Audioquest Carbon optical to 3m jack
Overview
This digital optical cable allows you to connect any products with SPDIF optical fiber/Toslink connectors to a 3.5mm mini jack. This optical cable is specially designed to ensure optimal signal transition. It prevents scattered light from passing through the Toslink cable, except after taking a longer path, like a bowling ball bouncing off the side rails and arriving later. This delayed portion of the signal prevents the computer responsible for decoding the information from doing so correctly, if at all.
Technical specifications
- Type: Mini 3.5 mm to large format optical fiber
- Construction: 19 synthetic fibers with star-shaped opening
- Sheath: Black/gray braided
- Dimensions: 1.5m
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Toslink-to-mini-jack adapter on a standard cable instead of this model?
It is possible; Audioquest sells one separately, and this solution is useful when you already own a good Toslink-to-Toslink cable. However, it adds an extra interface to the optical path: two additional surfaces and mechanical play between the adapter and the connector, with a risk of misalignment. An original termination avoids this break.
Optical or coaxial, which should you choose when the source offers both?
Coaxial handles high bitrates more easily, especially 24/192, and is unaffected by light dispersion. Optical provides galvanic isolation, which becomes crucial as soon as a mains-powered television, set-top box or computer enters the chain. When faced with persistent hum, optical solves the problem; when dealing with a demanding high-resolution stream, coaxial offers greater reassurance.
Does the direction of connection matter?
No. Beyond the connector shape, which dictates the placement itself: the mini plug goes into the device equipped with the 3.5 mm jack, and the Toslink into the other. No shielding or ground conductor is involved, so there is no orientation to follow.
Can this cable improve the sound of a TV connected to a soundbar?
It carries the stream exactly as the TV outputs it, without altering it. The benefit lies in cleaner transitions read by the receiver and the absence of conducted interference, not in the content itself. If the soundbar is connected via HDMI eARC, the optical link is in any case a fallback, with the format limitations mentioned above.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
