It's likely PCM stereo which isn't bad but nothing special to want to use HDMI. Using the enhanced audio return channel, you can send high-quality audio from the TV to a soundbar. That’s why if you want to use the full stereo system correctly, you must need an HDMI ARC connection. No matter which cable you choose, the signal quality will hamper when the data travels for a longer length. You may find that almost all the TV channels are broadcast in surround sound only. HDMI is equivalent to Digital Coax, to optical. Their latest versions of HDMI, 2.0 and up, can support audio bandwidth of up to 192 kHz and 32 channels. On the other hand, for the optical fiber, the main component is fiber optics which is a bundle of thin and tiny glass strands. 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. HDMI arc vs Optical sound quality: HDMI cables can pass higher resolution audio as a comparison to Optical, which includes formats like Dolby TrueHD & DTS HD Master audio. HDMI and HDMI ARC are, for the most part, the same. Now, you will be able to enjoy the uncompressed audio without any jury-rigging or latency. Besides it allows you to send it to the AV receiver. And  they do not support Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Blue Ray and DTS HD. Optical s/pdif can support up to 5.1, non "HD" audio; the standard AC3/Dolby Digital or DTS formats are the limit. But the factor that creates a difference between these two is the passing ability of higher-resolution audio. These materials are not expensive. This material is quite cheap and the scope of interference is quite high with it. Meanwhile, RCA cables are associated with analog signals. The digital optical audio cable is one-dimensional and only puts out the sound. It's literally between the DAC's of the sound card vs your Sound bars DACs. However, if you have an optical cable only, then you need to support another cable to transmit the video signal. Moreover, you will get a higher bandwidth with the help of this enhanced audio return channel. Sony TV's will often pass 5.1 sound through, to both the optial and HDMI ARC. Although consistent and high quality, it … It is compatible with virtually any sound format. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I have connected the HDMI and the optical to the sound bar. Another great option is HDMI ARC. So, when you select the HDMI cables; you won’t have the hassle to manage multiple cables like earlier times. Construction: For the HDMI cable, copper is the main component. Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Blue Ray and DTS HD. We can see the use of optical cable mostly for home entertainment systems. This is why between HDMI and optical, the simplest advice is to go HDMI as much as possible. In that situation, the best practice is to connect the source to the bar through the optical cable but you need to skip the TV though. And if you are still thinking that it is like the good simple old days of coaxial cables that used to get the audio and video signals to your Television set. eARC has much higher bandwidth and it can support Dolby TrueHD audio. You cannot find any difference while passing the multichannel audio like Dolby Digital. But the disadvantage is that this cable is susceptible to electromagnetic interference. 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