With this article, we address a reader’s question about the blog post “AUX connection and more – what amplifier connections mean“. In it, we presented important interfaces found on amplifiers and other devices in the hi-fi and home theater sector. The connection standard TOSLINK is mentioned there but not explained in greater detail. Hence the justified reader question: “What is a TOSLINK cable?”
Optical Cables: A Classic in the Audio Sector
TOSLINK is a widely used connection standard for transmitting digital audio data via light pulses over the S/PDIF interface. The name is derived from the company name “Toshiba” and “Link.”
The Japanese electronics company developed this optical transmission method as early as the beginning of the 1980s. Since then, it has become an industry-wide standard. A fiber optic conductor inside the cable transmits pulses that are processed by the receiving device as binary code. A light pulse corresponds to a 1, and no light pulse corresponds to a 0.
The TOSLINK connection standard is supported by receivers, amplifiers, televisions, CD players and computers, among others.
The term TOSLINK cable is therefore a common name for an optical cable connected to the S/PDIF interface . Due to the widespread use of the standard, ports are often incorrectly referred to as TOSLINK instead of “Optical In.”
TOSLINK Cables in Practice
In practice, TOSLINK cables are simple and reliable to use. The rectangular connector is simply plugged into the corresponding socket. A major advantage of the standard is its low susceptibility to interference. Faulty grounding and the resulting ground loops, which can occur with jack cables, are not possible, for example.
In addition to the standard plug design, there are also so-called TOSLINK mini plugs. At first glance, these look like 3.5 mm jack plugs. However, a jack socket capable of processing an optical digital signal is required to use a TOSLINK mini plug. Especially on laptops, jack inputs and mini-TOSLINK are sometimes combined into a single socket. With adapters, it is possible to connect a standard plug via a mini-TOSLINK input. Those who prefer a completely wireless setup today can use features such as Party Link, which allow multiple speakers to be conveniently paired wirelessly.
Tip: Learn how to split an audio signal via TOSLINK and what other audio adapters are available in this video tutorial:
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1749,99 €Is TOSLINK Being Replaced by HDMI?
HDMI is on the rise. However, no one should declare the end of TOSLINK because of that: the optical transmission standard remains highly popular among users and manufacturers.
However, when it comes to newer HD surround formats such as Dolby True HD and DTS-HD, S/PDIF reaches its bandwidth limits. HD surround sound therefore cannot be transmitted.
With HDMI there are no such limitations. This fact, combined with HDMI’s ability to carry both audio and video data through a single cable, may encourage manufacturers to omit TOSLINK inputs. One example is Apple’s set-top box, which has not supported optical cables since the fourth generation. If you want to connect the box to your audio system for music playback, you may run into problems if your receiver or amplifier does not support HDMI. A solution can be so-called HDMI audio splitters. They convert audio data into formats such as SPDIF or RCA.
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Opens in new tab▶ 1.5 m Optical Audio Cable C7515OOpens in new tab: Use this digital cable to connect your audio player to an AV receiver, amplifier, or another device equipped with a TOSLINK interface.
▶ 5.1 Home Theater Cable Set 30 m² “Standard”Opens in new tab: To ensure you can reach all the speakers distributed around your living room, including the subwooferOpens in new tab, we offer this affordable cable set. It provides 30 meters of cable and 2.5 meters of distance to the subwoofer.
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Conclusion: TOSLINK Cables Will Keep Their Place in the Audio World
- TOSLINK is a standard for transmitting audio data.
- The term TOSLINK cable is a common name for an optical cable connected to the S/PDIF interface .
- The method is widely used because of its stable transmission and low susceptibility to interference.
- Optical cables are available with a rectangular standard connector and as Mini-TOSLINK.
- The bandwidth of TOSLINK is not sufficient to transmit HD surround formats.
- If no TOSLINK inputs are available, HDMI splitters can help.
Title image: ©Saman, TOSLINK connector Some rights reserved. Source: Wikimedia
Image 1: ©Musikproducer, Digital audio interface Some rights reserved. Source: Wikimedia
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