The Best Optical Audio Cables
If you’re someone who loves to listen to music and set up sound systems in your home, then optical audio cables are something you may want to have on hand. These high-tech connectors are a step above the classic RCA cables, and they’re meant for transferring high-quality audio signals to amplifiers and other audio outputs. Much like HDMI cables, these optical audio cables are used in a lot of modern audio and video devices, so we’ve narrowed down the best ones on the market to help you find the one that suits your needs.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best optical audio cables, we considered length, audio quality, durability, and price. For example, if you want a straightforward, high-quality cable at a reasonable price, the Amazon Basics Toslink digital optical audio cable is a hard one to beat. If you want something with more length options, the KabelDirekt optical audio cable offers sizes from three feet long all the way to 100 feet long. Read on to see all our top picks and find the optical audio cable that’s right for you.
Amazon Basics Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable
Simple and sweet
If you’re new to the world of optical audio cables and you’re not sure where to begin your search, this no-frills cable from Amazon Basics is a great place to start. It features a sleek and simple design with decent features at a great price. It has three basic sizes, all of which would work for most uses. The plugs are solid and are built to resist any corrosion or interference, and the cable itself is thick enough to prove sturdy. Compared to the other economical choices on the market, this is one of the most reliable by far and still proves to be a great bargain.
Pros:
- Options to buy in bulk
- Corrosion-resistant plugs
- Good price
- Thick construction
Cons:
- Not as thin and flexible as other options
WARRKY Braided Optical Audio Cable
Heavy duty
Durability is a key aspect of any good cable, and this braided cable from Warrky is no exception. Instead of opting for a PVC exterior, Warrky has covered its cable in a nylon braided material for added flexibility and protection. This makes it great for bending around corners, up through media consoles, and behind speakers. On top of being more flexible, it also makes it more durable to wear and tear. For its overall quality and durability, the price is extremely reasonable. If you’re looking for an optic audio cable to stand the test of time, this nylon braided cable is fit for the job.
Pros:
- Thicker gold plating than the competition
- Comes with a cable tie
- High-quality audio with no signal distortion
- The nylon braided exterior can withstand bending
Cons:
- Plugs may be a bit larger than standard, so the fit can be tight on some devices
IVANKY Slim Braided Optical Audio Cable
Long enough
It can be hard to find the ideal length of cable for your needs, but 10 feet serves as a good middle ground for most uses. Whether you’re connecting your TV to an amplifier or your gaming console to your sound system, 10 feet of cable will do the trick in most cases. For such a versatile length, this cable offers a lot in terms of durability, audio quality, and price. It has a nylon jacket and aluminum shell to protect the cable beneath, and it features a Japan Toray fiber core for clean and crisp audio. Best of all, the price is extremely reasonable. For this length and price, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain than this.
Pros:
- Features an aluminum shell
- Comes with removable rubber caps
- Japan Toray fiber core
- Nylon jacket provides heat and oil resistance
Cons:
- The plastic on the base may interfere with the connection in some devices
EMK 90-Degree Toslink Optical Cable
Around the bend
Cable management can be a real issue when dealing with large numbers of cables and pro audio equipment. If you’re trying to navigate your cables through tight spaces, you may want the help of right-angle cables. These handy cables have 90-degree plugs instead of the normal straight plugs to cut down on the space that sticks out from the input. With these cables, you can get a tight fit even if you only have a little bit of space behind your TV, amplifier, or gaming console. As an added bonus, the plug can rotate 360 degrees, making it easier to plug in from any angle. With such a convenient design, your audio setup process just got a whole lot easier.
Pros:
- Features various sizes up to 25 feet long
- Offers options for double or single right angles
- The plug can rotate 360 degrees
- Nylon braided exterior protects against damage
Cons:
- The 360-degree swivel may cause the audio signal to go in and out if the cable is moved
KabelDirekt Optical Audio Cable
The more the merrier
Depending on what you use an optical audio cable for, you may need different lengths for different functions. Lucky for you, this cable from KabelDirekt comes in 10 different sizes from three feet long to 100 feet long. Better yet, it comes with a PVC jacket to make it pliable and easy to manage, but it has metal sleeves around the plugs to protect them from any wear and tear. Plus, the gold-plated connectors make sure you’re getting the best quality signal available. No matter what size you need, KabelDirekt has you covered at any length.
Pros:
- Has metal sleeves to protect the plugs
- Soft and flexible PVC jacket
- Offers cables up to 100 feet long, unlike most competitors
- Gold-plated connectors
- Comes with a protective cap
Cons:
- May not lock into the input jack as well as competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
Will optical audio cables transfer all kinds of audio signals?
Unfortunately, no. They can transfer most kinds of high-quality audio signals, but they can’t support multichannel LPCM signals, Dolby Atmos, Dolby DTS:X, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD Master Audio. However, they work great for most common forms of audio signals.
What does Toslink mean and how does it work?
Toslink is just another name for a digital optical audio cable, and it is a shorthand for the term Toshiba Link that’s derived from its creator, Toshiba. These cables work by transmitting audio signals with pulses of light instead of the traditional copper wire. The process uses fiber optics, much like many TV and internet connections.
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