Which is a superior connection: Optical digital or HDMI?

[Scooter]

Thinking of (finally) getting a PS3 and my new TV can take all types of connections. The PS3 HDMI cables are stupid expensive but the optical digital out cables seem reasonably priced but I'm curious which would provide better video and audio quality. My TV can accept up to 1080p.

I already have a component cable (PS2 and PS3 use the same connection, right?) but I'm guessing both OD and HDMI are superior.

[hiphophead34]

I wouldn't buy cables at retail price. They mark them up a stupid amount. I don't want to sound like an advertisement but checkout monoprice.com. I get all my cables from them, and they are super cheap in price but really good quality. If you are only going to connect the PS3 to your TV then all you need is an HDMI cable. If you run sound to a receiver for surround sound then you definitely want an optical cable.

[Scooter]

Wait sec, does the optical digital only provide an audio connection? I'm really after both audio and video, so I guess now my question is which is best: component or HDMI. I'm guess HDMI?

[dlmvii]

Wait sec, does the optical digital only provide an audio connection? I'm really after both audio and video, so I guess now my question is which is best: component or HDMI. I'm guess HDMI?

Optical is only audio, yes. And techinally so is component, but I guess the RCA audio jacks are groupd in with them usually anyways. But hdmi will give you a better picture than component, especially if you have a 1080p set.

[Pulsar_t]

Component doesn't support 1080p for some (most?) displays, but you can test this yourself. Go with HDMI and get a cable that is cheap, no point to that gold-plated junk since it's all digital.

Note that the majority of PS3 titles aren't really 1080p, but when you choose that resolution they're upscaled to match it. The GPUs of PS360 aren't really powerful enough to deliver flashy graphics with ample antialiasing AND output them at true 1080p.

[GSZX1337]

I wouldn't buy cables at retail price. They mark them up a stupid amount. I don't want to sound like an advertisement but checkout monoprice.com. I get all my cables from them, and they are super cheap in price but really good quality.

QFT, go to Monoprice. Best place for cables.

Component doesn't support 1080p for some (most?) displays, but you can test this yourself.

It depends on the TV. My TV can support 1080p over Component. (Which is weird, the box says it only goes up to 1080i.)

Go with HDMI and get a cable that is cheap, no point to that gold-plated junk since it's all digital.

Don't the gold-plated cables have better fidelity? I guess it doesn't matter since Monoprice's cables are gold-plated.

[Pulsar_t]

Go with HDMI and get a cable that is cheap, no point to that gold-plated junk since it's all digital.

Don't the gold-plated cables have better fidelity? I guess it doesn't matter since Monoprice's cables are gold-plated.

Definitely for analog cables, but since the signal here is 100% digital and the shielding sufficient it won't make a discernible difference.

[CRTGAMER]

I'm really after both audio and video, so I guess now my question is which is best: component or HDMI. I'm guess HDMI?

HDMI is the best, all digital with only one connection.
You don't have to buy the Sony brand, HDMI cables don't cost that much.
More info, check out my CRT vs LCD signature post.

[Pulsar_t]

What's the cheapest HDMI to analog decoder out there?

[Niode]

Component doesn't support 1080p for some (most?) displays, but you can test this yourself. Go with HDMI and get a cable that is cheap, no point to that gold-plated junk since it's all digital.

Note that the majority of PS3 titles aren't really 1080p, but when you choose that resolution they're upscaled to match it. The GPUs of PS360 aren't really powerful enough to deliver flashy graphics with ample antialiasing AND output them at true 1080p.

The PS3 doesn't upscale anything. If you play a game in 720p and you have your PS3 set to 1080p (like me) then the display mode will switch to 720p.

The 360 upscales the output from 720p games to 1080p. The 360 has a dedicated chip for upscaling video content. The PS3 doesn't.