Audio hookup question

[Iwinulose287]

I currently have HDMI wires and Fiber-optic wires. I have both the HDMI and fiber-optic wires running from my PS3 to my receiver and a fiber-optic running from my cable box to my receiver. This was done after the advice of a friend, but my question is, are both cables actually performing a function? And furthermore what are the functions of each as far as sound producing capabilities? Thank you.

Samsung 550 series 46"
Yamaha Rx-V663 receiver
Mirage Nanosat surround sound
PS3
HD Cable box

 

[Adam]

HDMI cables carry both digital video and audio. The fiber optic cables carry digital audio only - but they can't handle the new lossless audio codecs like HDMI can.

So, HDMI is better, but some receivers can't process the audio coming over an HDMI connection. Your RX-V663 can, though, so you don't need to use the fiber optic connection from the PS3 in addition to the HDMI connection - just use the HDMI connection.

 

[Midcow2]

HDMI cables carry both digital video and audio. The fiber optic cables carry digital audio only - but they can't handle the new lossless audio codecs like HDMI can.

So, HDMI is better, but some receivers can't process the audio coming over an HDMI connection. Your RX-V663 can, though, so you don't need to use the fiber optic connection from the PS3 in addition to the HDMI connection - just use the HDMI connection.

Thanks Adam! Excellent answer, I keep learning and learning from the "masters"

 

[audion3wb]

Fiber optic cables themselves are actually capable (from an engineering standpoint) of carrying more information than an HDMI cable. However the technology never really got truly utilized and by the time lossless audio came along HDMI was here to steal the show so optical is still bottlenecked by our hardware(like Adam said, not supported). Kinda funny that something that is actually superior in bandwidth passing capability would go the way of the dinosaur.