What is Toslink?

Info TOSLINK, short for TOShiba-LINK, is a standardized optical fiber connector made of plastic, glass, or quartz (depending on the desired bandwidth and application) optical fiber. Being a fiber optic cable, TOSLINK converts audio impulses into light, typically red LED. Furthermore, unlike other audio cables, TOSLINK is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference due to its fiber-optic nature. The maximum practical length for a TOSLINK cable is around 5 meters (16.4 feet). Common TOSLINK audio connectors include the EIAJ/JEITA RC-5720 and CP-1201.

Usage/Applications

Toshiba originally created TOSLINK to provide audio output for Toshiba-brand CD players. Today, the TOSLINK standard is used to link satellite TV recievers, DolbyDigital audio recievers, MiniCD players, DVD players, and some game consoles.
Similarly, mini-TOSLINK connectors can be found on some Apple Macintosh computers and MiniDisc players. These are similar to and serve the same function as the 3.5mm stereo minijack. Adapters are available to convert a mini-TOSLINK connection to a regular TOSLINK cable.

Practical data

• Length: TOSLINK cables are typically sold in lengths of 1 to 5 meters. TOSLINK cables are found to be usable, but not practical, at lengths up to 10m.
• Extension: Although actual cable length is limited to 5m, TOSLINK audio signals can be artificially extended by using a CAT5 (Ethernet cable) sender/receiver unit. Digital audio is transmitted to a “sender,” which then sends the audio (via CAT5e Ethernet) to the “receiver.” The receiver then can output the audio to various components via TOSLINK. This setup can be utilized for extended-length computer-to-external speaker connections, for example.

TOSLINK and S/PDIF

Like TOSLINK, S/PDIF is a standardized connector used primarily for carrying compressed or uncompressed digital audio between consumer audio equipment. Developed jointly by Sony and Philips (hence the S/PDIF), S/PDIF cables can be made of either coaxial cable with RCA-style jacks or optical fiber with TOSLINK-style jacks. Both coaxial and optical fiber S/PDIF cables carry the same information; the practical difference is a matter of user convenience. The style of connector (RCA vs. TOSLINK), desired length (TOSLINK's optical nature makes cable lengths larger than 6m impractical), and cost (coaxial cable, as opposed to TOSLINK-grade optical fiber, is readily available and less costly) are all deciding factors.