HDMI vs optical sound wire

[bexi21]

which is better HDMI or optical line for surrounding sound?

[JstuFly]

Optical I think. But wait for the experts...

[tenmohican]

They both are similiar, what matters more is what connectors your receiver can take. Hdmi imo, is easier because it does audio/video in one. Also hdmi is forward compatible for the hdcp signalling which is a nice to know, and perhaps later a must have feature.

[dasteru]

They are both digital so they should both be the same. I think its mostly just a matter of what connection types you're reciever will accept, alot of recievers dont have HDMI inputs so u will be stuck with optical.

[emaildejan]

Actually, it all depends on your home theater's capabilities and set up. Essentially, optical and HDMI should NOT produce any significant difference in sound. However, there is allegedly no sound degradation when using optical, whereas HDMI sound is great, but can be difficult to implement because of some of the built-in copyright limitations of HDMI itself.

Overall, it's whatever is most convenient for you given what you have available. Personally, I like feeding the sound from the PS3 to my receiver via the HDMI cable (less cables makes it far easier to keep things neater behind the scenes), and then send the sound signal from the receiver to the 7.1 digital surround sound set up that I have. I've personally tried to see if I could notice a difference between optical and HMDI, but (for me) the improvement in sound quality wasn't good enough to justify the additional cable.

Hope that helps.

[pionata]

HDMI has some small moment for half a sec where the sound stop when going through my tv and bas out as optical, this happen randomly every 30 min or so.

Direct Optical (from PS3 to sound system) is flawless. Technically there is no difference because both are digital.

[bexi21]

I have HDMI run to the receiver then another HDMI go to the TV. I have extra optical wire around the house, I want the best sound for my system.

[faaeng]

Uhh HDMI is better because through TOSLINk aka Optical cable you are unable to tranmit the higher lossless audio formats ie.TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, uncompressed PCM

[sorrow880]

Mine is hooked up with opitcal because my reciever doesn't have HDMI. Sounds great though.

[crozz]

Alright sorry to be rude but this thread is packed full of very uninformed statements. HDMI is undeniably a better means for sound. Now most of us don't have a set up that is capable of using the sound benefits of HDMI, but it is better, and not by a small margin.

Optical cable tops out at Dolby Digital EX or DTS Digital Surround. These are both very fine audio formats, but these are from the era of DVD. These formats generally top out at 640kbps, while DTS Surround ES, or whatever it's called, can hit 1.5mbps I believe. They are very acceptable, but they are by no means the newest and greatest.

HDMI expands on the possible Audio formats greatly. This includes Dolby TrueHD, a DTS:HD, and the greatest, DTS: Master Audio. Now obviously, it can't get any better than master audio. You won't find all of these sound formats on even the average Blu-ray, but TrueHD is usually the norm in the hi-def era, and if a movie contains DTS: MA, well that's just great. I believe Dolby TrueHD tops out at around 18mbps, which is obviously extremely more bandwidth than you'll find with an optical cable. DTS:MA is something ridiculous, let me look it up... 24.5 mbps.

So, when comparing 24.5mbps to 1.5mbps, there is a very large difference in the sound capabilities of optical to HDMI. But if you have to ask this question, I doubt you have a set up capable of the new generation sound formats, so optical should be fine.

But everyone take note, HDMI and Optical are not created equal!!! Or even close!!

[Evil^Virus]

Uhh HDMI is better because through TOSLINk aka Optical cable you are unable to tranmit the higher lossless audio formats ie.TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, uncompressed PCM

For a part you are right. If you have a 5.1or a 7'1 surround reciever wich is capable off outputting HD-sound, then your only option will be a HDMI connection. Because optical cables can't transfer such a big amount off sound data true to the reciever in time! But if you have a reciever witch only can output Dolby digital or DTS, then optical or HDMI are on the same level. Neither will give you better sound.

[Metfanant]

this should be in the Home Theater section....

technically there is no difference between the sound carrying capabilities of optical and HDMI...if im not mistaken, today's optical cables have MORE than enough bandwidth to transmit the new HD codecs, but as with everything today they are simply not allowed to do so....just like how component cables are more than capable of carrying 1080p video, but for copyprotection reasons you can't watch movies in 1080p over component....

if you're looking for Multichannel (5.1/7.1) PCM audio, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS HD: Master Audio then quite simply HDMI is where its at....

if you're looking for regular Dolby Digital surround, or DTS surround it makes little to no difference....

the only reason I prefer HDMI is because audio and video are carried over one single cable....

[faaeng]

For a part you are right. If you have a 5.1or a 7'1 surround reciever wich is capable off outputting HD-sound, then your only option will be a HDMI connection. Because optical cables can't transfer such a big amount off sound data true to the reciever in time! But if you have a reciever witch only can output Dolby digital or DTS, then optical or HDMI are on the same level. Neither will give you better sound.

yeah I know that. Just wanted to get my point across about which is better without too much explaination. I'm typing from a pda lmao but still end result is still that HDMI is better then Optical. Im refering to limitations of the wires themselves not of the hardware they are connecting too.

[Evil^Virus]

yeah I know that. Just wanted to get my point across about which is better without too much explaination. I'm typing from a pda lmao but still end result is still that HDMI is better then Optical. Im refering to limitations of the wires themselves not of the hardware they are connecting too.

Well, the OP's question is kind off vague. If he only has a 5.1 dolby digital/DTS reciever then there or no benefits for HDMI over optical. So asking this question would be useless. and it also goes the other way around, cus you can't use a optical cable if you want TRUE HD-sound! This tread doesn't make allot off sense! Its like comparing appels with oranges.

