Beautiful iMac, nasty SPDIF interface ......

Bought myself an iMac, use it in living room, connected to home-theater system.
BUT! ..... when the SPDIF output of the iMac is used, then you disable the local (screen) sound.
This is very unhandy because when you want to view/listen to a videostream from internet, you want to prepare and test the thing before you enable your HT. This can now only be done by removing the (glassfiber) SPDIF connection from the connector on the iMac!
This is very unhandy and besides that, I fear that this little connector will give in soon if I plug things in and out all the time.
Is there a solution???

I agree, it's an incredibly stupid/irritating design. I believe the only work-around is
be to find an inexpensive USB audio interface with S/PDIF 'pass-thru'. Sumpin' like
"Instant Music" from ADS. I had the PC version, and it worked OK on PCs--but I've
never tried the Mac version. It was about $25 on sale, and there are many similar
products from other manufacturers.
Looby

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