Because the optical cable has the characteristics of high bandwidth, longer distance, interference resistance, better security, and affordable price, lots of devices (e.g. TV, soundbar, video game consoles, Blu-ray/DVD player, Apple TV, computer, home/audio theater receivers, preamplifiers, digital satellites, audio processors, etc. ) are equipped with at least one SPDIF optical port. If you want to connect an external audio receiver through an optical fiber (also known as Toslink) for a better sound experience, a premium optical fiber cable is also important, although it has no complicated parameters and seems to be much simpler.
A premium optical audio cable can transmit sound almost completely through optical signals without causing obvious lag and noise so that you can at least exclude the fiber optic cable from the underlying factors when you encounter a problem.
A few points to consider briefly before buying an optical cable:
- Length – Just choose a digital optical cable according to the length you need, but it is worth reminding that the optical cable longer than 30 feet will weaken the associated signal unless you have a signal booster.
- Supported audio formats – If you are using optical fiber to transmit audio signals for the first time, you may need to know that it only supports uncompressed PCM audio and compressed 5.1 to 7.1 surround sound systems including Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution, and LPCM. If you need higher quality Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, or DTS:X, you may need to consider an HDMI cable.
- Lag – Lag is inevitable, but imperceptible lag will not have any effect. This is why we should choose high-quality Toslink cables as much as possible.
- Durability – Most optical cables have PVC or nylon jackets, which can ensure the safety of the fiber. If necessary, you can also choose products with gold-plated connectors, which have higher corrosion resistance and less signal loss.
- Cost – Fortunately, the price of optical cable is not very expensive, so it is possible to have a better quality cable within the budget.
We spent 2 days to analyzed all digital optical cables on Amazon and selected these high-quality and most cost-effective optical cables for your reference below. There are two kinds of optic connectors, one is the standard square connector, and the other is a Mini 3.5mm Toslink connector (they are similar but not universal). Please confirm the type of optical port in your devices before purchasing. We will spend time in the future to analyze and choose the best Toslink to mini Toslink cables for those devices with a mini Toslink port.
Tips: Please remove the protective cap on the tips of the optical cable, many customers just forget it.
AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable
Features:
- 3.3 / 6 / 9.8 feet
- Standard square connector
- Toslink male to Toslink male
- Supports uncompressed lossless PCM audio and compressed 5.1/7.1 digital surround sound
- Includes removable rubber tips to protect the cable when not plugged in
- 1-year limited warranty
Syncwire Digital Optical Audio Cable Toslink Cable – [24K Gold-Plated, Ultra-Durable]
Features:
- 5.9 / 10 feet
- Standard square connector
- Toslink male to Toslink male
- 24k Gold-plated conductors
- Supports uncompressed lossless PCM audio and compressed 5.1/7.1 digital surround sound
- Removable rubber tips to protect the connectors when not plugged in.
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
FosPower 24K Gold Plated Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable (S/PDIF) – [Zero RFI & EMI Interference] Metal Connectors & Ultra Durable Nylon Braided Jacket
Features:
- 2.95~49.86 feet
- Standard square connector
- Toslink male to Toslink male
- 24k Gold-plated conductors
- Supports uncompressed lossless PCM audio and compressed 5.1/7.1 digital surround sound
- Durable nylon mesh jacket protects the cable from permanently damaging the fiber core from accidental bent
iVanky Slim Braided Digital Audio Optical Cord/Toslink Cable for Sound Bar, TV, PS4, Xbox, Samsung, Vizio
Features:
- 10/14.76 feet
- Standard square connector
- Toslink male to Toslink male
- 24k Gold-plated conductors
- CL3 rated for safe in-wall installations
- Supports uncompressed lossless PCM audio and compressed 5.1/7.1 digital surround sound
- Nylon Braided Jacket
- 54 months warranty
KabelDirekt Optical Digital Audio Cable, Home Theater Fiber Optic Toslink Male to Male Gold Plated Optical Cables Best For Playstation & Xbox – Pro Series
Features:
- 10/14.76 feet
- Standard square connector
- Toslink male to Toslink male
- Corrosion-resistant gold plating
- Supports uncompressed lossless PCM audio and compressed 5.1/7.1 digital surround sound
- 36 months manufacturer warranty
Conclusion
A reliable fiber optic cable may make you forget its existence quickly, and you don’t need to replace it for a long time, which should be its value. In addition to the recommended options above, there are many premium optical cables on Amazon, but we just hope to narrow the range of choices as much as possible after comparing and analyzing to list the best optical cables here instead of randomly providing you with 10, 20 or even more choices. We will also regularly analyze the market and update the products here to ensure that each recommendation is good enough.
