Optical digital audio in/out?

Could someone explain to me how one plugs an optical audio cable into a 3.5mm mini jack? Am I missing something here?

hi there, how much an adapter like this should cost? I have a cable that looks like this: /Users/Paragon/Desktop/cvz.jpg but my MD inlet is the same as the MacBook's outlet so I though of buying a cable that has its both ends "mini-TOSLINK" (is that the correct name for this side of the cable?) but here there is an adapter that does the job just right, but I am in the czech republic and I wouldn't know where to even look for something like that, and how much should I expect it to cost... so what is the professional term for it?
MacBook 2 GHz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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CD player Toslink optical out to optical digital audio in port. Need help

Hello,
I'm taking the Toslink Optical out of my Sony 707esD CD player into the Audio in/optical digital audio in port of my March 2009 iMac.
In System preferences>Sound>Input>Digital in Optical digital-in port I see a signal occurring on the input level meter but I do not hear audio.
Output is headphones port and is working fine from other sources.
I see a signal input does anyone know how to hear the output.
Thanks.

You need the free LineIn app from Rogue Amoeba.
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
Dah•veed

TS5150 Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Yes if the media has such an audio track available it can do so.
There is a setting for audio and video allowing DD output to be set for Auto (on/off if connected HDMI device can decode DD), On or Off.
AC

HT2844 iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working...

Hello,
My iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working through that port. I tested the speaker system through my iPhone, and it works fine. I hooked it up to the Headphone out/Optical digital audio in port, and it works through that port also. I did a computer restart, I also checked all wiring and did a system repair on the computer. I also restarted the computer in mode where I could use the system utility, and the computer still did not correct the matter, and it reported everything as being "ok". I wented into "sound", through system preferences, and the computer does not recognize anything I plug into the Audio in/Optical digital audio out port. When I plug the speaker sysytem into the headphone out/optical digital audio out port, it does recognize the Bose speaker system as being "headphones".
Reading through a lot of forums, I hear everything from compatibility, to the port being stuck, and on and on. Since the port was working before, and just quit working one day, I wonder if there is a capacitor or fuse or some type of similar thing is blown, and causing the port to be unfunctionable. Maybe the port went bad, but before this time, I had never used it, and the computer does not move around, and I never plug in and pull wiring out unless needing to, and that being rare.
Here is a link to Costco, where I bought the system, and the exact system I have, if this is any help: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku= A4092931&ST=pla&dgc=ST&cid=262075&lid=4742361&acd=1230980794501410
By the way, I am running OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5). I upgraded to Mavericks about a month ago, and expeirienced a number of issues, and had to take my iMac into Apple. Talking with the tech, I decided to wait for a while more before I upgraded to Mavericks. I try and keep the computer maintained.
If any of you have any ideas regadrding wear and tear, and fix I can do, etc., besides having to take my computer into Apple? Thank you, and potentially all of you, for your time and effort in helping me with this issue. Thank you kindly.
davE

Okay, davE, first, you have posted in the "Mac Pro" forum (not Macbook Pro), so we can't be super helpful
but we help you. First, hold down the Option key while clicking on the speaker icon at the top of your screen. This should show you all the inputs and outputs you have. you could check in "About this Mac" then "More info" to see whatever's recognized. Then, maybe, fire up Audio MIDI. your speaker system should show up there. something might have gotten set incorrectly. You can test it there. I guess you are using the good ol' analog cable for connection, and it works on your iPhone, so the cable isn't bad. You could try this. it 's an adapter which might solve your problem
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HBWYQ6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
depending on which model of Bose speaker you have, you might try doing a product reset
turn off speakers...unplug power cord from outlet...wait 1 minute..plug cord into outlet..turn on speakers..
\\turning off automatic standby||
press and hold top of control pod for 6 seconds until you hear 2 tones that go from high to low
other than that ,I don't know
John B

Optical digital audio out so good you don't need external audio card?

IS the optical digital audio out of the MBP so good you don't need an external audio card?
I was looking into buying the MAUDIO mobilepre to connect my soon to be received MBP to the speakers, but the Apple rep told me the new optical digital connection is good enough that i can bypass an interface card. Is this true?
For reference I am planning to buy the EDIROL DM20 as monitors to edit audio in FCP 5.
Thnak you for your feedback
optimist2
Imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)
Imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

I'm an audiophile as well. I wouldn't use the MBP headphone out to drive a serious audio system, so I don't disagree with your use of a good external DAC. But the poster wants to drive speakers that take digital input. So the question is about the digital output, not the DACs. Given the equipment he proposes to attach, I doubt there's any justification for using an external device to generate the digital out.

