Optical Audio Cable

As a rule most audio cables use a wire to give electrical signals. But an optical audio cable uses fiber optic communications to give light to the device. This also makes them resistant to electrical interference that regular cables are subjected to. Optical audio cable or sometimes called TOSLINK or EIAJ cables are of high quality and very reasonable priced to install. They are also very easy to install. Since optical audio cable transmits digital data, they are almost always used for connecting digital audio devices such as DVD players to a home theater system.

When installing optical audio cable yourself be sure to follow the directions that come with it. Be sure to check each device you want connection with an optical audio cable.  A connection port is labeled optical, or it might say digital. Either way the connection port must be square with the rounded bottom. Also remove and be sure to save the protective covers from each optical audio cable.

Then connect one end of the cable to the port marked digital in or optical end on the DVD player or whatever you want to hook up to. When you hear the plug click, then you know it is fastened tightly. Then connect the other end of the optical audio cable to the port marked optical out or digital out. Now you can turn on both devices if you have not done so already. Be sure to run a test by using both devices, to be sure the optical audio cable has been installed right.

When done installing the optical audio cable, put those little plastic caps on when you disconnect the cable, if you do disconnect it. It just prevents dust and debris from ruining the optical audio cable ability to give the light. Whatever you do, do not bend the optical audio cable; it can prevent the light from coming through.

Another name for optical audio cable is TOSLINK, made by Toshiba. Originally made to connect their own CD players to their receivers for the PCM audio streams, many manufactures copied Toshiba. The real early made TOSLINK systems had used the raw PCM data from the DC player.

TOSLINK offers a twenty foot optical audio cable of extremely high quality connections between the stereo or home theater system and your PC audio card. It gives a very rich, clean sound, even if you like to blast the sound.

Optical audio cable also comes small enough to fit into your iPod, car stereo, so there are no more CD’s to lug around. The size is 3.5mm with male to female or vice versa. The average length is about one hundred feet but come in small lengths. This size of optical audio cable also comes in gold plated or standard versions.

Some people will only buy their optical audio cable from such places as Radio Shack or a very well known website. The prices vary on the optical audio cable; it all depends on the length and what it is going to be used for.