Correct. It has a plug like a mini headphone jack on one end but it's a
fiber optic instead of wire cable. The other end has a square connector
common on many home theater amps. On the amp you might have to tell it
to start taking input from the optical input. On the Mac, in Sound
Preferences in the Output tab the sound output device should
automagically switch to "Name Digital Out" and "Type Optical digital-out
port". On mine it shows this even if my amp is turned off. You'll also
notice that the Mac overall volume controls go dead as it's now sending
everything digitally to your external device and you control the volume
from there. Individual apps like iTunes will still have their volume
controls.
CB
On 1/20/16 12:16 PM, Bill Holton wrote:
Is this the cable I need?
KabelDirekt (3 feet) Mini TOSLINK Optical Digital Audio Cable - PRO
Series
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZQWLF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_2.7NwbHKDH3R3
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 20, 2016, at 9:33 AM, 'Chris Blouch' via MacVisionaries
<[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Correct. Macs have had optical out going back to 2006 so you should
be fine. Only tricky bit is to get a mini TOSLink cable to make the
connection. It will have a headphone-shaped connection on one end and
then then usual square optical connection on the other. You won't
find them at the usual BestBuy and such but they are readily
available online. Just search for "mini TOSLink" to find them on
Amazon, newegg or wherever you get cables. Should be well under $10.
I use this all the time as a Mini is my families home
TV/entertainment hub (no cable except for internet service).
CB
On 1/20/16 8:02 AM, Bill Holton wrote:
I was told my mac mini didn't have an optical out. Is it the same
jack that you would normally take audio out of?
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 19, 2016, at 11:43 PM, 'Chris Blouch' via MacVisionaries
<[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
If you are trying to get 5.1 out of your Mac, does your amp have an
optical input? If so, it might be easier to skip all the USB stuff
and just run optical from the mini to your surround-sound amp.
CB
On 1/18/16 9:57 PM, Bill Holton wrote:
Hi.
My wife says they are green, orange—red?—and black.The USB cable
goes into the box, those three cables go to my 5.1 system
subwoofer, the subwoofer has the amp, I am guessing, and there are
five audio cable jacks in it that lead to the left, right,
satellite, and center channels.The speakers also have a large
cable with a volume know, a headphone jack, and dial for
bass/treble, and another that does increased separation.Does that
help?
The USB audio keeps dropping out, then coming back. I thought
maybe it was an OS issue, but I am running VM, and after a config
change it started asking me where I want the device connected, Mac
or Windows, so I am guessing it is actually disconnecting and
reconnecting.Tried three different USB cables;, didn’t help.
*From:*[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of
*Christopher-Mark Gilland
*Sent:* Monday, January 18, 2016 6:50 PM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: Need a bit of USB sound education
OK, do you know what color those cables are? That would tell me a
fair amount. Are they blue green and black? If so, I might have
a possible solution. If two of them are red and white, then I'll
have to think about it, as that wouldn't exactly tell me much.
red and white is generally your standard RCA, then of course
yellow would be for video, so I highly doubt that is what you're
working with.
The green, blue, and black would be digital and probably would be
like a composit cable.
That's why I'm kind a wonderring. We need just a slight bit more
info.
Chris.
----- Original Message -----
*From:*Bill Holton <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:*[email protected]
*Sent:*Monday, January 18, 2016 5:15 PM
*Subject:*Need a bit of USB sound education
Hi.
I am currently running a USB sound adapter to a set of 5.1
speakers on my Mac Mini, connected by three color-coded cables
to the subwoofer, which in turn connects to the five speakers.
The device is acting up, it keeps failing and restarting.Tried
different cable, same issues.I want to replace the device, but
not sure what I am looking for.All the ones I see on Amazon
show audio out.What do I need to look for in one that will
connect via the three color coded cables?Hoping to get off
fairly inexpensively, so if anyone can recommend one…much thanks.
Bill
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