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Digital optical cables, sometimes generically known as TOSLINK and Toshiba Link, are designed to transmit audio from one device to another. If you wonder why the name of Toshiba has been linked, then you need to know that Toshiba standardized the connection type when it comes to the connection between CD players and home theaters.
While HDMI 2.1 may have dominated the digital-decoding scene for a time, Toshiba had designed these cables as far back as 1983. They are ideal for home theatre sound systems because they can carry uncompressed audio signals between components like an A/V receiver or soundbar.
Furthermore, they offer a convenient and cost-effective solution since they only need to be bought once and rarely require replacements. With this in mind, you might want to understand that it’s worth investing in a quality brand of optical cable instead of trying to save money on a cheap option that could disrupt streaming audio.
We have mentioned a few suitable optical audio cables that may enhance your experience. Hence, let us look through the models.
The 9 Best Optical Audio Cable
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KabelDirekt TOSLINK Cable
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 4.8 inches.
Positive: Gold-plated Metal Connectors, Metallic Gray Sleeves, Includes Flexible PVC Jacket.
Negative: Fitting Is Loose.
KabelDirekt’s TOSLINK Cable is the perfect solution for transmitting digital audio from devices such as televisions and video game consoles. This premium cable offers interference-free sound through its metal-free, flexible PVC construction, ensuring your audio is transmitted without distortion or degraded quality.
These cables are carefully tested in their multi-stage production process. With a manufacturer’s warranty lasting up to 3 years, it will deliver maximum sound fidelity with worry-free entertainment.
Customer Review For KabelDirekt TOSLINK Cable
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iVANKY Digital Optical Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 70.87 x 0.42 x 0.42 inches.
Positive: Heat-resistant, Durable Body, Corrosion-resistant.
Negative: The Connector is Big.
The iVANKY Digital Optical Audio Cable is the perfect upgrade for any sound system. It features a durable and lightweight cable that is bent over 15,000 times thanks to its high-quality nylon braided jacket. The aluminum shell and gold-plated connector won’t break down or cause a decrease in conductivity or settings, even over time.
For a hassle-free installation, the precisely designed cuboid connectors help users get the right angle for optimal sound quality. Furthermore, it comes with an 18-month warranty, so there are no worries should anything go wrong. With Japan Toray’s original fiber core, this optical audio cable offers zero distortion and lossless audio compatibility.
Customer Review For iVANKY Digital Optical Audio Cable
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Cmple-TOSLink Optical Digital Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 1.57 x 0.83 x 0.43 inches.
Positive: Ultra Thin & Light Weight, Offers Wide Compatibility, Easy To Install.
Negative: The Jacket Is Very Thin.
Cmple-TOSLink Optical Digital Audio Cable is a versatile cable that offers superior audio signal transmission. It’s constructed from a high-quality, low-loss fiber core that suppresses any interference from EM, RF and ground loop. It directly translates into a clear signal with no background noise or distortion.
Additionally, its connectors are 24K gold-plated with stiff corrosion resistance enabling perfect fit and durability. The flexible design ensures that routing and placement within an installation process are easy as can be. Furthermore, the PVC materials used guarantee it to withstand more vigorous handling and extreme temperatures while maintaining its integrity. Finally, every Cmple product comes with an unbeatable lifetime warranty.
Customer Review For Cmple-TOSLink Optical Digital Audio Cable
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FosPower Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 1.1 x 2.9 inches.
Positive: Includes Nylon Jacket, Built-in End Caps, Premium Quality Design.
Negative: The Connector is Not Good.
The FosPower Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable lets you experience audio how it was meant to be heard. This cable delivers a clear, consistent sound with built-in end caps that protect your connectors and high-quality fiber shielding against RF, EM, and group loop interference.
Metal connections and a durable nylon mesh jacket are optimized for maximum protection against wear and tear. In contrast, its 24k gold-plated connections and ferrules resist corrosion and tarnish to keep your audio experience strong. With its efficient design, reliable construction, and an added layer of protection, it is an audio enthusiast’s dream come true.
Customer Review For FosPower Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
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BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 5.91 x 5.91 x 1.77 inches.
Positive: Universal Compatibility, Durable Construction, Offers Lifetime Warranty.
Negative: It Started Crackling.
The BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Cable is an excellent solution for connecting sound systems and devices like Soundbar, Home Theatre, HDTV, and Game Consoles. It features precision-polished 24K Gold plated optical connectors for optimal signal transfer and corrosion resistance.
Its slim connector design fits snugly into the device to prevent radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). This high-quality PVC jacketed cable is also lightweight and flexible. It comes with removable rubber tips to cover the end of the connector when not in use.
Customer Review For BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Cable
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Syncwire Digital Optical Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 70.8 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches.
Positive: Provide Removable Rubber Caps, Gold-plated Metal Connectors, Includes a Flexible PVC Jacket.
Negative: Did Not Function Well.
