3.5mm to Toslink?

specd_out
specd_out Posts: 505
edited April 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I was looking to get a new 3.5mm to rca and I stumbled across a Audioquest 3.5mm to Toslink. What exactly would be the reasoning behind this kind of cable. Its labeled with 3.5mm first so i am assuming the source outputs via the 3.5mm.
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited March 2012
    A number of apple products (mac laptops, mac mini, and airport express) can do optical out of the audio out/headphone jack. This is a fully optical digital cable. One end is just 3.5 mm to fit the headphone jack.
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  • specd_out
    specd_out Posts: 505
    edited March 2012
    Oh ok so a device has to be able to send optical out via a 3.5mm jack
    HT Rig Samsung 64F8500 |Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD|Pioneer Elite VSX-32| Two Carver TFM-15cb Bridged for mains|Polk Audio RTiA5 Cherry|Polk Audio CsiA6 Cherry|Polk Audio T-15 Heights|Polk Audio FXia6 Surround|DIY 8cuft Dayton Ultimax 15" powered with a Crown XLS1000
    2Channel Rig Polk Audio LSi9 Cherry| Carver C-1BillD Mod|Carver M1.0t MkII Opt2|Pro-ject RM 1.3|SpeedBox S|AQ King Cobras|AQ Rocket88|
    ISF Level 2 Certified Calibrator
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited March 2012
    Correct, before I went the USB DAC route with my iMac I had one of those cables to get the digital output from my computer to a regular DAC.
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  • nhhiep
    nhhiep Posts: 877
    edited March 2012
    think of it as a Toslink cable with a different connector for many Apple products. you still get digital signal, there is no A/D conversion going on.
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited March 2012
    These were also common on portable Minidisc recorders.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited March 2012
    Yes - MD players had them as well as some sound cards. My X-Fi Titanium HD uses the 3.5mm toslink -you just add the tip to the end of a regular toslink cable so it fits in the audio jack.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

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  • IRLRaceFan
    IRLRaceFan Posts: 172
    edited April 2012
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    Correct, before I went the USB DAC route with my iMac I had one of those cables to get the digital output from my computer to a regular DAC.

    Why did you pick USB over the mini TOSLINK option?
    HT
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