Do you need Optical cable along with HDMI

[Hdude]

Recently my friend bought Martin Logan Purity 5.1 setup from BestBuy and the installer is suggesting that he need the audio through optical cable & not through HDMI if he needs better sound quality, leave HDMI to transmit video only. I'm surprised, as far as I know HDMI can carry lossless Audio & Video.
Any of you know anything about this?

 

[markw]

"Can and "Do" have two very different meanings.

I'm surprised, as far as I know HDMI can carry lossless Audio & Video.

Yes, it can but unless the sending device and the receiving device avail themselves of this feature (and far from all do), he's better off using he old, tired and true optical/coaxial interface.

You nedeed to check the manuals of both units on either side of that HDMI cable for the definitive answer but. with the current marketing situation,the odds are not in your favor.

 

[emorphien]

It's digital and as far as I know has all the capabilities of optical or coaxial S/PDIF. Even moreso, as far as I understand HDMI is basically the only way to transmit and take advantage of the newer high fidelity surround sound modes on HDDVD and BluRay discs (as long as both the source and receiving component support them, if not there's no benefit to using HDMI).

I could be wrong on the second bit there but there should be no benefit to going optical unless there is a compatibility issue, they were likely just trying to sell you more stuff.

edit: I think markw might have said it a bit better and probably knows it better than I. My receiver doesn't have HDMI so I don't use HDMI for audio, just video. I'm a little hazy on the details as a result. If you aren't trying to take advantage of the newer audio formats, or can't, then HDMI may complicate things since it still seems to be in flux and a pretty poorly controlled "standard" to me.

 

[gus6464]

Recently my friend bought Martin Logan Purity 5.1 setup from BestBuy and the installer is suggesting that he need the audio through optical cable & not through HDMI if he needs better sound quality, leave HDMI to transmit video only. I'm surprised, as far as I know HDMI can carry lossless Audio & Video.
Any of you know anything about this?

What is the model number of the receiver your friend bought? And what is all he has hooked up to said receiver? It is kind of hard to answer your question without knowing what gear he has.