Providing an immersive soundscape for your home entertainment system, Syncwire Digital Optical Audio Cable is the perfect choice for connecting audio devices with standard and high-definition ports. It uses gold-plated connectors and buffer tubing to create a premium connection that ensures optimal signal transfer.
The outer layer is constructed from a durable PVC material to stand up to wear and tear over time, while the rubber tips are removed to protect the connectors when not in use. With this cable, you’ll enjoy clarity and quality sound every time.
Customer Review For Syncwire Digital Optical Audio Cable
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CableCreation Digital Optical Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 9.17 x 6.06 x 0.59 inches.
Positive: Offers Removable Protective Cover, Use-friendly, Durable PVC Jacket.
Negative: Doesn’t Fit Properly.
CableCreation’s Digital Optical Audio Cable is the perfect choice for connecting their standard or high-definition devices with Toslink ports. The 24K gold-plated connectors promise a long-lasting and secure connection to get the most out of your audio experience.
Unique miniature convex lens technology reduces signal loss, ensuring a crystal-clear sound. Removable rubber tips allow easy cleaning and prevent corrosion. All this comes wrapped in a durable PVC outer layer for added protection and an extra 2-year warranty for further peace of mind.
Customer Review For CableCreation Digital Optical Audio Cable
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Suplong Optical Digital Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 70.8 x 0.42 x 0.42 inches.
Positive: Delivers Amazing Sound Quality, Strong Design, and Multi-functional.
Negative: Stopped Working.
The Suplong Optical Digital Audio Cable is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a reliable way to transmit high-quality audio. With its unbeatable support of uncompressed PCM audio and compressed 5.1 to 7.1 surround sound systems, users can be sure they’re getting the best-sounding experience possible. The cable is surrounded by a braided nylon jacket that excels at withstanding bending and winding.
At the same time, its solid alloy shell and gold-plated connectors help ensure exceptional audio transmission speed and stability. It’s also versatile thanks to its heat-resistant optical fiber core, which allows it to transmit signals without interference problems. You don’t have to worry about having clumsy components lying around either – the cable is lightweight. It comes with dust-proof rubber caps to protect the connectors when not in use or plugged in.
Customer Review For Suplong Optical Digital Audio Cable
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EMK Optical Digital Audio Cable
Product Dimensions: 6.18 x 4.21 x 0.47 inches.
Positive: High Fidelity Signal Transfer, PMMA Fiber Core, Provide DTS-HD High Resolution.
Negative: Didn’t Fit Properly.
EMK Optical Digital Audio Cable is the perfect choice for audiophiles who want to keep their sound quality pristine. This cable features a braided cotton jacket of OD4.0, and its certification ensures the highest-quality cord performance.
It works with connection standards such as Toslink, DTS-HD High Resolution, Dolby Digital Plus and LPCM for multi-channel surround sound and high-fidelity signal transfer, and its fiber optic audio cable can avoid any electromagnetic or radio frequency interference due to its method of light source transfer.
Customer Review For EMK Optical Digital Audio Cable
What Is An Optical Audio Cable Used For?
An optical cable is a variation of fiber optics that uses light rather than copper wire to transfer digital audio signals. This can make it worthwhile for applications like consumer audio equipment. For example, in outdoor receivers, the optical cable can deliver two-channel uncompressed PCM audio and surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS.
It’s hard to deny the convenience of this technology as it enables us to effortlessly send digital audio from our various devices in clear sound quality from near distances. But, unfortunately, its limited bandwidth does not support high-quality Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD formats requiring more data transfer than the optical cable can handle.
Points To Consider When Getting An Optical Audio Cable
Below are a few factors that you can observe before getting an optical audio cable for your usage.
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Length
Choosing the right cable length for your audio devices, such as a speaker or soundbar, is made easier with the various lengths of optical cables available.
For instance, the Suplong Optical Digital Audio Cable has a 10ft/3m fiber optic cable size that offers excellent durability without affecting the audio quality.
This cable has a professional signal transmission feature that makes connecting to your surround sound systems, PS4, Xbox, TVs, and Blu-Ray players easier by making the audio signal free from radio or electromagnetic interference.
If your requirement is for a primary room size, EMK Optical Digital Audio Cable comes under this 6-foot compatibility in length. They are 6.6 feet (2 meters) long and can effortlessly connect your smart TV, plasma TV, PC-sound cards, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, Xbox 360, etc. They offer universal compatibility and quick connectivity, and their build protects the fiber core from encountering permanent damage from accidental bends.
However, if you need more cable length than what typically comes packaged with your device, you can opt for a range of alternatives from 3 feet up to 35 feet. The six-foot variation is usually used as it provides the most compatibility for home theater situations.
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Construction
The core of an optical cable will usually tell you a lot about its construction. It is made using several fibers that are interconnected to one another to provide efficient and continuous delivery of the signal. When selecting an optical cable, one of the critical factors to consider is the strength and durability provided by the chosen cable.
