For HDTV to Integrated Amp For 2 Main Speakers & 2 Subs, Optical Cable Is Fine?


AudigoN Team,

Want to check to make sure that my internet investigation is correct.

I am setting up a 2.2 channel system with an integrated amplifier and 2 main speakers with a built in powered subwoofer in each main speaker that I want to connect to my LG OLED C7 series HDTV. The integrated amps that I am now considering is the Peachtree Nova 500 (once wifi is included for streaming) but it has a optical input without an HDMI ARC input. Since I have a 2 channel system with additional powered subs, I am thinking that the fancy Dolby signals etc. that HDMI ARC provides isn’t needed. I have read that 2 channel stereo through the optical cable is not compressed and there isn’t really any quality difference to HDMI ARC.

For all of you that are experts, I want you to confirm my understanding that the information that I found which states that the optical input is fine. Please confirm or state otherwise. If there is a compelling reason to consider HDMI ARC for audio transmission from the HDTV to the integrated amplifier for my 2 channel + 2 subwoofer situation, I would like to know the reason for this.

The alternative for me is a more expensive New Acoustic Dimensions M22 v2 & M12 combination with the MDC cards if I need HDMI signal for better sound.

I have some space limitations, speaker power requirements (Ohm Acoustics F-5015s on order, where I have been told the more power the amp has the better (>300 watts dynamic @ 6 Ohms) by the owner of this company) and a line out connection requirement for each of the powered subwoofers that have led to these two amplifier options.
michiganbuckeye
The information you found is fine so far as it goes. When concerned with sound quality however you must always keep in mind that everything matters. Not just optical, not just HDMI, but everything- and the only way to know for sure is to listen and compare.

For example, you could find the sound is better with an ordinary RCA interconnect, in spite of the optical supposedly being better. This could be true either because the RCA interconnect is a lot better quality, OR because the RCA out actually sounds better, OR is just plain a better impedance match, able to drive your amps input stage better. OR it could just as easily be that what the internet says about optical is based purely on measurements (almost a dead certainty) and not anyone actually listening- and when you listen you actually prefer the other way around. Who knew? Nobody. Only way to know is to try and listen.

Sorry, but that's the way it works. You rely on advice from people who have and never will listen to your system, and you get the results you could expect from that. Might as well ask what tire pressures to run on your car, which wine to have with your rib eye.