Digital audio output - how?

I am new to Macs and the owner of a mini. I'm about to replace my stereo amp with an AV receiver so that I can use the mini as a media centre with a home theatre system. I want an AV receiver with a digital input as the mini has a combined analogue & digital output. My question is what type of digital lead to I need, are they standard and how do I tell the mini to provide a digital signal to the combined output socket rather than an analogue one? Or is it clever enough to work out what type of cable is attached?
Thanks in advance
Paul

I have my Mini connected to my A/v receiver using a digital TOSLINK to mini TOSLINK cable. It should have a mini jack connector on one end for the mini and a squareish connector on the other end for the receiver. The audio output jack on the Mac Mini can output both analog audio and digital. The digital input on my receiver uses a ADAT lightpipe connection on the other end, that looks like a square. These are standard cables and should not be that expensive. Here's an example of the type of cable:
http://www.amazon.com/6ft-Toslink-Mini-Cable/dp/B000FMXKC8
You will also need to make some setting adjustments in you sound control panel and in the DVD player to select the correct digital audio output format. Good luck.

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How to get the Mac Mini Digital Audio output at 192kHz?

I have a mid 2011 Mac Mini (and love it). According to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4806, "The headphone / line output port accommodates digital optical audio output, analog audio output with a 24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz D/A converter, digital audio output up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-192 kHz sampling rate and supporting encoded digital audio output (AC3 and DTS)."
So there is digital audio output to 192 kHz but how do you configure it to work? Using the Audio Midi Setup Utility, I can set the sample rate to 96000 Hz -- but it won't go higher to 192kHz. Anyone know how to do this?

That is in some ways confusing. For the analog output, the
internal DAC can support 24 bit/192Khz audio data. It does
require an application that has the capability of playing back
such material.
The TOSLINK optical standard does not support this data rate.
It has nothing to do with the Mini, it is the standard itself. The
TOSLINK optical spec is 96 kHz, 24 bit stereo (uncompressed).
The mini will however support multichannel, 24 bit, 192 kHz
(uncompressed) via the HDMI interface. Also, again,
the playback software needs to support it.
Just as a final note, unless the source material has the
higher sample rate format, there is no benifit to outputing
at the higher sample rate, especially if the source some
lossy comporessed format (mp3, aac, Dollby and DTS
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Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out

What is the "combined optical digital audio output/headphone out"? This is what the output is called that has the earphone picture beside it on my MacBook. I thought this meant that it could take the mini jack out that splits into a/v - yellow, white, red, and plug it into any tv or monitor that has those inputs. I tried it just now, but a no go.
If the only way to get video is through the mini DVI output what does the "Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out" mean? If I can get video out of it, how can I do it?
Thanks!

Hi Trevor Deck: As you have discovered this does not output as a video signal. That jack is strictly for audio. The "optical" portion of it is used to output using a "Toslink" cable to provide "optical audio" to an external amplifier. The DVI port needs to be used to get a video signal to your TV. But be warned if you use the red, white, & yellow method of hooking up the video signal you will probably be disappointed. If your TV has a HDMI or PC input it would be much better. You would then have to get the proper DVI to whatever type adapter.
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I want to find the digital audio output on my Pavilion vd6853ea notebook

I have spent far too long trying to find where this output is located.
I have a very good Hifi and at the moment am using a USB cable to connect to my DAC.
It looks like there is a realtec digital output somewhere on the notebook as it show up when I go into the playback devices and it tests ok visually.
The 3.5 jack plug is just analog and not a hybrid spdif.
Where is it????????
Please help as I am getting really fed up now!
This question was solved.
View Solution.

HI,
macapaca666 wrote:
Thank you so much for the fast reply.
I thought that may have to be the case.
Can I please ask you a few other questions?
If I want to get a digital audio output not using a HDMI (My DAC doesn't have this input), can I get a good result with something like a Musical Fidelity V link USB to S/Pdif converter or a M2Tech Hiface digital audio interface? Sorry, I cannot make a recommendation on either of those products as I am not familiar with them.
Is it possible to change the sound card with an optical or coaxial output? Your notebook's sound is an integrated solution. It is a chip soldered (integrated) onto the system board. It can't be updated.
Thanks again for the kind help!
John
Best regards,
erico
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

Audio output "How and Where"

Can any one advise me what port at the back of my Mini gives me the optical out so i can connect it to the back of my Pioneer LX82 Amp for sound.I read the info and have found that the following statement is correct.
"Audio features in the MacMini 2009 include a built-in speaker, combined optical digital audio output/headphone out". So what type of cable do i need (description) so i can achieve my goal.
Many thanks in advance for advice.

Take a look here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3478
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Using built in optical digital audio output for 5.1

So, lets say i want to mix something in 5.1 using logic or soundtrack pro, can i use the optical digital audio output of my macbook to send the signal to a home theather or something to mix it?, or i need a special hardware card for this?
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Hi alece,
Just to clarify something;
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S/PDIF - a stereo signal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spdif
AC3 or Dolby Digital - up to 5.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac3
Dolby Digital Plus - up to 7.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DolbyDigitalPlus
ADAT Optical - up to 8 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAT_Lightpipe
MADI - up to 64 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MADI
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http://www.midiamore.com.au/

Optical digital audio output for mac book?

Hello, I am wondering if MacBook pro Retina version has the Optical digital audio output or thunderbolt adapter? so i can use optical cable to do output for my music.

Hi alece,
Just to clarify something;
When using an optical cable there are several standards of audio that can pass through the cable:
S/PDIF - a stereo signal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spdif
AC3 or Dolby Digital - up to 5.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac3
Dolby Digital Plus - up to 7.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DolbyDigitalPlus
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MADI - up to 64 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MADI
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I hope this answered your question
Cheers Espen
http://www.midiamore.com.au/

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See this user tip:
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Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out

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Moderator note; comment removed which contravened forum rules

Digital audio output question

Right now I have my Mini's audio output connected to my amp with a stereo mini jack. But as I understand it the audio out jack can also accept a digital (toslink) connector. There is surprisingly little documentation on exactly how this works or what cables are needed. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Thanx

Hi David,
Many people use the toslink optical audio cable.
There are different brands available.
I purchased several of these when they were on sale from Apple.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TL955LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MTA4NDk5MjQ
Note the tip adapter in the second and third photo.
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Digital audio output - how?

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