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S/PDIF Cable

Sep 22, 2002
1,856
10
Dallas
Just picked up a small little interface that, theoretically, will allow me to transfer music into my laptop via USB.

Link Removed

Problem is, the digital out on my unit that I want to input into the interface has a component jack (looks like an RCA type jack) and the digital in on this unit is TOSLINK.

Anyone know where I can find a cable that has optical on one end and component on the other?
 
Razor,

Both of your devices are S/PDIF. One is just S/PDIF over coaxial (RCA) and the other is over optical (TOS). They are different media using the same protocol.

To borrow a networking model they are both the same layer 2 protocol but on different layer 1 media.

What you need is a media converter. There are literally dozens of companies that make one. Generally they are a small box that are powered off the coaxial or powered by an external brick type power supply and have 1 TOS/Optical and 1 RCA/Coaxial connector on them to convert the media.

Rather than giving you specific links and endorsing a specific product just go to google and type in "SPDIF coax to optical converter" and you will get hundreds of return hits.

Expect to pay $25-$35 for the converter and remember that you still need an optical and a coaxial cable to make the connection.

-Rav
 
Rav said:
Razor,

Both of your devices are S/PDIF. One is just S/PDIF over coaxial (RCA) and the other is over optical (TOS). They are different media using the same protocol.

To borrow a networking model they are both the same layer 2 protocol but on different layer 1 media.

What you need is a media converter. There are literally dozens of companies that make one. Generally they are a small box that are powered off the coaxial or powered by an external brick type power supply and have 1 TOS/Optical and 1 RCA/Coaxial connector on them to convert the media.

Rather than giving you specific links and endorsing a specific product just go to google and type in "SPDIF coax to optical converter" and you will get hundreds of return hits.

Expect to pay $25-$35 for the converter and remember that you still need an optical and a coaxial cable to make the connection.

-Rav

Thanks for the info Tom. Good to hear from ya!

I was worried that the solution would be something like that...what ever happened to the days of the infamous "snap-on adaptors!"

Being that the interface I have is such a cheap one, I suppose that I will simply have to find a better interface, which will have a S/PDIF "coaxial cable" input.....that way all I will need is an adaptor!

I wanna play Geddy again!!!! Hope you didn't get rid of it!!