HDMI ARC vs. Digital Optical (TosLink) | How to get the best sound

I have a laserdisc player! Best sounding form factor for stereo, barring my SACD and DVD-Audio player!

i have less issues with TOS link it does not have as many issues when devices do updates.

Wonderful coverage in simple and easy manner making it easier for viewers

I've used several different TVs, audio receivers, and soundbars where HDMI ARC only works intermittently or not at all. HDMI isn't a reliable enough connection.

HDMI for audio signal does not even compare to Digital Optical, nor will it. Nor will anything ever beat Digital Optical as it will always be able to send a better signal (more information) without the possibility of noise or interference for sound and music. The ONLY way to get TRUE 5.1 or 7.1 Surround sound is Digital Optical. Everything else is just "less". ARC does not improve audio fidelity.

Hello I need assistance with connecting surround sound to my TV

Very helpful. Answered everything I needed to know.

What about the audio delays? Why you don't suggest to use the both connections at the same time?
I found that I need to connect the soundbar to TV with both HDMI and Optical. So, I can benefit from CEC and low audio delay. When I have only HDMI, then there is a noticeable delay in gaming mode when playing on console.

Hello
I don't understand the logic in passing all the signals through the TV first
In my cas i have a Marantz receiver and all my periphericals are linked to it (nvindi shield, PC PS4 4k sony UHD reader ) then it go to the screen (Laser ultra short xiaomi)
so the audio is directly taken care of by my AV receiver then the video output is sent to the projector whatever the source is.
i think it makes a lot more sense then connecting all the periphericals to the TV and then sending to the AV receiver or a sound bar
please let me know what is your opinion
For CEC HDMI i found that sometime it limits the bandwith of the signal making the reading of material unstable.

Please let me know also your opinion on the matter.

Hi, I have Harman Kardon AVR 255 (5.1 channels) working perfectly fine since 2010.
Now, I want to connect my AVR 255 to the newer Sony Bravia with ARC HDMI. AVR 255 has no ARC.
Need your advice if this can be done, as do not want to lose the great sound I get from AVR 255, and move on to a sound bar etc.

Can I just use the 4K TV as a monitor with HDMI video in from the AVR 255, as it is working currently. How will the 4K image come out in this case on the TV, as AVR 255 signal is around 2K ?

This was a big help. I've just got an Xbox and been trying to figure out how to get decent sound from it, not being impressed plugging my headphones in the controller (why do they do it that way?) and it not having optical like my PS4.

I bought an Astro mixamp, so I'm using USB and that was better but still not great.

Having seen this video I realized I could use the tvs optical, and now I also know what settings to use. This is invaluable because I don't know about any of this stuff and experimenting causes me anxiety so this video has been a huge help. Thank you.

Congratulacion from CHILE felicitaciones 🎉❤

Hi Caleb. I just sunset an old Sony Bravia TV and replaced it with a SONY XR65X90CL. My source of content is an AppleTV 4K. In my older setup, the AppleTV sent its signal to a Denon AV2312CI (~2012) for 5.1 surround sound at the Denon sent the picture to the Sony. Since the Denon and TV could only support 1080p and below, this setup was fine. With the newly purchased TV, I am sending the AppleTV signal to HDMI 1 on the Sony TV. For audio out on the Sony TV, I am using HDMI 3/eARC to send the sound to the Denon. It isn't clear if the input into the Denon should go to the Monitor Out/ARC or any of the HDMI (7) inputs since the signal is an input. The CEC works with any of the connections, but I can't get audio to work. So far, I have only successfully output audio to the Denon by having the TV keep sound to its own speakers and using the optical out to the Denon.

Should and eARC out to an ARC in work in this case? Does the HMDM input or output on the Denon matter in this case? Could my Denon by too old to support this? The manual reads that it should be able to receive the audio source from the TV. The new TV only has a few settings to adjust, so I am stumped. Any troubleshooting steps to try would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Thank you for guiding.

i was expecting a super long video, but you explained it so clearly that i was amezed at how quick the video was over. Thank you for the info.

🤌 well done. That you for producing this succinct comparison! 🙏

Is there an adapter for ópticas to HDMI so i can benefit from eARC tech . Because Phantom devialet only have óptica ao cable and um not sure is a good option for movies or for 1 remote control for all devices etc

I recently bought Sony x75l it has only one HDMI that support home system as well as ps5 is it good connecting soundbar to the optical while playing ps5

I got a LGC3 with a PS5 but, the problem is if I HDMI my tv straight from PS5 the only way for sound out is thrue Optical???

In this entire video not once did I hear, I believe, what the acronym of ARC is. What a joke. Pointless video.

What? you can't compare ARC to eARC, you can't do Atmos with ARC.

For some reason more of tv's sound upscaling options work through optical better than they do through e-ARC, so does things like volume control using different remotes.

So i have both plugged in but use optical more.

Although if i'm using dolby atmos i use hdmi

How can I use my remote when I’m using optical into my stereo?

How it is possible to introduce hdmi ARC or eARC knowing that there are common problems with this technology ? I never heard about any problems with toslink or coax.

😊 I want thank you so much…I was at my end but u were on the money 👍🏾

To connect an earc tv to an earc sound bar via hdmi, is there a specific type of hdmi cable that is necessary?

Thank you bro for useful information

Dear Sir, How can I connect the 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with analog audio out on TV? Request for your guidance. My TV is a Windows OS-based TV. In spite of the Audio out (analog) port, it has two other ports HDMI & HDMI IN. It has an RS232 port as well. Please help

i connected tos link to tv and other end into a converter divice than then plugs into home amp i cannot get sound.yes i went into tv settings i put on digital and pcm or auto still no sound .what you think.

Not one frickin video addresses this frickin problem 🤬

Not helpful a damn bit, if you tie up the HDMI ports on your TV and sound bar, how the hell do you connect your satellite system

Coaxial is better is it not?

Bought a second hand DVD player with 5.1 for £45 and use optical with my oled, I love it, mainly that I got an absolute bargain.

How do you do the sound bar connection to a projector?

coorection, SPDIF COAX is NOT just an RCA, it needs specific digital (75 ohm resistance) cable.

Thank you so much!!!

The problem with hdmi is that is useful for receivers but receivers have too high total distortion rate for the money compared to stereo dac amp setups of same money. The dacs usually recognize optical, not hdmi

Here is my story and I'm sticking to it. I use the Optical cable because this way I can watch the TV and play music at the same time. That's right HDMI cable from the cable box to the TV, Optical output from the TV to the receiver.🤔

Some of us do still watch laserdisc...thanks for remembering us.

I need help! Please. Anyone

Thanks mate, for someone who nothing about this tech stuff. You explained it perfectly .

My sound bar only has aux jack and optical port

I need 2 eARC in and 1 eARC out switch, any suggestions?

Mam pytanie, ciągle świeci mi się pomaramczowa lampka i soundbar na nic nie reaguje. Czy mam.go oddać na reklamację?

It would be more helpful if you cover and explain if PCM includes BASS drive or not, as well as Sound bar generation/version with or within a 5.1/7.1 surround system/s.

My receiver pioneer VSX-LX70 dont râle the E-arc hdmi i havé no choice to use digital optical 🙃

Thanks mate you saved me time sound all fixed and I can spend time with my kids now cheers again

Way too much misinformation in this video. Sorry. Thumbs down.

How can I connect hdmi from laptop to tv with a sound bar connected to hdmi arc to tv?

Thank you my speaker wasn't working but now it's working great I bought it like 3 days ago and I thought it was broken