Both connect a TV to external speakers, but they handle audio quality and convenience a little differently.
HDMI ARC and optical are the two most common ways to send audio from a TV to a soundbar or receiver, and most modern soundbars support both.
Uses the same HDMI port as your video connection, supports more advanced audio formats, and often lets one remote control both the TV and soundbar's volume.
A dedicated audio-only cable that works reliably across almost any TV and soundbar, though it doesn't support some of the newer, more advanced audio formats.
HDMI ARC is generally the better default on newer equipment, while optical remains a solid, simple fallback on older TVs or soundbars without ARC support. Our guide on connecting a streaming device to a soundbar covers the full setup either way.
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