HDMI vs. optical: choosing the right audio connection for your sound system

Introduction

When building a high‑quality home audio setup, the choice between HDMI and optical connections directly affects which sound formats you can use and how convenient your system will be. Both are digital standards, but they differ in bandwidth, supported technologies, and device compatibility.

What HDMI offers

HDMI can carry both video and audio in a single cable, which simplifies wiring between a TV, receiver, or soundbar and reduces visible cable clutter. Modern HDMI versions support advanced formats such as high‑resolution multichannel audio and object‑based technologies like Dolby Atmos, provided all devices in the chain are compatible.

ARC and eARC

HDMI ARC allows a TV to send audio back to a soundbar or receiver over the same HDMI cable that carries video, and it can integrate with TV control features so one remote can handle power and volume. HDMI eARC is an enhanced version with more bandwidth, enabling lossless surround formats and lower latency for demanding home theater setups.

What optical provides

Optical (Toslink) is a digital audio connection that uses light to transmit the signal and is immune to electromagnetic interference along the cable run. It works reliably over longer distances and is often found on older TVs, receivers, and soundbars that may not support newer HDMI audio features.

Optical format limits

Optical connections typically support stereo PCM and compressed surround formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS, but they do not handle many newer lossless or high‑bit‑rate formats. Because of these limits, optical cannot deliver advanced formats like Dolby Atmos in their full implementation, even if the rest of the system supports them.

Practical factors to consider

When choosing between HDMI and optical, it is important to check which inputs and outputs your TV, soundbar, and other devices actually support, since some models may lack ARC or optical ports entirely. Your main content sources also matter: if you mostly stream services that use standard Dolby Digital, optical can be sufficient, but Blu‑ray discs and high‑end formats benefit more from HDMI.

Convenience and control

Using HDMI often simplifies daily use because it can combine video, audio, and control signals, letting you switch inputs and adjust volume with fewer remotes. Optical is usually simpler from a configuration standpoint, but it requires a separate video cable and does not participate in HDMI‑based device control systems.

Summary choice

For most modern home theaters and Atmos‑capable soundbars, HDMI is the better long‑term option due to broader format support and simpler cabling. Optical remains a sensible choice for older equipment, longer runs, or basic surround systems that do not need the latest lossless audio technologies.

In short, HDMI is generally recommended when available, while optical is a dependable fallback for compatible but less advanced setups.

Author’s one‑sentence summary

HDMI is usually the preferred connection for contemporary sound systems thanks to its support for advanced formats and unified cabling, while optical suits simpler or older setups that only require basic digital surround sound.

BGR on MSN — 2025-12-06