Optical digital audio out port

Here is the situation:
The only problem I have with my Mac Pro is that the Audio line-out port does not work reliably in Boot Camp. The audio output cuts out easily and then I have to "jiggle" the speaker cable to get the sound back. And I have determined that it is the audio line-out port that is at fault, not the speakers, nor the cable.
So I want to try to work around this by utilizing the optical digital audio out port.
But I don't understand how it works.
Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
Thanks

have you tried other speakers or headphones and what version bootcamp drivers are you using?
Moses Kravitz wrote:
Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
With the suggestions i have below the set-up is like this:
Subwoofer - Connects to 2 (Stereo or technically 2.1) or 5 (5.1) speakers
The subwoofer connects to a control pod (which has the optical inputs, coax inputs, and analog inputs - atleast all 3 are on the z5500)
Digital/Optical Audio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
Suggested Speakers; I Personally have 2 pairs of the Z-5500 set, true high quality audio and variety of settings for whatever you use them for, i have been so pleased by them and their warranty service is by far the best ever, anything ever happens to them, theyll send you a replacement set, logitech/apple great customer service, i also posted a few other priced ones if youre not looking for a huge set up:
The company site & Speakers: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakersaudio/home_pcspeakers/&cl=us,en
Compares a few models:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/comparison/ref=pdcp_ecmp/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&ASIN.1=B0002WPSBC&ASIN.2=B0002SQ0AE&ASIN.4=B0002 SQ2P2&ASIN.3=B0002SQ0A4&bf=0
and some others in that same field:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B00007AKDP/2/ref=pdcp_esexpl/104-4843690-8241552
And you're going to need a TOSLINK cable to go from the audio port to the back of the control pods; found a nice cheap one
http://amazon.com/s/ref=srkk3/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=toslink%20cable
hope that helps!!
Message was edited by: AppleNewton

Optical digital audio output/headphone out

Does anyone know if there is a way to connect stereo speakers directly (not through a receiver/amp)to the Optical digital audio output/headphone out on a imac? The new 20 inch imacs have a 24watt internal amp which would be plenty for the speakers that I want it to drive. Thanks

is there an attachment that i have to buy? do i just rip the tip of the cord off?
Yep, there are two "standard" optical-digital-audio connectors -- the original "square" one is still used in most larger audio/video components. The newer/smaller one, used mainly in portable gear, is exactly the same size as a mini headphone plug. Radio Shack carries adapters/converters and cables of both types (usually at outrageously high prices). For online vendors, try:
http://monoprice.com (search for "TOSLINK")
Great prices and a good rep for quality/service among to the HDTV-fanatics on avsforum.com.
Looby

Optical digital audio out?

does any one have optical digital audio out to a receiver working? it doesn't work for mp3 through itunes, video purchased on itunes, cds or dvds. works fine with the same setup and a previous generation macbook so i know it's not the receiver or cable.
my fear is that this is a defective design issue related to the displayport hdcp issues. hopefully, my hardware is just malfunctioning.
i was on the phone over an hour with apple troubleshooting, but no one had an answer to the hdcp question.
thanks.

i took my macbook up to the apple store to the "genius bar". after a few minutes, they just decided to replace the entire macbook. fine. after i got home, i immediately tested the digital out port. it works! fantastic. unfortunately, throughout the course of the night i continued setting up the new macbook. i later try the digital audio out and now it's not working.
this morning i'm trying it again and it's working, briefly. i've found that by moving the cable around near the output jack that the sound will come and go. i tried a different cable with the same results. although it seemed to work less frequently. both cables in different devices (including a previous generation macbook) work fine.
i've also noticed some of the comments on this forum and others (i think they were referring to different notebook models) about people having problems with the internal speakers not reactivating after unplugging headphones. my guess now is that the headphone jacks are just poorly designed, manufactured or i'm just unlucky.
i would think it's definitely not an hdcp or other content protection issue.
i guess i could exchange for another macbook, but with 2 having this problem it's seeming less likely another one will work out. i guess i could just be really unlucky and maybe 3rd times a charm. my only other alternatives as i see it are returning it or just living with the digital audio out not working (annoying, but everything should work on a $1500 laptop).

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack on the new Mac Pro support 5.1?

Are you asking if it has that?
http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/specs/
says:
Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack
Which means it does.
On all but the earlier Mac Pro models, this has been standard since the iMac G5.
Mac Pros earlier used SPDIF.
These are now mini-Toslink.

