So, whilst weve touched upon material makeup and potential interference, that still doesnt tell us what audio and visual differences the two interfaces provide if any.
Having said that, the major difference that separates the two interfaces is Opticals lack of ability to transfer video signals. 
The Warehouse, Use Space, Paddock St, Manchester M12 6PN. HDMI 2.1, the latest standard of HDMI, offers up enough bandwidth to allow gaming at 4K in 120hz. So, lets explore that in a little more detail. Optical audio, or TOSLINK, is a standardized optical fiber connector system that allows the transfer of audio from a device to an AV receiver or soundbar. Ultimately, at these voltages, after 15 metres the signal will start to degrade quite exponentially. Read more, WePC is reader-supported. In short, yes. This will lead to interference, latency, and potential interruption during audio experiences. Many modern TVs are limited when it comes to the number of HDMI outputs they have to offer. As youve probably guessed, video quality only applies to the HDMI standard in this scenario. Lets be honest, for most entertainment systems, either optical audio or HDMI ARC are going to do the job just fine. That being said, for more elaborate stereo setups, you may need to run a cable several meters if not more. For most home users, any cable around 2m will probably offer the best performance. HDMI cables are primarily constructed using copper, which has been fairly standard across any electronic cable. If youre using an elaborate home audio system, chances are youll need to use the more advanced HDMI ARC (or eARC) cable. However, if youre using one of the latest audio codecs mentioned above youll definitely be experiencing worse sound quality. Most modern TVs especially the most expensive options output compressed sound at a lower than the input. WePCs mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Annoyingly, Optical audio cables are limited to 5.1 channel audio. Furthermore, the aging technology doesnt support newer audio codecs such as TrueHD, DTS HD, or Dolby Digital Plus and thats a real negative when it comes to getting the most out of your sound system. The main downside to this particular manufacturing process is cost. Furthermore, HDMI ARC will also enable CEC technology as well allowing you to utilize the same remote across multiple devices or systems. As the name suggests, optical transmits a signal via light instead of an electrical signal, meaning they dont falter to electromagnetic interference. Find out which connection is best for your audio system in this quick guide! We offer everything from high end PC custom builds and advice to the latest hardware and component reviews, as well as the latest breaking gaming news. And for that reason, well be showcasing all the major differences that separate the two very capable audio transfer interfaces. Independent, transparent, rigorous and authentic, our reviews are the most thorough and honest in PC gaming. 2022 WePC | Let's build your dream gaming PC, Best RTX 3060 & 3060 Ti Prebuilt Gaming PC in 2022, Best RTX 3080 Ti Prebuilt Gaming PC in 2022, XMG Neo 15 E21 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2021), XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022) & OASIS Liquid Cooling Review, ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2022) & XG Mobile RTX 3080, Friday Night Funkin Chromebook Installation Guide, Logitech G Pro X Superlight vs Razer Viper V2 Pro, Pokmon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Review, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Game Review, Nvidia RTX 4000 Series: All We Know About Lovelace GPUs. Both HDMI ARC and optical offer better performance when compared to the aging analog format (red and white cables). Before we discuss the limitations of both interfaces, its worth mentioning that, when setting up your audio system, you should always utilize the smallest cable possible. Learn more. However, thanks to the nature of HDMI ARC, that isnt really an issue for optical audio. Secondly, the HDMI signal makes use of an extremely low voltage (5V) and as a result, cables can only carry this signal so far. This effectively limits your sound quality regardless of whether or not youre HDMI ARC. It supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, and DTS HD providing superior sound quality when compared to older codec options. Gamer - Audiences, Behaviour, preferences & Time Spent, High refresh rate monitor guide (60Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz vs 240Hz vs 360Hz), 5 Best Console Gaming Monitors of 2022 for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, and Xbox Series S. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. That being said, making use of HDMI eARC an interface that utilizes ethernet technology allows you to transfer the same quality audio as the input source. As we said before, audio and video signals can run into interference with longer cables with the chance increasing as cable length goes up. That being said, when it comes to gaming, you will be limited to 60hz not great for the next-gen console players. HDMI ARC is incredibly versatile, supporting almost every type of audio format. Simply put, an HDMI ARC connection will offer up the best sound quality and supports high-performance audio codecs like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, and DTS HD. HDMI, or High Definition Multimedia Interface, is the most popular consumer HD signal for transferring high-definition video and audio from a device to your TV or monitor. For example, if you want a 4K video experience, HDMI 2.0 will be more than enough for your needs. An Optical cable is limited to a maximum length of roughly 10-30 metres.
This standard of HDMI is capable of transferring 7.1 channel audio signals for the more advanced home sound system. My current rig is an ASUS 5700XT with AMDs Ryzen 3600X.
Having said that, theres always the old compatibility issue. As no material is completely transparent, the light source used in optical cables will begin to degrade after 10-30 metres. Learn about our review process. However, its a little more complicated than that. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Furthermore, if youre making use of multiple cables for different speakers, you should always use the same length cable for the same reason as above. WePC. So, whats the best for my needs? One of the reasons for this is the interference that we just spoke about above. An HDMI cable is limited to a maximum length of roughly 15 metres. It is most commonly used in consumer audio equipment such as CD/DVD players, games consoles, and DAT recorders, allowing the transfer of audio from one device to an output source. It was developed back in the 80s by Toshiba and became hugely popular in the 90s quickly recognized as the easiest way of getting Dolby Digital and DTS from your cable/satellite box to your AV receiver. However, when it comes to audio devices such as soundbars and AV receivers, the choice isnt so simple. Throughout that period he has also been a keen PC builder and enthusiast dedicating a large portion of his time to the craft. How To Fix Second Monitor Not Displaying? In other words, using an HDMI eARC cable allows you to enjoy rich, uncompressed audio without any annoying latency issues. For that, youll need to invest in an eARC HDMI cable with the e standing for enhanced. Copper is a cheap manufacturing material and has been used within the consumer market for centuries now. Well, as a general consumer who is using a soundbar or AV receiver, you have to go with the HDMI ARC option. It even provides enough data transfer to view 8K at 60 frames per second a huge jump from HDMI 2.0. So do we. Ultimately, HDMI ARC and optical audio both offer the same service the high-speed transfer of audio from one device to an AV receiver or soundbar. Optical audio cables, on the other hand, are created using fiber optic strands which when broken down, are made of glass. To really get the most out of your sound system in this day and age, youll need to make use of an HDMI ARC cable. So, there you have it, our complete rundown of HDMI ARC vs optical audio interfaces. They both allow the transfer of multi-channel audio, including Dolby Digital. WePC is the essential site for serious PCgamers. We wont recommend anything we wouldnt use ourselves. CS 1.6 was his first go at competitive gaming which soon evolved into CS:Source and now CS:GO a game that he still plays (almost exclusively) today. If you have a sound system that doesnt offer high-end audio, then optical audio will probably be more than enough for your need. What Is a GPU Stress Test, and Which Ones Are Best? One of the big questions we get asked around here is HDMI ARC or Optical audio, which is best for my audio requirements? So, in the case where all HDMI ports have been taken, the easiest resolution will be to make use of an optical audio cable. However, its still worth mentioning as different versions of HDMI offer completely varying levels of performance.
Alongside the lack of video transfer, optical audio and HDMI ARC also differ in the material construction they come equipped with. HDMI ARC Vs Optical Which Is The Best Connection? However, it does have a small downside electromagnetic interference.