HDMI vs. Optical on a soundbar

[hotbeezie]

Need some help.

Does it matter if I use an optical vs. an HDMI on a 2.1 soundbar w/ wireless sub?



I didn’t want to dedicate a HDMI to the soundbar but it the sound is significantly better I’ll just get a HDMI splitter

If I hook it up HDMI, will the soundbar work across all outputs or just the one device that’s passes through the 2nd HDMI on the soundbar.




That shyt sound confusing as fukk

Appreciate the advice in advance.

I don’t know if this helps but here’s the sound-bar:

 

[Rayzah]

I personally hate the idea of wasting a hdmi port on audio. The advantages don’t justify the use of an hdmi slot that can be used for another device to me.. however with that said the differences are:
1. You can get control of your sound bar with your tv remote, so you can have one less remote.
2. Most of them have a little interface menu that allows you to do advanced calibration, and tweak the settings of your speaker
3. When you turn on your tv, the sound bar will also turn on since its connected through hdmi.
4. Either way the sound will come out the speaker for all of your devices.
Using optical you will need that speaker remote and have to turn everything off separately. But you get your hdmi slot back

Like I said the hassle of hooking it up through hdmi isn’t worth it

 

[Mike Nasty]

3. When you turn on your tv, the sound bar will also turn on since its connected through hdmi.

I use the optical in and the sound bar turns on with the TV, but you're right about the extra remote for the volume.

 

[hotbeezie]

Man I been going through it...im using optical right but imma try the HDMI when I get off work.

 

[Rayzah]

I use the optical in and the sound bar turns on with the TV, but you're right about the extra remote for the volume.

I have a Sony tv with a Sony sound bar and they have to be turned on separate. It was better using hdmi but I need that extra port. Since I’m using psvr and that shyt takes all of you hdmi ports. All of them

 

[teacher]

for a sound bar the sound quality should be the same hdmi or optical the decoding format will be dolby 2.1 regardless of the connection. Hdmi shows its worth at 5.1 and higher speaker configs and supports more surround formats such as dts, dolby atmos, surround pcm etc.

 

[Tenchi Ryu]

HDMI ARC is the superior option no questions asked....but it unfortunately lacks the versatility optical has.

Using sony consoles are a nightmare with optical and certain home theaters in a box because of the way sony handled PCM conversion.

 

[Return of the Jedi]

I use optical.

 

[Rayzah]

for a sound bar the sound quality should be the same hdmi or optical the decoding format will be dolby 2.1 regardless of the connection. Hdmi shows its worth at 5.1 and higher speaker configs and supports more surround formats such as dts, dolby atmos, surround pcm etc.

My sound bar is supposed to “replicate Dolby atmos” . But yea sound bars aren’t for audiophiles they are for people that just want their tv louder and a little base while saving space

 

[hotbeezie]

This is basically my setup it’s temporary until me and my wife find a house.

 

[ORDER_66]

My sound system uses the optical it's easier that way...

 

[teacher]

My sound bar is supposed to “replicate Dolby atmos” . But yea sound bars aren’t for audiophiles they are for people that just want their tv louder and a little base while saving space

Aka fake atmos aka dolby 2.1 with extra processing. Like flava flave said don't believe the hype

 

[TripleAgent]

Soundbar? Don't do that to yourself, breh. Even the cheapest of 5.1 systems is vastly superior to a soundbar.

 

[hotbeezie]

Soundbar? Don't do that to yourself, breh. Even the cheapest of 5.1 systems is vastly superior to a soundbar.

I’m in an apartment, as soon as I get in a house I’m going in.

 

[Controversy]

I have a Polk Magnifi Soundbar and subwoofer in the family room connected through hdmi

I have a Polk traditional 7 speaker setup connected by wires to Onyko receiver in the basement

The soundbar and subwoofer sounds great...then again it's a 5 channel