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3.5mm headphone jack to Optical audio (TOSLink) cable

I have a macbook pro from 2010. Before I buy one I was wondering if I can use a 3.5mm (headphones jack) to optical audio cable (Toslink) to have sound from my macbook pro run through my surround sound system? Anyone know if this works? My surround sound system definitely has the optical audio input.


The reason I ask is I have the mini display to HDMI cable already so I can use my TV as an external display but I'd like to have a way for my sound to come through my surround sound speakers. I don't know if there would be another way to have my sound come through either my TV or surround sound system.


Any help you could provide would help me out a lot. Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Audio/Video cables to TV

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 11:52 AM

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Posted on Apr 17, 2012 11:55 AM

Yes, it's a dual port, analog or digital optical, just get a stereo mini Toslink to Toslink adapter, Toslink cable and your partying.


That's the best sound from the Mac, and it's sweet.

19 replies

Apr 17, 2012 12:19 PM in response to Schmelkov

Yep, the long'un. If you peek in the jack with a light, you will see the microswitch used to detect the longer TOSlink connector and switch to digital.


Beware that when unplugging, it sometimes gets hung up and stuck in digital mode. Usually evident cause of the red laser light visible deep inside. "Working" the jack a few times usually frees up the switch and restores default analog mode (light off).

Aug 19, 2012 5:45 PM in response to ds store

Once you get this TOSLink cable, you might consider buying this Gefen "Digital Audio to Analog Audio Converter". It takes the optical (fiber) cable in or RCA digital in... and gives you an RCA stereo analog output. Of course, it's not digital anymore, but it's great for getting clean sound out of a laptop and into an analog application.


It looks like this;


User uploaded file


User uploaded file


This is a great device to have and only costs around $60.

Jan 3, 2013 11:18 AM in response to Schmelkov

@Schmelkov,


I have the same problem that you had, and I just wanted to confirm that yours worked out before I buy the cable. You bought a TOSlink to Mini TOSlink cable? And the mini toslink plugs right into the headphone jack and all works fine? I just wanted to make sure, so if you could let me know how it all worked out for you that'd be great.


Thanks!

Feb 5, 2013 6:32 AM in response to vdoengineer

Airport Express has what appears to be a headphone jack for audio out. I have this connected to a stereo receiver with a headphone jack to RCA cable. I'm a little disappointed with the sound. I'd like to see if using the optical-in jack on the receiver improves the sound - but I'd need a cable connecting the Airport Express headphone jack into an optical audio. I was wondering if the cable shown earlier in this thread might work for something like that.

Mar 22, 2013 4:53 AM in response to Schmelkov

The airport express also has the duel adapter.... Min toslink / headphone jack so u can take the digital optical out.

You can then connect in to your receiver assuming it has a optical digital input .

If you are looking for higher quality sound.... Buy yourself a decent Dac.... digital to analogue converter to place between the airport express and amp. Connect mini toslink - toslink cable between airport express and Dac, then RCA / RCA between dac and amp.... This Will bring a big improvement in sound quality.

Another thought ... If you have more digital audio kit with optical digital output... Digital tv etc.... Get a toslink to toslink cable and buy a mini toslink to toslink adapter.... The adapter fits in your airport express.

You can then pull the to toslink cable out of the adapter and plug in to tv etc when needed ..

Apr 12, 2013 2:09 AM in response to Schmelkov

I bought a toslink to 3.5 miniplug lead a while back for my MacBook Pro (late 2011)


My problem is that the miniplug end doesn't click in like a normal RTS (ring, tip and sleeve) plug would and consiquently is so loose that the slightest of bumps cuases the signal to be interupted.


I bought this model http://www.cablechick.com.au/cables/pro-series-2m-toslink-to-35mm-mini-toslink-c able.html


The ends look high qualtity but did i just get a dud?

3.5mm headphone jack to Optical audio (TOSLink) cable

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