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New TV: what to do with TOSLINK optical output

Dumb questions incoming: I got a new TV that only has optical out, but I got no optical input on my Cambridge Audio 640A; Do I need a newer receiver or a dedicated DAC to convert the optical out to regular RCA? I see even the new CA receiver (851a) doesn’t have optical input.

Or should I swap to something like the hegel h90 or CA CXA80 with tons of optical inputs?
mrgreenfur

Showing 2 responses by auxinput

auxinput
1,538 posts
 
@caphill -  yeah I see where you wrote that now.
auxinput
1,538 posts
 

Those really cheap $8 toslink to single-ended RCA convertors that uberwaltz is showing are basically really cheap garbage DACs.  mrgreenfur can certainly try one to see if the audio is acceptable, but it is definitely not going to be anywhere as good as a separate DAC or even a new receiver with toslink/HDMI inputs.  It's something you can try "for the heck of it".  If sound is bad, you can always upgrade to something else.

The FiiO D3 may be better than the $8 solution, but you still can only put so much into a piece of equipment for a $20 retail.

Another thing.  I know caphill like to present the idea of using an "all HDMI" receiver solution.  Keep in minds that audio transported through HDMI will never be as good as audio transported through digital COAX or even toslink.  It's definitely a convenience thing, but I would suggest getting a receiver that has a toslink input and find a really good glass fiber toslink cable (lifatec / Wire World / etc.).

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