A HDMI cable will send audio and video down one cable.
A HDMI cable will send audio and video down one cable.
An optical audio cable is used to transmit digital audio (AC-3) signal from the source to the receiver, such as from a DVD player to a digital audio amplifier/receiver. You can transmit 5.1 dolby digital or DTS surround sound with an optical audio cable, same as digital coaxial audio cable.
HDMI is currently the only single-connection cable that combines both Audio and Video.
Speakers are analog devices. There is no cable and connector that will connect a digital audio jack to a speaker without a digital to analog conversion and an amplifier. If the audio output is digital, you will need a compatible amplifier that has the same digital input. Then you will need to link the amplifier to the speaker with exterior grade cable.
An analog input voltage (or current) would be sent to device called an analog-to-digital converter (ADC or A/D). It is then converted to a discrete number and either processed or stored. In practical terms, you would have a device that has audio input connector(s) and digital output connector(s).
Optical otherwise referred to as Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) is a format used for recording 8 tracks of audio at once.
Satellite systems can be used to transmit audio data
Microwave systems can be used to transmit audio data
You have to plug the audio device's connector into the optical connection on the back of the system. The connection is next to the HDMI jack. The audio device must also be digital, not analog.
HDMI is a digital replacement for existing analog video standards, such as 3D, an Ethernet data connection and improved audio and video capacity.
The two parts of an audio connector are the jack and the plug.
There are two common connections for domestic video that carry both video and audio. In Europe, the SCART connector has been popular for may years. It is a 21 pin connector that carries SD video with stereo audio. In a fully wired connection, it also carries return video and audio signals. The connector also handled control lines to integrate control of players and televisions. The connector has made little impact in North America and is now being replaced in Europe by HDMI. HDMI is a digital video interface that also carries video and audio. It handles SD, HD and computer display formats. It is compatible with digital DVI connections although DVI does not support audio.