Optical Audio Cables

About Optical Audio Cables

Optical audio cables transmit digital sound using light, not electricity. This helps reduce interference and ensures a clear and consistent signal. They're often used to connect TVs, soundbars, DACs, games consoles, and AV receivers, especially in audio-only setups.

Although they don’t support advanced formats like Dolby TrueHD, digital optical audio cables are great for stereo and compressed surround sound, such as Dolby Digital and DTS. They’re a solid choice for home cinema, TV audio, or breathing new life into older hi-fi systems.

Some devices use a mini optical connection that fits a 3.5 mm-style port, offering a compact alternative to the standard square plug. If you need a simple and reliable way to pass digital audio between devices, optical cables remain a widely compatible and dependable option.

FAQs

Is an optical audio cable better than HDMI for sound quality?

HDMI is generally considered the better audio connector since it offers higher bandwidth, supporting uncompressed formats like Dolby TrueHD. Optical has lower bandwidth, handling stereo or compressed surround, fine for simpler two-channel or older systems.

What is an optical audio cable used for?

An optical cable is typically used to transmit digital audio from TVs, games consoles, or media players to soundbars, AV receivers, or DACs. It's ideal for setups needing clear stereo or compressed surround, especially when HDMI isn’t available or supported.

What is the difference between optical and TOSLINK?

TOSLINK is the most common type of optical audio cable. “Optical” refers to the light-based signal, while “TOSLINK” is the standard connector, usually square, but some devices use a 3.5mm mini-TOSLINK for compact optical connections, often combined with headphone jacks.