ARC better than optical? If you want to transmit top-quality audio between two devices, then picking optical cables will be a smart move. Learn how your comment data is processed. In terms of simplicity, HDMI also passes video signals. Because of the reason HDMI ARC cables are of Maximum 15 meters length and Optical Cables my be beyond that length ( 30 meters). But optical is unable to transmit such formats. For a decent audio result, an optical cable is a good option. Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Blue Ray and DTS HD. Created by ProDigitalWeb. Quality Audio. Neither of those sound bars have HDMI inputs anyway, so the best way to connect them is directly from the source to the bar via optical, skipping the TV. We haven’t talked about this much. Where as the HDMI ARC support all sound formats. It termed High Definition multimedia interference Enhanced Audio Return Channel. Optical cables do not have interference during transmission. Well, HDMI has always been the preferred option for most of us. Yes! 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