Its better to connect your soundbar with an HDMI cable because it provides better quality sound. While HDMI and optical connections both pass digital audio from one device to the other, HDMI is capable of handling higher-resolution audio.

How do I connect my optical soundbar to my HDMI TV?

Connect one end of the HDMI cable (sold separately) to the HDMI IN port on your TV.Connect the other end to the TV OUT (ARC) port on your sound bar.Then, connect an optical audio cable from the TVs Optical digital audio out to OPTICAL IN on your sound bar (this is necessary to hear the TV audio).27 May 2021

Can I use HDMI and optical audio at the same time?

Safer if simply split optical. Using both HDMI and optical may induce echo. Thanks alexoiu, you mean HDMI ARC from TV have to connect to this converter box. From box both HDMI and optical can take in same time.

Does sound bar need HDMI?

Yes, most home theater gadgets these days use HDMI, but that doesnt mean you necessarily need HDMI ports on your sound bar. Instead, you can connect all your home theater devices directly to your TV, then use the TVs audio output to connect to the sound bar. Check out CNETs list of best sound bars.