Mini Optical audio cable 3.5mm or 5.0mm ??

I want to connect new 13" MBP to my audio receiver to play some digital audio out (5.1 DD/DTS). I have found a number of toslink-to-mini optical cables online.
Question - mini optical end should be 3.5 mm? Can 5.0 mm work as well?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&pid=1556&seq=1&format=2
Above product page (from Monoprice) even states it's used for laptops by Apple. I'm confused which size plug I need to use w/out damaging the Audio Out port.

That's the right cable. 5mm refers to the outer diameter of the cable itself, not the plug.

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Optical audio cable for iMac?

I need to find an optical audio cable for my 20" intel iMac.
I have not been able to determine what kind of cable that it is that I need to be able to hook up my iMac to my logitech z-5500's. I know that the z-5500's have an optical input on them, but it is a standard size optical input.
Does anyone know what exactly it is that I am looking for?
Any help is appreciated.

I wish Apple would sell a nice white Toslink ->Mini-tos adapter, as all of their products seem to be using the connector. (Or better yet, include it with the computers.)
The cable mentioned above will work fine and is not viciously overpriced like the Monster stuff. Another good quality solution, especially if you already have a regular optical cable, is this adaptor: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=180-968
I use two of those (both with Dayton Audio optical cables from the same seller, though any optical cable will do as there's no real difference between any of them) with my iMac and AirPort Express, and have not had any problems.

Apple TV Optical Audio to 3.5mm Input

I'm trying to output sound from my apple TV to a 3.5mm import jack on my sound system using a Toslink optical audio cable with a 3.5mm adaptor. However, I cannot hear any sound. I'm not sure if I have the wrong cable or if there is a setting that needs to be changed but I'm not sure what I am doing wrong.

I'm not absolutely sure of the circumstances under which you would use the adaptor you have, however the Apple TV outputs an optical signal, if your amp doesn't accept optical signals then it's not going to work.

Optical Audio to 3.5mm

I have a second generation Apple TV. I have got everything working as far as streaming, audio and video goes, but I want to have the sound coming out of my stereo system. My stereo system does not have an optical audio in. Is there any other way around this? I purchased a optical audio to 3.5mm but it does not work for some reason. Any thoughts?

Search for "digital to analog audio converter" on Amazon. They start at about $50, and have at least red/white RCA analog audio output jacks. If you can't find one that has a 3.5mm analog output jack, get also an adapter cable with two red/white RCA plugs on one end and a stereo 3.5mm plug on the other.
I use a Musical Fidelity V-DAC, but at $300 it might be too much for you unless you have a pretty good sound system.

Bug: Target Display Mode + optical audio cable = black screen

Using Target Display Mode on my iMac 27" (late-2012) with my MacBook Air (mid-2013) always resulted in a black screen on the iMac.
Hardware used:
MacBook Air mid-2013 (Mac OS X 10.8.4)
iMac 27" late-2012 (Mac OS X 10.8.4)
Thunderbolt cable between MBA and iMac
optical audio cable in iMac (digital audio out through optical mini jack plug)
Now, enter Target Display Mode on the iMac keyboard (Cmd+F2).
Result: black screen on the iMac (MBA is okay, optical audio is okay)
Workaround: unplug optical audio cable before entering Target Display Mode. Plug in the optical digital audio out cable after TDM is working and all is fine.
I sent a bug report through the feedback form. Just posting here to save others the few hours I had to spend finding the cause and workaround!
-- Richard

Thank you!! Saved me a trip to the Genius Bar.
Confirmed: Bug also exists in the new 2013 iMac under Mavericks. Unplugging the optical cable before entering Target Display Mode solved the problem.

How to make my computer send all the audio through optical audio cable instead of headphone jack?

