HDMI or Optical for HD Sound

[rambios]

Here is a point that confuses me.

The Goal: Obtain true HD sound including 5.1, DTS Master, etc.

Which is the best option?

1. Drive your HD sources into your HDMI compliant receiver and use your receiver's HDMI Out to the TV. Problem? What if your receiver does not handle HDMI switching well...does the sound quality suffer. Most of the current crop of HDMI receiver state they handle HD switching but do it poorly. I know this setup saves on cables and clutter but how we get the best sound quality and all the new formats out of the receiver.

2. Just use Coax digital or Optical into your receiver and send all video HDMI signals to the television.

Not a newbie...but not an A/V god either...be gentle!

 

[jordan21]

id have to say it depends on your dvd player and your amp

i used to run my ps3 optical bitstream to a lower end amp and i thought the audio was good

i just upgraded to a pioneer 91thx with hdmi and pcm feed and wow, what a difference....

i dont know if i would ever go to a movie theatre again

overall hdmi is the better choice

 

[MUDSHARK]

Optical will not carry the new sound formats. It will have to be HDMI either performed in the player (PCM) or the receiver (Bitrate). My PS3 only can perform the Dolby True HD not the DTS Master and only at the player level (PCM) the A2 won't do it at all.