Household & Living

The best optical audio cable you can buy in 2020

The best optical audio cable guide. This article will tell you everything latest about available audio cables in the market and which one to chose

I will explain everything you need to know to buy the best optical audio cable and I will also recommend the one I like the most.

If you prefer to save yourself a reading time, the optical audio cable that I recommend is this CSL cable for its quality, connectors, coating and connectivity.

That said, I’ll explain everything you need to know about fiber optic cables.

The Toslink optical connector

Keep in mind that the Toslink optical connector is unique , so there should not be any incompatibility issues with any device.

It only has one way to connect it, so be careful not to force it when inserting it.

And remember to hear the click that confirms that you are well connected.

Gold plated connectors?

You may think that if it is an optical cable, the fiber optic connection is through a light, so it would not matter what they are bathed in.

But I tell you that this also helps to reinforce the connector , which by the way, like any other, usually has problems if it is not handled correctly.

Personally I like this type of shower because it adds a plus that will make the connection more precise and also, whoever is going to plug it in will be more careful, knowing that it is of better quality.

Have a good coating

One of the important things about cables is the sheathing .

In normal cables these high quality finishes help to avoid interference, but this does not apply to optical cable.

On the other hand, having a good mesh nylon coating does help it last longer and does not break .

Remember that an optical cable is very thin and delicate and can break if you are not careful.

Compatibility with digital audio formats

A very common mistake that is often made is that we have devices, but they do not usually share the same audio technologies.

Even if you change your Smart TV or your sound equipment from time to time, try to ensure that the cables have the best technologies .

These types of cables are usually compatible, but just so that you have no doubt, this cable is compatible with the audio formats Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, DVD Audio, LPCM, SACD, MPCM, 3D Sound and 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound and some more.

Device compatibility

Normally any optical cable is usually compatible with any device that has this connection.

This guarantees the connection for home entertainment equipment, Smart TV, sound bars, home cinema, computers, PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation 4 (PS4), XBOX One, XBOX 360, Blu-ray player, player DVD, multimedia centers, etc.

Choose the right size

Choosing the right size of a cable is usually the most important thing so that we do not lack, nor are we overloaded and are bothering us.

I suppose you will measure what you need, but this one can be found in the following sizes:

  • 0.5 meters : If you have the console or player on top of the home cinema.
  • 1 meter : If the sound bar is just below the TV.
  • 2 meters : For when there is more than one shelf in the middle.
  • 3 meters : Useful for when you have the sound equipment far away.
  • 5 meters : Usually used for distant connections and they are usually hidden.
  • 10 meters : Same as above.

Optical VS RCA Cable

If you are in doubt about whether to buy an optical cable or an RCA cable or even a 3.5 jack cable, I recommend that you leave the doubts already.

The sound quality is not comparable, nor the compatibility of the audio formats between an electrical cable and also analog, with a digital fiber optic cable.

Trust me, invest a little more and you will see how you appreciate it .

Optical VS HDMI Cable

We could compare it with an HDMI cable , although I tell you that they are different, because although the latter is electrical, it is digital and compatible with the technologies that I have explained to you.

Personally, I still prefer an optical cable, since as it is not electrical, it will not have problems with interference , which usually cuts the image or sound signal.

Optical cable VS Bluetooth

Yes, wireless connections like Bluetooth are technologies that work very well.

Every day they improve more and we see how there are less and less connection problems such as cuts and others.

But keep in mind that Bluetooth technology is limited and you won’t be able to enjoy all the audio quality offered by different audio formats.

Also, there is nothing more stable and secure than a wired connection.

Common problems with the optical audio cable

I’m going to give you a series of tips that will help you with the cable.

It is not listening

In the event that the sound is not heard, it is usually due to several things:

  • The cable is badly connected:  Remember that it must click when inserting it, but you should not force it too much.
  • Optical output is disabled: Sometimes it could be disabled. Enter the player, console, Smart TV, etc. and in the audio settings it must be to do it.
  • The optical input is not selected: In the sound system you must select the digital, optical or toslink audio input to be heard. This is done from the source button, input, etc.
  • The cable is defective: If it has been bent more than necessary, it may have been damaged. You have no choice but to buy another.

Bad or noisy hearing

It is not normal for this to happen and if it happened to you I already tell you in advance that it is not the fault of the cable, since it is not affected by interference.

In this case, check both the player and the sound equipment, which will be the fault in some.

Will this be the best optical audio cable for you?

As you have seen, this CSL cable has almost everything that an optical digital audio cable needs.

Although there may be a difference in the size you need, I do not think that in the rest of things you disagree.

Still, you already know everything you need to buy the best optical digital audio cable , whatever brand it is, and to connect what you need.