As of recently most high end recommend against HDMI in favor of I squared S, As HDMI is a Sony/Philips product {In turn you get Sony/Philips sound}
According to many such companies S.A.C.D. is the greatest but their copyright chips suck. Go figure, personally I agree with copyright protection and these 2 companies have been involved in it so long they are copyright through and through. Both could literally drop all products sent to North America worry free and never really lose money.