In some cases, if your TV allows you to send two audio signals at the same time, one cable needs to transmit audio while the other will pass on the video signal. So, you can use the optical cable for the audio signal and then insert HDMI, which will transmit video.
Do I need both HDMI ARC and optical?
In short, if you have HDMI ARC on both your TV and soundbar, then use HDMI ARC. If you don’t have HDMI ARC, then use digital optical. Most soundbars support less than 5.1 channels of audio, so in terms of audio quality, there isn’t really a difference.
Is it better to connect soundbar with 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.
Do you need both HDMI and optical for soundbar?
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. With an HDMI 2.0b cable, you can transmit the sound of your television to your soundbar.
Can I use HDMI and RCA audio at same time?
You can use both at the same time. Plug in the streaming device with an HDMI cable for an immersive display and external speakers via RCA cables for surround sound. You can get more than just the main and stereo sound with RCA, which you should take advantage of.
Does soundbar need HDMI ARC?
If you want to connect your soundbar using HDMI, your TV will need to support ‘HDMI-ARC’ – it stands for ‘Audio Return Channel’ and means the audio can travel in both directions along the cable.
What is better for surround sound HDMI or optical?
In terms of audio quality – HDMI wins While an optical cable can still pass surround sound and super high-quality audio, thanks to the added bandwidth in the latest HDMI versions (2.0) you’ll be able to pass higher resolution and audio.
Which connection is best for soundbar?
HDMI: 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 raw and uncompressed. Also, HDMI cables can handle the most high-end soundbars, including ones that support surround sound.
Is ARC best for soundbar?
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. And because the sound on most TVs is terrible, we strongly recommend getting at least a soundbar to improve the TV experience.
Can I use HDMI and optical cable together?
Optical audio is older than HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface). These connection methods have many similarities, but they also have some variances. The answer is yes and no when using a high-definition multimedia interface and an optical connection simultaneously.
Do you have to use optical audio with HDMI?
No, they don’t. If you are sending the same audio format, it will sound the same regardless of whether you are using optical or HDMI. The main advantage of HDMI over an optical connection is that HDMI supports more audio formats. Optical and HDMI both support uncompressed stereo – and 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS audio.
Can you use RCA and optical audio at the same time?
How to Connect an Optical Audio Cable to RCA? To connect an optical audio cable to an RCA connection, you need to use a digital audio to stereo analog converter. Wire the optical cable into the converter, and then you can connect the RCA output to your device.
Do you need special HDMI cable for arc?
Using HDMI ARC does not require a new HDMI cable. Any HDMI cable should be able to cope with the requirements – it’s only when we move on to eARC this could (potentially) become an issue.
Is digital audio the same as optical?
The differences between the two connections are as follows: A Digital Optical connection uses a fiber optic cable. The digital audio bit stream is transmitted using pulses of light through this optical cable. A Digital Coaxial connection uses a cable that has RCA-type connectors.
Can I use HDMI and optical cable together?
Optical audio is older than HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface). These connection methods have many similarities, but they also have some variances. The answer is yes and no when using a high-definition multimedia interface and an optical connection simultaneously.
What is better for surround sound HDMI or optical?
In terms of audio quality – HDMI wins While an optical cable can still pass surround sound and super high-quality audio, thanks to the added bandwidth in the latest HDMI versions (2.0) you’ll be able to pass higher resolution and audio.
When should I use HDMI ARC?
Sound devices and projectors all use this standard. For a better sound experience, you can use an HDMI cable to direct the sound from your Smart TV to sound device. ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a special function of HDMI high-speed certified cables via which the sound can also be sent back to the transmitter.
Do you need HDMI ARC?
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.
Does HDMI ARC work for all inputs?
Sadly, no. ARC is designed to convey audio from the HDMI input of an ARC-capable TV back to the HDMI output on an ARC-capable receiver, traveling in the reverse direction compared with the normal signal flow from the receiver’s output to the TV’s input.
How do I use HDMI ARC with soundbar?
Follow the steps below to connect your ARC TV to the soundbar: 1 Connect one end of an HDMI cable to the HDMI OUT port on the back of the soundbar. 2 Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the ARC HDMI IN port on your TV. 3 Power on any external device connected to your TV, and then power on your TV and soundbar.
Does optical cable affect sound quality?
So if you’re getting a Dolby Digital signal, and it’s not cutting out, your optical cable is fine. If you’re transmitting PCM, the audiophile answer is that different optical cables can cause different amounts of jitter. The reality is, the digital-to-analog converter in your gear has vastly more effect on the sound.
Why is my soundbar making static noise with optical cable?
Fixing strange noises when using optical You can experience strange noises from your soundbar when the signal from your TV or set top box is incompatible with your soundbar. You need to change a setting on your output device (TV or set top box).
