connect Apple TV 4K with optical cable to loudspeakers

Could I ask a supplementary question please? It appears that direct connection between the Mac mini M4 through optical cable (toslink) is possible without DAC ... Yet, I tried the connection and it doesn't work. In a previous configuration I had an Apple TV connected to the speakers (EDIFIER R1280DB) and it worked soundly. Would you have an advice on this issue ? I thank you very much.

Well, I need to say really thanks, I have been for 6 hours with apple people on the phone and just no one could give me this reply, they even urged me to reinstall the system!! They just don't know what the specs of what they sell are, so sad and uncomfortable for users !! If you have a hint for what I should buy to enable this kind of connection please tell me. I just want the connection to loudspeakers directly so as to stream 24bits at 48 mHZ lossless. My loudspeakers, although not top or expensive, are quite good if fed with appropriate signal (EDIFIER R1280DB). Thanks a lot again !!

An afterthought about this topic and others of the kind: After all in all 6 hours on the phone with Apple assistance services, where I have been taken to options as absurd as reinstalling the system (for a brand new M4 Mac mini) or assured that a toslink cable is the way to connect the minijack output directly to the loudspeakers, I discovered that the so called Apple technicians haven't the slightest clew about audio connections, Dacs (I had to explain what it is to one of them), audio formats and conversion, short, NOTHING relating to audio. After reading the answers of Phil0124 (whom I thank), I have taken advice, I have talked to an Audio shop, who immediately understood the point and explained that I should use one of the mini's USB-C ports at the rear and connect via dac to RCA cable which go to the speakers and deliver 24 bit / 48 Hz ... Thanks again for community advice :)

Thank you so much for your kind reply !!