How good is digital optical audio?

Can someone explain how it works, what brand has the top optical cables, and how it compares to regular audio (ordinary audio cables). I just bouht a nice 56" Samsung HDTV and just thinking about other stuff to upgrade. This audio upgrade would be for my ps2 and dvd player, and I also have a receiver that supports optical audio.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Digital is digital. Brand name doesn't matter with optical like it would with analog output cables.

And obviously, digital means the signal won't degrade like it can with analog, so you can expect better quality output with it.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Thanks for the cable question, I should have also asked which are the most known cable brands.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Monster comes to mind.

Really though, quality will not be affected by your choice of brand. Going with a cheaper brand at worst means that the cable is more cheaply manufactured and will break more easily.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Exactly. Since it's just light traveling, not anything being conducted, there's no sense in uber-expensive cables.

How ya doing, buddy?