HDMI vs Optical Cables: Which one to Consider?

1.   HDMI vs Optical Cables: Which  one to Consider?        It’s about connecting your shiny new soundbar or AV receiver                     and having to decide between HDMI cables and Fiber Optic                     Cables. As home theater systems get more and more complex                     (Including wiring). Back into the good old days, all that you                       need was a coaxial cable to get the audio and video signals to                           your television set. Unlike today, to align your system with                     sound, Blu-ray players, and high-definition programming, you               will have to go through a tedious set-up procedure. One major                       decision includes choosing the right cables: HDMI or Optical.    1​​

2. So, to help you make an informed decision, here are their pros                         and cons.    Going To The Basics    Both HDMI and optical cables pass the digital audio from one                       device to another. There is no difference when it comes to                       passing multi-channel audio like Dolby digital. The major                 difference is that HDMI cables can pass higher resolution                   audio which includes formats found on Blu-ray like Dolby                   TrueHD and DTS HD Master audio. ​Fiber optic cables won’t be able to transmit these high-res sound formats. HDMI can also                                           pass video signals. So, if you don’t want the hassle of managing                         multiple cables between two devices, HDMI should be your                   pick.    But it would all come down to the devices that you want to                           connect. You might not have an option of HDMI altogether. Or                       2​

3. maybe you have an older receiver. Or you have everything in                       place connected to your TV and just want to get the audio to a                             soundbar. Here, optical cables will be the perfect fit. You will                       get quality sound only as you get with HDMI cable.      Let’s say you possess a soundbar, which benefits from a                     surround sound signal and you connect it to one of the many                         TVs which cannot pass such signals via its optical outputs.                     Such soundbars many not have HDMI inputs anyway. Hence,                   the best way to use them is to connect their source to the bar                             via optical, skipping the TV.        3​

4. Here Is The Comparison:    ● Construction  Copper is the main component of HDMI cables. It’s a cheap                       material and there are chances of interference. Whereas in                   Optical cables, fiber optics is the main component. A bundle of                       tiny glass strands. They are expensive and transmit light                   signals and not electricity. And they are less susceptible to                     interference. The dark sheath wrapped around it prevents                 other light sources from entering the cable.    ● Length  The length limit may not be important for everyone. A                     different segment of owners with custom-designed media               rooms requiring extended lengths of cable might need it. But                     you always end up losing signal quality over longer cables. So,                       when you select between fiber optic cable & HDMI, choose the                       shortest one. The recommended length for the optical cables                   4​

5. is 10 meters. Although some people still use it with a length of                           30 meters. For HDMI, there are no such recommendations.                   But we would recommend HDMI for covering 5 meters or less                       for best quality sound. For longer distances, the optical cables                     are a good choice.    ● Audio  Fiber optical cables support surround sound with up to 5.1                     channels. While HDMI supports Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD                 formats, and DTS HD. Almost all the television programming                   gets broadcast in surround sound but there are many Blu-ray                     discs offering enhanced sound quality. So, if you love watching                     your content in Blu-ray, HDMI is the one you should be                       choosing.    ● Video  HDMI cables can carry both audio and video. It eliminates the                       need for another cable. On the contrary, when you opt for an                         5​

6. optical cable, you will need a second type of cable to transmit                         your video signal. The total cost of the two cables may end up                           being more than one HDMI cable. Hence, make sure to                     research on pricing before deciding.    Bottom Line    HDMI can serve your purpose. They are cost-effective and                   simplifies the setup. But if your gear does not have HDMI, you                         won’t be able to take advantages of the high-resolution audio                     formats from Blu-ray. On the other side, Dolby Digital is good                       for which you need to have decent gear. Otherwise, it won’t be                         delivering quality sound even with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD                     MA.    In the end, it depends on one’s individual needs. Even optical                       cables give decent audio results. But we live in a space of                         convenience. And HDMI has become a go-to cable for all the                       6​

7. things. And it might become hard to argue against if your                       system itself supports it.    With HDMI’s feature set, upgradability and the fact that it can                       handle both the formats, you don’t need to worry about the                       wire jungle. Plus, you will have great results too.    Confused between HDMI and Optical Cables​? Read more to make an informed decision on buying the right cable for your                                         needs.    If you found these blog post useful, here are some other                       blogs that may be of interest.    The History And Evolution of Fiber Optic Cables  Fiber Optic Patch Cables: Here's All You Should Know  Know Everything About HDMI Technology  Fiber Optic Cables and Their Multiple Benefits!   7​