Got my AppleTV last week. Finally hooked up now (all kinds of issues up to now). I can put in a toslink cable to the DAC, but would prefer a higher quality linkage. Wondering if something like a Monarchy DIP would do it...
Macrojack, my understanding is that the AppleTV's USB jack is only there for servicing, and is not configured for audio USB. HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is the jack to get the multimedia signal from your AppleTV to your HD TV - and by the way you'll likely need to get an HDMI cable because your AppleTV does not come with one. SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface, and it is one of the standard formats for transmitting digital information. Strictly speaking, toslink is one version of S/PDIF, the other being "coaxial digital". HDMI is effectively an electronically re-formatted version of component cables (the 3-color video cables and standard L+R cables for audio), and can be separated into video+audio (thus the DVI (Digital Video interface) and SPDIF).
Macrojack, my understanding is that the AppleTV's USB jack is only there for servicing, and is not configured for audio USB. HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is the jack to get the multimedia signal from your AppleTV to your HD TV - and by the way you'll likely need to get an HDMI cable because your AppleTV does not come with one. SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface, and it is one of the standard formats for transmitting digital information. Strictly speaking, toslink is one version of S/PDIF, the other being "coaxial digital". HDMI is effectively an electronically re-formatted version of component cables (the 3-color video cables and standard L+R cables for audio), and can be separated into video+audio (thus the DVI (Digital Video interface) and SPDIF).