"Both HDMI and optical pass digital audio from one device to another. Both are better than analog (the red and white cables). Both can pass multi-channel audio, likeDolby Digital. Both cables can be had pretty cheap.
The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on Blu-ray: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. These formats can't get transmitted across optical."
Copy/paste from Here.
Personally I use the audio-over-HDMI sollution and is nothing but impressed with the sound quality.
(Not that I have a $100 billion hifi, but still pretty darn good with my NAD amp and B&W speakers).
If you dont have the possibillity to use HDMI I understand the need for coax/optical.
As a "quick-fix" if your amp/reciever doesnt support HDMI you could connect your pine to your TV with HDMI and activate passtrough in audio settings and than use optical-out from the TV to the amp. I did this for some time before I bought my current amp and it worked ok. Just be sure to adjust the sync-settings in the audio-setup-window of your tv as this tend to make things a little out-of-sync
The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on Blu-ray: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. These formats can't get transmitted across optical."
Copy/paste from Here.
Personally I use the audio-over-HDMI sollution and is nothing but impressed with the sound quality.
(Not that I have a $100 billion hifi, but still pretty darn good with my NAD amp and B&W speakers).
If you dont have the possibillity to use HDMI I understand the need for coax/optical.
As a "quick-fix" if your amp/reciever doesnt support HDMI you could connect your pine to your TV with HDMI and activate passtrough in audio settings and than use optical-out from the TV to the amp. I did this for some time before I bought my current amp and it worked ok. Just be sure to adjust the sync-settings in the audio-setup-window of your tv as this tend to make things a little out-of-sync
![[Image: PicsArt_02-23-08.31.50.png?psid=1]](https://ns4zgw-bn1305.files.1drv.com/y3mkAQa_htCwYXSXktky0OLAiG89Pu5xnXzC95xcOatsobchbg2NXHsjfvncyeSLI-ki4ij1oUGqKmKli8BOXQiMTbLWYhN74IqTh2KbFRup-fPiRfqLpsaYgykOcLBU1Wr1qz9ko2yfZ_pm2Wp7x_fhZ7vf02d4qp6iUDa2sTiypk/PicsArt_02-23-08.31.50.png?psid=1)