HDMI or optical digital cable for sounds?

quangdaika

Member
May 26, 2005
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What one are better for sounds?

Another thing, my upconverting DVD player has an optical digital audio output and my Samsung TV also has a optical digital output. Sounds kinda of weird since I imagine it the TV should have in input right?
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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The TV out is for device HDMI > TV > receiver

If your receiver supports HDMI 1.3 audio then HDMI to the receiver then then HDMI to the TV is usually the best connection.

If you have any problems with that, then device HDMI > TV -and- device optical > receiver works too.


Edit: if you are just using tv speakers it doesn't matter, sound will be weak either way, might as well use the HDMI sound.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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HDMI should carry sound over the cable with the video. No need for optical in that situation.

Optical out from the TV is there to do Dolby Digital from HD (OTA/QAM) sources back out to a receiver.
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
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OT, but some TVs only pass 2 channel audio from an HDMI 5.1 input through the optical out.
 

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If your receiver supports HDMI 1.3 audio then HDMI to the receiver then then HDMI to the TV is usually the best connection.
Any HDMI audio is better than coax/optical. 1.3 is just for bitstreaming -- previous versions can do multichannel PCM, which is just as good.

Of course, if he's only playing DVDs, it won't matter.