Howdy,
To listen to online radios or CD's played from my computer, I used to connect the computer to my home entertainment system from the computer's headphone jack to the AUX port on my home entertainment system.
I now wanted to get better sound and purchased the optical audio cable. However, I don't know how to tell my computer to send the audio signal to the home entertainmeny system through the optical digital cable rather than through the headphone jack. If I just unplug the cable connecting the headphone jack and the AUX port and only have the PC and the system connected with the optical audio cable, I don't hear any sounds. I suspect the computer isn't sending any data through the optical audio port. I'm not able to find how I can adjust the settings on my computer so that from now all sounds are output through the optical audio.
1) I'd like to do that mainly for my HP desktop (configuration below) and any advice on how to do that would be appreciated.
2) I also have a HP laptop (configuration below) and was wondering if that would be doable too (even though it doesn't appear to have a audio out, but it has HDMI out - can one convert it to optical audio?
Thanks in advance!
My desktop is:
ENVY h8xt,
• Windows 8 64
• 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 quad-core processor [3.4GHz, 8MB Shared Cache]
• 12GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs]
• 1TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
• No secondary hard drive
• 1GB AMD Radeon HD 7570 [DVI, HDMI, DP, VGA adapter]
• 300W Power supply
• SuperMulti DVD Burner
• Wireless-N LAN card (1x1)
• 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB 2.0 (front), 2 USB 3.0 (top)
• No Additional Office Software
• No additional Security Software
• No TV Tuner
• Beats Audio (tm) -- integrated studio quality sound
• HP USB volume control keyboard and mouse with Win 8 keyboard
• Adobe Premiere Elements & Photoshop Elements 10
And the laptop:
HP ENVY 15t Quad
• Windows 8.1 64
• 4th generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700MQ Processor
• NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 740M Graphics with 2048MB of dedicated video memory
• 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1920x1080)
• 8GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 1TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
• 24GB flash Hard Drive Acceleration Cache
• No Additional Office Software
• Security Software Trial
• 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery
• No Internal DVD or CD Drive
• Standard Keyboard
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam w/ integrated digital mic
• 802.11 AC WLAN and Bluetooth(R) [2x2]
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hello @_goma,
Welcome to the HP Forums, I hope you enjoy your experience!
I have read your post on how you are looking to make your computer send all the audio through an optical audio cable instead of the headphone jack, and I would be happy to assist you in this matter!
To configure your desktop to enable the optical audio cable, I recommend following the steps below:
Step 1. Click the Windows Key Button on your desktop
Step 2. Type "Control Panel"
Step 3. Select "Control Panel" in the top right-hand corner
Step 4. Select Sound
Step 5. Under the Playback tab, right-click the white area below the devices available
Step 6. Select "Show Disabled" and "Show Disconnected Devices"
Step 7. Connect your Optical Audio Cable
Step 8. Select your Optical Audio Cable as the default device and click "Enable"
Since it is not possible to convert the HDMI out to audio out on your notebook computer, it is unfortunate that the notebook is not able to connect with an optical audio cord.
Please re-post with the results of your troubleshooting, and I look forward to your reply!
Regards
MechPilot
I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Optical Audio Cable Troubles

I recently purchased the the Panasonic G20 50" HDTV and the Panasonic blu-ray/reciever combo with surrond sound. I have the TV connected to the blu-ray player via the HDMI AV, I was told that I needed an optical audio cable to get surround sound from cable (Charter). When i try to connect the optical cable, I can't get a connection as in the cable can literally fall out and there is not a "snap" when I try to insert the cable. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?
oh by the way its not the $10 cable, they are monster cables.

My two thoughts are:
1) You're inserting the cable in the wrong orientation and it's not going all the way in
2) The optical connector on the device in question is damaged/defective/loose. Which device is the cable falling out of? The surround receiver, the cable box, or both?
Personally, I'd recommend not wasting your money on Monster ever again by the way. I've seen $4 TOSLINK cables that do just as well as the Monsters.
*disclaimer* I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Best Buy, Geek Squad, nor of any of their affiliate, parent, or subsidiary companies.

I can't connect digital optical audio cable. No option in drop down bar in audio settings.

I can't connect digital optical audio cable . No option in drop down bar.

Try System Preferences > Sound > Output

What optical audio cable to use with Mac Mini (late 2009) to receiver?

I want to do the following (removing TiVo for something else is NOT an option, EVER):
1) I want to watch TV through my HD TiVo (better than sex, better than chocolate, better than sex, chocolate, and anything else you can combine together).
2) I want to watch DVDs plus iTunes videos plus listen to iTunes audio through my Mac Mini.
3) I want to have digital optical audio (TOS?) 5.1 dolby for both
On the Mac Mini it says it has digital audio out. Isn't that the same thing as digital Optical audio out?

You need a regular optical digital cable, often called a Toslink, with a 3.5 mm miniplug adapter on the Mac mini end. The port is a combo port. When you insert the optical cable's miniplug into the port, because it is a tiny bit longer than a regular 3.5 mm miniplug, it activates the digital audio. Usually the port's output is analog by default.
Dah•veed

Mac mini optical audio failure

Hi, I ask for help regarding a problem that is affecting me about my Mac Mini 3,1 with Lion 10.7.1 connected to an amp with optical cable Sony HT minitoslink -> toslink.
Until a few days ago, everything has always worked perfectly. In these days, after turning on the mac mini, the audio comes easily to the amp, so I can see DVD movies and MKV in multichannel audio mode. After about 10 minutes, while the video continues, the sound stops. I try to restart the mac mini but the problem remains.
In addition, when i disconnect the optical cable from the amplifier side, the red light is not present. If I link a headphone to macmini or set-up to internal speaker analog audio works fine.
If I turn off the mac mini and power back up after fifteen minutes, the optical digital audio back, but it turns off after 10 minutes.
I tried to connect the cable to another macbook: it works regularly and the red light is turned on regularly for some time.
I did a clean install of Snow Leopard 10.6.7 on a USB drive and unfortunately there are the same audio issues.
In your opinion can be a problem with cable or there is a problem on macmini sound card?
I tried to reset the PRAM and SMC, permission repair, delete audio preferences, but nothing changes.
I also tried the Apple Hardware Test and the Apple Diagnostic Disk and the result is okay.
Can you help me?
Thank you for your attention

Hello, I solved the problem. I moved the Mac mini in a ventilated place, then I turned it on and I put the headphones into the "audio out". I restarted the computer three times, then I put the optical cable and everything works as before!
The CPU temperature was 72 ° C. I used the software smcFanControl and the temperature dropped to 52 ° C. I think the Mac Mini overheats so much. Now is okay, I have seen many movies in Dolby Digital and DTS.
I hope that you solve the problem.
Goodbye!

