Optical is much better. If you have the option for optical you might have a digital coax too. Digital coax is considered better than optical. Optical signals require a conversion of your signal.

The 3.5 mm analog headphone jack, as the name implies, transmits analog audio signals to the attached headphone or other audio accessory. Digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) and amplifier circuitry must be integrated into the host device, for example a smartphone.

Here are the pros and cons of each. Both HDMI and optical pass digital audio from one device to another. Both are better than analog (the red and white cables). 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.

The major difference is that HDMI cables can pass higher resolution audio which includes formats found on Blu-ray like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master audio. Fiber optic cables won’t be able to transmit these high-res sound formats. HDMI can also pass video signals.

Both will work fine, but optical has some major benefits over USB that just pushes it into first place. Not being affected by electrical and radio interference is a major advantage to me in the audio world. Personally I always use optical audio when possible.

Dolby Digital is compressed so PCM is better. Dolby True HD, DTS HD MA, Atmos and DTS X are also lossless, so should be similar quality to PCM. If the source audio is stereo, it should only be coming from your front left and right speakers unless you use an up mixer.

A lot of TVs will not let you connect both HDMI and optical cables at the same time, even if they have both of these ports available. In case you do connect both cables, they will automatically switch to the one you inserted last.

HDMI cable