And i'm typing this from my ps3 with controller ;-)

[Bansh88]

Only the higher end recievers will translate sound through HDMI, which is the better option if you have it.
Discuss all you want but very few even CAN run sound through HDMI

[We Are Ninja]

Alright sorry to be rude but this thread is packed full of very uninformed statements. HDMI is undeniably a better means for sound. Now most of us don't have a set up that is capable of using the sound benefits of HDMI, but it is better, and not by a small margin... But, if you have to ask this question, I doubt you have a set up capable of the new generation sound formats, so optical should be fine.

But everyone take note, HDMI and Optical are not created equal!!! Or even close!!
I'm a non-audiophile, but that was extremely informative and surprisingly easy to digest. Much appreciated. +rep

[crozz]

I'm a non-audiophile, but that was extremely informative and surprisingly easy to digest. Much appreciated. +rep

Glad it helped! But one thing I would like to mention, I hope my post didn't make me sound like an elitist, because my sound system isn't close to being capable of utilizing HDMI sound either, lol. I just did a lot of research on the stuff before I bought my system, and I don't have a grand I can devote to sound, so my system uses optical, too. It's just fine for 99% of people.

[rickj]

hi new member i have a surround system connected to tv with component cable ,suround does not have hdmi, ps3 connected to tv via hdmi how do i get the ps3 to output sound through surround ,is it just a matter of buying optical and connecting to ps3 any help apprieciated

[topgun1974]

hi new member i have a surround system connected to tv with component cable ,suround does not have hdmi, ps3 connected to tv via hdmi how do i get the ps3 to output sound through surround ,is it just a matter of buying optical and connecting to ps3 any help apprieciated

does your surround system have an optical input?
if so just run an optical cable from your ps3 to your surround system
but make sure you 'tell' your ps3 that you want to use optical out in the sound settings

[Happs]

Only the higher end recievers will translate sound through HDMI, which is the better option if you have it.
Discuss all you want but very few even CAN run sound through HDMI

Though this was true (and only a short while ago), it's quickly becoming the norm in 'standard' receivers. I got an Integra with HDMI about 8 months ago. At the time, you were extremely lucky to find receivers for under AU$2,000. Just last weekend, I saw Onkyo's and Sony's retailing for AU$1,299 with 3+ HDMI inputs. With some bargaining and shopping around, they can be had for less than $1k! Even more so in the US than here I'm sure.

It will fast become the standard audio connection.

And as a few have already mentioned, the audio quality of HDMI vs. Optical cannot be compared, should you be lucky enough to have a system that can take advantage of such quality.

[bolofly2003]

thanks. i want a little help. i have the ps3 80gb and sony str-da4300es receiver. i tried to get the dts master audio. my receiver have it. but it doesnt detect when i put a blu ray with dts master audio on it. please help me to enjoy dts master audio. i put the lastest ps3 firmware. 2.41. i think its the hsmi cable. i use the mosnter ultra 1000

[rmaille]

Hi guys!...I know that HDMI carries more info than the optical...I just want to ask simple question...can you tell a notorious difference in the sound between optical and HDMI?... I'm asking this because I had the same question about the video, between video component HD (1080i) and video through HDMI (1080p), and I can't tell the difference in that area.

Now I have an Onkyo reciever (7.1 dolby digital EX, DTS ES), and I'm using optical with my PS3, and I can hear the dolby digital true HD and the DTS HD master audio, and there I can tell the differenece is really notorious between DVD sound and blu ray sound.


this is just to see if I'm missing a lot.


thanks

[ebony & ivory]

i have my setup through optical and it sounds awesome. don't know about hdmi but i bet it is great too.

[oostroma]

I have optical from my PS3 to my Onkyo 6.1 Dolby/ DTS surround system. It does not have HDMI capabilities though. Is there a way to get analog stereo output from the PS3 also so I can also use the pre-out surround feature of my Onkyo receiver?

As well, I have HDMI from the PS3 to my Sharp Aquos 37" LCD. Is there a way to get the PS3 to output component video to an overhead projector???

[Glass-X]

Now I have an Onkyo reciever (7.1 dolby digital EX, DTS ES), and I'm using optical with my PS3, and I can hear the dolby digital true HD and the DTS HD master audio, and there I can tell the differenece is really notorious between DVD sound and blu ray sound.If you're using optical in that case, then no you aren't listening to the hi-def codecs. You are hearing the full bit-rate versions of the DD or DTS tracks that are part of the hi-def tracks.

If you have an HDMI capable receiver and a PS3 connected to it AND are not outputting via Bitstream, then you'll notice there's a world of a difference in plain old DD/DTS via HDMI or TosLink and the hi-def audio (which can only be sent via HDMI). World of a difference.

[Glass-X]

thanks. i want a little help. i have the ps3 80gb and sony str-da4300es receiver. i tried to get the dts master audio. my receiver have it. but it doesnt detect when i put a blu ray with dts master audio on it. please help me to enjoy dts master audio. i put the lastest ps3 firmware. 2.41. i think its the hsmi cable. i use the mosnter ultra 1000

You can only take advantage of the DTS-MA/DTS-MA HD tracks with that kind of setup if on the PS3 you set it to output via LPCM or Linear PCM. Do not use the setting Bitstream (you should be able to adjust this either while watching the video - hit triangle and you'll get options - select audio options and make the change there, or you make the change in audio settings in XMB). If you select bitstream the PS3 will warn you that it will not be able to output certain formats. The HDMI chipset on the PS3 is not capable of sending the hi-def audio over HDMI as bitstream.

Your receiver will not show that it's playing back a DTS MA soundtrack but it will show that it's receiving multi-channel audio. Your PS3 will be outputting DTS MA though and you can check this by hitting select while watching a video.

[NO-REGARD]

I've been trying to figure this out (hdmi vs. optical), and these posts definitely have helped me understand it better than a lot of other reading.

Thanks.