Connecting apple tv with optical audio cables

I have a new apple tv and need to connect via dvi to hdmi on my tv. problem is the audio. I am supposed to connect via option audio but don't know which cables to purchase and where it needs to be connected to FROM apple tv.

Due to the limited number of HDMI connections on my TV I upgraded my home theater receiver to one with 4 HDMI inputs. I use it for all video and audio switching and the TV stays on one input. Much cleaner cabling as well. An HDMI switch is also an option to look at too. Be aware an automatic switching HDMI switch probably will not work due to the way the ATV sleeps (not sure with the ATV2's). You'll probably need a manual one with push buttons or a remote.
For the problem at hand, first you need to know what audio input you need with the DVI in on your TV before we can help. To start with you are going to be using optical audio out from the ATV, a Toslink cable out of the ATV to be precise. If your TV's DVI connection matches up to a Toslink digital input that's all you need.
More than likely it has a single RCA jack which would be a Digital Coax in. In this case you will need a Digital Toslink to Digital Coaxial converter as well as a Digital Coax cable. The Coax cable can be a simple audio cable with RCA jacks.
If the DVI on the TV matches up with an analog in, usually red and white RCA jacks, you are going a Digital Toslink to an analog L/R stereo converter. And of course the RCA stereo cable.
MonoPrice.com is a great resource for cheap cables and converter boxes. Link to digital converters http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423

How do to set up optical audio cable on an new Apple TV

I connected the HDMI on the tv and the optical cable on the surround system but I just listen the tv.
how can I set up the Apple TV with the optical cable??

depend on your surround system
I connect my appletv by hdmi to tv
and I connect my optical to my receiver
they both play the same audio so I mute the tv and just listen to the receiver
both are sony and with the reciever I choose the inputsource they call BD which would be for blue ray disc because they name their optical input ports for some reason

Apple TV 2 & optical Audio Cable

Hi, i got a problem with my Apple TV 2. I just bought the Monster Apple TV Fibre Optic Cable on the Apple Store to connect my Apple TV to my Monster Beatbox (only AUX, but with Adapter no problem to connect) - the Apple TV is connctet to my SAMSUNG UE32D6300 via Monster HDMI Cable. Everything works fine exept that Apple TV only plays the music on the TV and not on my Monster Beatbox... So what can I do now??
Thanks for your help folks!

The manual says :
Optical digital audio port
Connect Apple TV to a home theater receiver that has an optical digital audio port,using an optical digital audio (also called S/PDIF or TOSLINK) cable
You use an adapter to connect the optical digital audio port to your Beatbox? How does that work? What does the manufacturer say about digital to analog conversion?

New Intel Mini's Optical Audio

I am thinking about upgrading my current mini to the new Intel Mini due to the fact that it has optical audio. My mini is connected to my home theater and I want to take advantage of the digital sound. Here's my question:
Q: Does this new Intel Mini really have optical audio like you would find on a DVD player? I don't recognize the actual plug. Most equipment that I use with optical audio has that little black plastic square plugs that you remove when connecting an optical audio cable. My receiver has many inputs.
Do I need a proprietary cable to connect a new Intel Mini to my receiver's optical audio port?
Maybe this seems obvious, but I have to ask before I shell out the cash. Better safe than aorry.
Thanks in advance,
Marc
15 PowerBook G4 - 1.5GHz Mac OS X (10.4)

The audio out port on the new Intel-based Mac mini is a standard type of port. In Apple products, it's used in the AirPort Express, the G5 and Intel-based iMacs, and the new MacBook Pros. The port is a combination of a standard 3.5mm "headphone" port and a digital optical audio port. You can get a regular digital optical cable with the adapter at the online Apple store here. If you already have a digital optical audio cable, you can just get a "Toslink to mini Toslink adapter" like this.
However, if I were you, you don't need to buy a whole new Mac mini to get digital optical audio out. The $99 m-audio Transit USB audio adapter will give you digital optical audio out of your current Mac mini. It will allow you to play surround sound out of your Apple DVD Player application and specifically configure non-surround sound audio out of non-surround sound applications, like iTunes. I'm using the previous model of m-audio's USB adapter with my G4 Mac mini and it works very well.
-Doug

Dose the HDMI Cable have Audio Support or do I need to use the Optical Audio Port on the ATV?

I recently noticed that the Apple TV has an "Optical Audio" port on the back, next to the HDMI port. Before I buy one, will I need to buy a Optical Audio cable, or will the HDMI cable suply sound to the TV?

HDMI carries both audio and video. The optical port is for connecting to a receiver/external speakers.

Mini Optical audio cable 3.5mm or 5.0mm ??

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