Which audio output is best?

In our experience, a coaxial connection tends to produce better audio quality than optical, allowing for a higher level of detail and greater dynamics.

What is the highest quality audio connection?

HDMI Cables:

The sound quality is better than other two cable types. These cables transmit multi-channel audio formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. The HDMI audio connection cables can also support current and new video formats such as Ultra HD 4K resolution, as well as HDR formats.

What is better for sound HDMI or optical?

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 formats can't get transmitted across optical. In terms of simplicity, HDMI also passes video signals.

What's better arc or optical?

In this HDMI ARC vs optical comparison, our experts conclude that the HDMI ARC is the better option and will produce better sound quality than the optical. HDMI ARC cables have video support and support higher sound resolutions, which optical cables don't.

What's better optical or aux?

As we have said that AUX is susceptible to line loss and interference, you may not get clear sound performance. On the contrary, an optical connection can provide better channel separation and superior spatial quality.

Which subwoofer output is best? Direct from Head Unit or DSP?

Is optical better for speakers?

Which should you choose? Most people would probably agree that, all things being equal, you get clearer sound, better channel separation and superior spatial quality from an optical line.

Is optical better for sound?

Optical is fine

For most setups, the sound will be just as good with optical as with HDMI. One complication is if you have a soundbar, like the Sonos Ray, which can benefit from a surround sound signal and you connect it to one of the many TVs that can't pass such a signal via its optical outputs.

Should I connect soundbar with arc or optical?

Should I use HDMI ARC to optical or AUX?

Overall, HDMI ARC is the best option. AUX cables support up to 2.1 channels, and Digital Optical supports the Dolby Digital audio codec and up to 5.1 channels, but HDMI ARC supports Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital Plus and up to 7.1 channels.

Do I need both HDMI ARC and optical?

That being said, you can still get non-object-based surround sound with an optical connection — up to 7.1 channels of Dolby Digital or basic DTS — but if you want to experience enhanced formats like Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, or DTS:X, you need to use HDMI ARC or eARC.

What is the disadvantage of optical HDMI?

The main issue here is going to be the length. If you want to transfer 4K video over a copper HDMI, you can only reach around 30 ft. before you start having issues (more on that in our HDMI troubleshooting guide). With fiber optic, that distance maximum is absolutely smashed.

What is the best sound quality connection for soundbar?

You'll get the best sound quality via an HDMI cable. Most soundbars and TVs have an HDMI port. Keep in mind you need to use an HDMI ARC or eARC cable and port. If you don't have this, you'll need an optical cable in addition to an HDMI cable.

Does optical cable affect sound quality?

Like coaxial, one of the issues with optical is that it doesn't have enough bandwidth for the lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks found on most Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays. An optical connection also can't support more than two channels of uncompressed PCM audio.

What is a very high quality audio format?

HiFi audio is a superior sound but is still limited in its resolution—44.1 kHz /16 bit. TIDAL has partnered with MQA to deliver something substantially better: an authenticated and unbroken version (typically 96 kHz / 24 bit) with the highest possible resolution—as flawless as it sounded in the mastering suite.

What is the most professional audio cable connector?

XLR cables are used for microphones and other pro audio applications. XLR connectors are used to carry the small signals produced by microphones, and in other instances where signal integrity is important — typically professional audio environments.

Can I use both HDMI ARC and optical at the same time?

A lot of TVs will not let you connect both HDMI and optical cables at the same time, even if they have both of these ports available. In case you do connect both cables, they will automatically switch to the one you inserted last.

Should I use HDMI ARC without soundbar?

Do you need ARC? To be fair, many people don't need ARC. If you only listen to audio using your TV's speakers and don't have a receiver or soundbar, then the feature is superfluous. The point of ARC is to send audio created by or switched through your TV to an external audio device, namely a soundbar or receiver.

What does ARC mean on a HDMI port?

HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel) can send and receive audio through a single HDMI cable. This means, you can have your Blu-ray players, set-top box, gaming consoles connected to your TV which will then channel all the audio outputs to the HDMI-ARC connected sound bar or home theatre system.

What is the best way to connect a soundbar to a TV?

The best way to connect your soundbar to your TV is with an HDMI cable. This is because HDMI transfers audio digitally, which means it will be in its raw and uncompressed form. So, HDMI cables can handle the most high-end soundbar, including ones with surround sound.

Do I need HDMI in or HDMI ARC for soundbar?

If you want to connect your TV to a soundbar via an HDMI cable, use the HDMI (e)ARC input. This is the only HDMI input with which the TV not only receives but also transmits signals. In this article, you can read what the advantages of HDMI (e)ARC are and what you need for a successful connection.

What is the disadvantage of optical audio?

Disadvantages of optical audio input are the same as with all digital signal transfers – signal loss over cable length. The light eventually scatters due to optical imperfections over the length of the cable resulting in an unreadable signal. So, the longer the cable runs, the more likely you won't hear audio.

When should I use optical audio?

Use it if you don't have the correct digital audio connections on your device. Bi-directional so you can convert both ways. Supports uncompressed stereo PCM audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS. Works up to 30 meters.

Is optical good for surround sound?

Fiber optical cables support surround sound with up to 5.1 channels. While HDMI supports Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD formats, and DTS HD. Almost all the television programming gets broadcast in surround sound but there are many Blu-ray discs offering enhanced sound quality.

What does optical do on a soundbar?

The best connection, if it is available both on your TV and soundbar, is a Digital Optical audio connection. This feature uses a beam of light to send a digitally encoded audio signal between your TV and your Sound Bar. By using light, there is no loss or interference to the signal.