Audio over Optical vs. HDMI

[Shinrai]

I need some advice here with a (regular) customer that I have in my store.

I actually named this thread in a way that I hope he finds this through a google search.

My dilemma is that for some unknown, disillusioned reason he feels that there is a difference when the same audio track is passed along an Optical cable vs. HDMI. No I am not referring to a lossy track vs. lossless. He has specifically said the DTS or Dolby Digital track. Many times he has made it clear that he prefers the sound over an Optical cable... ??

In actuality, I recall him saying that the regular DTS track passed along an optical cable sounded warmer and less clinical than the DTS-HD track via a HDMI cable. So to clarify, the lossy track taken from the same mix sounds better than the lossless track?? The reason I state that it is from the same mix is as we know due to the nature of DTS-HD using the DTS core and the HD part simply being the difference of what was removed during the lossy encode.

I mean this guy sits there with his Blu-ray Player, having an optical cable and HDMI cable connected to his AVR and switches between the two and analyzes the difference. What's worse is he honestly thinks there is a difference... Hello! It is digital! If anything, HDMI can only be better due to the increased bandwidth. This is just like saying I prefer the way my photo looks after transferring it with a USB 1.0 cable as opposed to a USB 2.0 cable... The colors look so much richer!

He even called me today looking for a specific Blu-ray Player and wanted to know if it could simultaneously output audio over HDMI and Optical. He has also revealed to me that is what he likes most about his current player.

I guess the reason for this post is...

1) So others can post here supporting my frustration and hopefully he will find this thread.

2) Advice! Should I just set him straight? I mean, I have tried but he has such a strong opinionated personality that is hard to deal with. I recall various other long winded discussions about other things Blu-ray/audio related in which I was completely right and it took forever for him to even have a look in to my point of view. I need to tread carefully here though as he is still a customer and as such I need to maintain a professional, friendly nature. Believe me, if it was away from work I wouldn't hold back at all with the facts.