The KabelDirekt TOSLINK Cable has a metal-free flexible PVC cable that protects it from electrical interference. As a result, these fiber optic cables have crystal-clear audio quality, and their gold metal connectors are stronger, more robust, and able to resist frequent connections and reconnections. In addition, the gold plating on this audio cable is non-corroding, so it can protect the connection for a very long period after it is installed on your audio device.
Even though you don’t have to reconnect your optical cables all too often, having something reliable is always suitable. That’s why checking out how the cables are made and what materials should be your priority as a consumer rubber construction is considered decent, but if you want something even better, go for something that offers a braided design. Then, you can rest assured knowing that such a product will last for quite some time.
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Warranty
Checking the warranty on an optical cable is a great way to make sure that your investment will pay off in the long run. Even if you’re looking for a basic option, finding one with a longer warranty can still be a reliable and budget-friendly choice.
With an 18-month warranty, the iVANKY Digital Optical Audio Cable is sturdy, flexible, heat-resistant, and delivers great durability. When you walk behind your TV or home theater to add the cable connection, the nylon braided jacket on these audio cables can shield them from cuts and bends. In addition to their usual 18-month warranty, they also provide registered clients with an additional 36-month warranty. The iVanky Digital Audio Cable is a good alternative to consider because it has such appealing features and uncompressed PCM audio quality.
Another example is the BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Cable, which offers superb audio clarity for your movie and game nights with multi-channel surround sound that will come from its uncompressed PCM audio quality feature. The strong and reliable connection made possible by their adaptable PVC jacket is another feature I enjoy. It has a detachable rubber tip that prevents rust and dust from degrading its quality. However, before using these audio cables, remove the cover that serves as protection. A lifetime warranty is also included with these premium audio cables, ensuring that you can use them for as long as possible while also boosting their reliability.
Whatever your situation may be, it pays to not only do research on any product you’re looking to buy but also take note of the included warranties to get the most from your purchase.
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Bandwidth
It refers to the capacity of an audio cable to effectively transmit audio data. Speech signals need a bandwidth of around 2000 Hz, while music signals require a bandwidth of 20,000 Hz.
Generally, optical audio cables have a bandwidth that is approx 96kHz. As a result, you can easily connect your audio components, such as CD players or home theatres.
A larger bandwidth could help maximize the device’s potential, and for smaller consumer items, like CD players, any decrease in quality would be unnoticeable. This is because these audio systems do not handle a large enough amount of data to notice any reduction in quality due to less pressure on the overall system.
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Price
Optical audio cables are available at different price points based on their construction material, durability, and other features. If you prefer more solid-looking connectors that are durable, you can try the KabelDirekt TOSLINK Cable, which has a price range of $11. These optical audio cables transmit clear audio quality with no distortion or quality degradation.
Moreover, if you are looking for a more durable optical audio cable that can make you feel like you connect and forget the fear of damage, the BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Cable can be the perfect option to have a closer look at. With a lifetime warranty under the price range of $18, these digital optical audio cables offer easy installation and are made with durable black PVC outer layers. Their gold-plated connectors give you maximum signal transmission with more accuracy, and their optical fiber is designed to offer higher fidelity. Additionally, they are also compatible with various audio formats like ADATs, Dolby Digital, DTS, and S/PDIF. Thus, enjoy watching your favorite movie or going on a gaming spree without worrying about the audio quality and clarity, which can be effectively delivered by these optical audio cables.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an optical audio cable can be an excellent choice for improving audio quality and reducing signal interface. It can also provide superior audio quality and reduce signal interference compared to other cables.
Optical audio cables are less susceptible to electromagnetic interference and can transmit signals over a longer distance without losing quality. They can also last longer than the traditional copper wires, and many brands listed above also offer a lifetime warranty, which makes using an optical audio cable even more preferable. However, it’s crucial to consider compatibility and personal preferences before purchasing an optical audio cable.
FAQs
Not all audio devices have optical audio input and output, so it’s important to check the connectivity of your device before purchasing an optical audio cable.
Also, the models and compatibility of the optical audio cables matter. While getting, you can make sure the devices are compatible with the wire while connecting.
No, an optical audio cable is designed specifically for audio and cannot be used to transmit video signals. For video, you would need to use other cables available such as HDMI or component video.
Fiber optics have made it possible for us to use optical audio cables, sending data over carefully contained pulses of light. This type of signal offers advantages over a coaxial digital audio cable, which transmits a signal through a wire.
Since fiber cables are better at resisting interference and lightning faster than the alternative, they can be preferred depending on the port setup and other external factors. Whereas, optical cables upgrade the standard audio experience and make audio technology faster, easier, and more reliable.
Yes, there are different types of optical audio cables available including the most common such as Toslink. Whereas, for professional audio applications, Alesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT cable could be used.