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.

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Optical audio output for IMAC

My new IMAC 2.66gh 24" is coming. Just wondering if the IMAC can output true bit stream audio signal through the toslink cable. I have a Logitec 5400 THX 5.1 Speaker system support THX, Dolby Digital, DTS hard decode. What I heard from other website saying is IMAC can only output 2.1 channel audio sound through optical. If that is true then my 5.1 speaker system is useless.

Hi Kl2999
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Have a look at the > [iMac Audio System Audio Developer Notes|http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Conceptual/HWTechAudio/Articles/Audio_implementation.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003978-SW281200331167]
+*S/PDIF Optical Digital Output*+
+The S/PDIF optical digital output is automatically selected when an S/PDIF optical digital output device is detected on the external combo audio port. The S/PDIF optical digital output supports PCM and AC-3 audio formats with the following stereo data stream characteristics:+
+PCM: 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz+
+AC-3: 16 bits per sample at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, or 192 kHz+
+The S/PDIF optical output channel status conforms to IEC 60958-3 consumer mode digital audio.+
+During playback of a 1 kHz sine wave (S/PDIF output format at 0 dBFS output level, 44.1 kHz sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, unless otherwise specified) the digital audio output has the following nominal specifications:+
+Jack type: 3.5 mm (1/8”) stereo combo+
+Digital audio signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): > 130 dB+
+Digital audio total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): < -130 dB (0.00003%)+
Dennis

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!

What is the correct cable for iMac 11,2 Intel core i3, mini dvi to vga or mini display port to vga?

What is the correct cable for iMac 11,2 Intel core i3, mini DVI to VGA or mini display port to VGA to hook up to projector? Thanks!

mini-DisplayPort.
Regards.

Virtual-Audio-Cable for Arch linux

Hello guys,
I'm quiet new to Arch-Linux and I love Arch-Linux (even if I sometimes hate it ).
I wont to have and virtual audio-device where I can put some Out-Put of any program (for examble VLC) to an input device like a Microphone used by any application for example Teamspeak.
In Windows I have the program Virtual-Audio-Cable for this and I already read that pulse-audio should serve this functionality, but when I install pulse-audio I don't get this sound-redirecting to work and I get Bugs like my music is stopping when I start Teamspeak or any application with sound output.
So I wan't to have it (if possible) without using pulseaudio (I already removed it from my system).
I'm thankful for any hints.
Sincerely Basti
Last edited by basti890 (2015-04-23 12:59:28)

pulseaudio comes with the module module-virtual-source. You can load it with pacmd and then use it like a virtual audio cable in pavucontrol.
pacmd load-module module-virtual-source source_name=loop_source uplink_sink=loop_sink
Then send sound to loop_sink and record from loop_source.
Edit: If you want to listen and record at the same time, then you should be able to use module-virtual-sink I think and record from the monitor channel for the virtual sink.
http://pulseaudio-discuss.freedesktop.n … ce-modules
With pure alsa it should be possible with the aloop driver.
Otherwise you'll have to learn JACK.
Last edited by progandy (2015-04-30 19:17:08)

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

Ability to connect Audio Cable for Apple TV to Apple Speaker

Can I connect my Apple TV XtremeMac XtremeHD Toslink Audio Cable for Apple TV to my external Apple Iphone speaker?
There is only a single audio cable connection behind the speaker that normally goes from the Iphone.
Is there some sort of adapter I can use?
Thanks.
Rick

Can I connect my Apple TV XtremeMac XtremeHD Toslink Audio Cable for Apple TV to my external Apple Iphone speaker?
There is only a single audio cable connection behind the speaker that normally goes from the Iphone.
Is there some sort of adapter I can use?
Thanks.
Rick

Is there a Usb Optical audio adapter for 2012 iMac?

I didn't realize that there wasn't going to be an optical audio output until the day I unboxed the iMac. I would like to plug it into my headphones that require a optical ouput. Any help well be appericated, thanks.

Yes, I have. I have Astro A50's and the mixamp needs a optical cable. Is there a usb optical adapter that I can plug into the iMac?

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

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

What is the audio in/optical audio port for ?

I scan thru my iMac manual & found that I have not use my audio in/optical audio port.
What is that port for ?
Can I connect a mic to it & do a voice over in FCE ? If yes, then is this a better method or using a USB mic is better ?
Thnaks

MartinR wrote:
The audio-in port supports both analog audio input & optical digital input. It can be used with almost any audio source including microphones, tape decks, cd players, dvd players, mixers, etc. including mic level and line level sources. The quality of the audio will be dependent on the quality of your audio source. It is neither better nor worse than a USB based audio source per se.
Yes, you can connect a microphone to the audio-in port. The quality of the audio will be dependent on the quality of your mic. If you have a good mic the results should be as good through the audio-in port as it would be via USB provided your USB device is capable of producing good audio.
Thanks Martin for the answers !!
Really appreciate it, thanks

Audio interface for iMac????

I just opened the box to my brand new iMac, and to my horror, there is only a Firewire 800 port, and none for 400! I use an M Audio Firewire 410 Audio interface (which I previously used with my now dead Power Mac), and since it connects via firewire 400, I can't use it with my new iMac
So, is there an affordable Fire 800 audio interface? BUT if I do get an audio interface for 800, then I won't be able simultaneously hook up my Glyph drive via the 800 port. In which case, are there any good audio interfaces that connect via USB?

Not sure, but I do think its possible, because last year, when apple introduced some line of Imac, lots of people were having trouble with some specifics soundcard(like RME) cause of the apple choice to use a new type of FW800 port from another companie than Texas instrument. One way some users found to fix the problem was to simply daisy chain the soundcard on the firewire port of an external hardrive. So it should work, but keep in mind that you are gona use some part of the bandwith on your firewire cable to feed your soundcard, and that anyway a FW800 cable cant be as fast as a SATA wire or so. Mean that you may not have as much power as you want with your new HD. If you bought that drive to boost your samplers capacity, it will work only if you install some plugins on your new hardrive and some plugs on your native HD. That way you use both speed at the same time...

Optical audio cable for iMac?

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