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.
Good Luck
Stedman
MBP 1.83, 1.5gB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9) Quiet, Cool, Re-furbished, iPod mini, iPod shuffle

Combined optical digital audio port

Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Dumb Question but what exactly does this mean, what types of connections does this port take? only headphone jack?

It is a jack that does both standard analog, and optical digital, on the one connection.
You can plug in a standard mini-headphone (1/8") like most iPod/music devices use, including 1/8" to two cable Y adapters for plugging into stereos, etc.
You can also buy a funky adapter that looks like a standard mini-headphone adapter, but it is plastic and has an optical jack on the back where the cable would usually be. This allows you to connect the MB digitally to any equipment (like a home stereo receiver) that accepts optical input, or plug things like CD players, DVD players, etc. into the MB's input. If you check out the online Apple Store, they sell a Belkin kit that has the adapter with a short optical cable and they have a picture so you can see an example.

Will an optical digital audio cable improve the sound when I am viewing content thru Apple TV

I have a 2nd generation Apple TV. When I view content via my Apple TV the sound gets "fuzzy" as I increase the volume on my TV. If i connect Apple TV to my Samsung HDTV with an optical digital audio cable, with the sound quality improve??

people say that if the atv2 dont have a connection to the tv optical is muted
I have a atv1 and been using the optical out with my sony stereo system for ages mute the tv so only 1 audio source and on atv1 it play out the optical even with the tv off
of cause one have to choose the optical input as input source on the receiver

HDMI or Optical digital audio cable???

I have an ATV2 with cable box, Samsung sound bar w/blu ray DVD player, and a Samsung led tv. I have HDMI cables and also a optical digital audio cable from my cable box to the sound bar. My tv sound is fine but when I switch over to the ATV2 the tv sound remains on and no sound from the ATV2. I can't figure out what to do.
Message was edited by: Dman3284

Dman3284 wrote:
Shouldn't the HDMI cables carry the sound along with the video? Do I really need the optical digital audio cable at all?
yes they do, but you don't have your kit connected up so that it would do it.
if you wanted to use the HDMI to carry the audio you would need to connect the appletv direct to the soundbar - as it is just now you aren't doing that.

Optical digital audio input

I have an early 2009 iMac Duo Core 2 with the combo digital audio in/out. I ordered the correct cable which fits perfectly into the back of the iMac. I've plugged the other end into three different audio devices that have digital audio out.
While I get activity on the input level for the Optical digital-in port in system prefs, it does not come out through the iMac speakers. Other sounds (system alerts, iTunes, etc) play through the speakers but getting the computer to play the digital audio input does not work.

There's an excellent little piece of software called LineIn from Rouge Amoeba that does exactly what you're looking for, get it from here: http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies/. I was using it for redirecting sound coming in via an optical cable to iMac's digital line-in to my headphones attached to iMac's audio-out. Also works great for outputting anything coming to digital-in out to an external audio receiver using digital-out. My set-up was: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 all connected to Sony's Bravia screen and passing sound through HDMI (plus a Wii attached to Bravia via analog inputs), Bravia's digital audio out connected to iMac's digital-in and then finally iMac analog/stereo-out --> headphones or iMac digital-out to Logitech's Z-5500 receiver's TOSLINK connector. TV's aren't allowed to stream unencrypted AC3/DTS coming in from HDMI to their digital audio out though so only stereo was available in the above setup (connecting a PC/Xbox360/PS3 using an optical cable with TOSLINK and mini-TOSLINK connectors directly to the digital line-in on iMac does enable one to pass through Dolby Digital/DTS to iMac's line-out and to an external receiver). I'm using past tense here becase Apple decided not to include any audio-in functionality whatsoever on the new line of iMacs (late 2012). Still looking for a solution to that problem (a MacBook Alu 13" is doing the sound redirection in the mean time).

Optical Digital audio - No output control

I'm trying to use the optical audio output on my late 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 (A1186), but no audio signal is received by my Sony audio amplifier even though the "Optical digital audio out" port and my TOSLINK cable show a red glow,
System Preferences says: "The selected device has no output controls." That same message has been displayed for Sound > Digital Out ever since my Mac was new, but this is the first time I've wanted to use that sound output.
Did my Mac Pro come with the needed controls? If "yes," how do I activate them? If "no," where can I obtain them?
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Don

yep-try looking under system preferences-->sound--or fire up Audio Midi Setup and see if you can get it switched over that way. Dunno about your reciever. You may have to switch it over to digital on that input. I'll turn it over to someone more capable than me at the moment. Gotta go
John B

Optical digital audio in/out?

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