HDMI ARC vs Digital Optical: Which is Better and Why?

HDMI ARC and Digital Optical are very different as far as what they can support.

Basically here's what each supports!
Digital Optical: 2 channels of uncompressed PCM audio or up to 5.1 channels of compressed audio. End of story. This is the max that digital optical is capable of supporting.

HDMI ARC:
All TVs: 2 channels of uncompressed PCM audio or up to 5.1 channels of compressed audio.
TVs made around or after 2018 may support up to 7.1 channels of compressed audio, including height or upward-firing channels.

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[ArnaudGohier]

No useless intro. No screaming over excited youtuber. No 10min of filler to go through a simple point. Just precise, clear and concise information. Absolutely great, thank you a lot.

[VoLkoFFBR]

This is how YouTube should have been, no click baits and straight to the point.

Thanks for your informative video.

[dexb]

I spent an hour on YouTube trying to find fuckin answers and all it takes is a few minutes from this master tech for me to understand the ins and outs, pros and cons of an audio set up.. Good job!

[LifeHurricane]

I have been so overwhelmed by all this home theatre setup, thank you SO much for making this AND doing it so well. You are great at explaining things.

[gregfaris]

Good video! Just a bit of clarification, likely of interest to very few; TOSLINK stands for Toshiba Link, in recognition of the developer of this early optical interface, but it does not describe the interface protocol. That would be SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface), developed at the time of the two industrial giants' collaboration on the development of the Compact Disk, and indeed its data rate and format correspond to those of the CD. You may see the TOSLINK connector labeled "SPDIF", and indeed you may find the SPDIF interface implemented on different connector types (RCA connector). They are identical, but of course you need the corresponding connector at both ends of the connection you are hoping to make, and these days, in consumer devices, the TOSLINK is the most common. By contrast, you will not find TOSLINK connectors on most professional devices, (probably due to tribalism amongst major Japanese manufacturers) and indeed the entire SPDIF standard is obsolescent, but it is worth noting it was never superseded for reasons of higher quality, but lower quality and cost, as well as access to more diverse formats with greater channel counts. Obviously any skepticism you may read into this regarding the success of eArc for high channel counts without compression is purely fortuitous, and not intended by the author.

[Percent-Iron]

Fam, even though I knew this, I still sat through the whole video, lol. Clear. Concise. And what I'll be referring friends to when they ask me.
Keep up the good work.

[rh]

Its all smoke and mirrors on purpose. no matter what equipment you buy its never quite the right thing and you need something else again and again. most Movies and TV shows suck balls now so why am i even bothering trying to get the best picture and sound when manufacturers are always fucking with you. I think ill go outside and experience life.

[richardrussell]

In something of a throwback to the old VHS/Betamax battle, the reason that optical connections are called either TOSLINK or SPDIF, despite being the same, is because they stand for 'TOShiba LINK' and 'Sony/Phillips Digital InterFace'.

[BlueSuede]

You speak very clearly and eloquently and explain things very well. I did not even know there was such a thing as HDMI ARC. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together. I look forward to watching your other educational videos!!

[jakesmith]

Now I'm more confused. Thanks a lot.

[juliakardosh]

Unfortunately for me, I just wanted to know how to get the Soundbar to be operated by the Fios remote and to make the sound bar the default player…… I feel old after watching this. 🤣

[rsolsjo]

Short answer: in most TVs from 2018 onward, ARC/eARC is better.

[wollysocks]

Can you help? I have a Panasonic tv & beosoundstage soundbar connected with hdmi cable on TV (no ARC) to soundbar. I am getting lagging on sound on channel4 Freeview. On my TV there is no digital audio output option but there is digital output to use on back of TV! Seems if I use optical cable this will work but will it stop lagging? I hope you can help as I am going round in circles & wasting hours trying to figure this out!

[Redders]

This is how information videos should be. Clear information with no filler or trying to make the video about yourself. Thank you sir.

[justinlemuel]

my ps4 HDMI port damaged i myself dont have the capacity to fix it.. jus curious can i use Digital optical to display in the monitor i using?

[YahyaRivero]

Straight Blast Gym in Buford! I'm a member too

[danprince]

I would appreciate if he spoke just a little bit slower. So I can think / analyze what he’s saying before he goes on and I’m pushed to try and understand the next thing.

[KhasrouhRecords]

its all about limitations . HDMI Can Support a wide range of Audio Codecs like Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, the Digital Optical Can't support atmos etc, it only supports Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 old codecs ..

[joselara]

Great explanation, finally some facts and simple info.

[RarestAce]

This was a great video. You gave a ton of information but made it super simple and easy to understand.