Trying to get the best Audio Setting..

I have a 3.1 surround system hooked up to my PS3, but it have HDMI ports, so I was curious if it's best that I use a digital optical or HDMI cord to connect it to the PS3?

I like the answer. but I was looking for a slightly more in-depth one.

HDMI is completely lossless. Optical is not. It's close, but IIRC, something like 7.1 DTS TruHD wouldn't be available via optical. Basically HDMI can take anything you throw at it. Optical just has a couple limitations. All in all though I wouldn't say it's a night and day difference. Both of them are better than component and head and shoulders above composite.

I'm going to assume you meant 5.1 and not 3.1? or 7.1. Optical can carry Dolby Digital Pro Logic, 5.1 and DTS, all three of which have been used since the Playstation 2. Unless you wanted to hook your PS3 up to a 7.1 system, you should just go with the cable thats cheaper, as you won't notice a difference. And really, I can't think of a game that supports 7.1, so HDMI is only beneficial for watching a Blu-Ray with Dolby True HD.

I like the answer. but I was looking for a slightly more in-depth one.

GamerBoy40

HDMI is the way to go. It has the ability to give you lossless sound. Such as DTS-MA or Dolby True HD. Optical cant carry that much data like HDMI can. Make sure you change the sound settings on your PS3.

Also depending on your reciever you might need to make sure it supports those formats or your just getting regular sound nothing lossless.

Another thing to think of is if your reciever can decode these formats as well. If it does then you can bitstream or have the PS3 decode the formats and send it to the reciever. This is based on your PS3 model, the fats only decode while the slims can bitstream and decode.