To complement the visual quality of your TV, you’ll need a good soundbar for a better audio experience. Besides louder audio, a better sound stage will make the TV shows and movies more immersive. So if your TV has an Optical Audio Out port, you can get the most out of it. You’ll need is a good optical audio cable to connect your TV to a compatible sound system.
You’ll need to consider a few factors to pick up a good optical audio cable. Besides the length of the cable, you can pay attention to its construction quality without falling for features that sound ‘too good to be true.’ However, if you plan to run the optical cable inside the wall, you’ll need to ensure the cable supports such an installation.
In this post, we will take a look at some of the best optical audio cables for TVs that you can buy. But before that,
- Here are some HDMI cables for your 4K UHD TV
- Use these Bluetooth Adapters to connect to classic speakers
1. Amazon Basics Toslink Cable
In terms of construction quality, it doesn’t claim to use any top-tier material and has a very generic-looking construcation. However, you can find corrosion-resistant gold-plated connectors that’ll safeguard them no matter how many times you plug and unplug them.
The cable is lightweight and flexible while featuring a rugged PVC outer layer. However, customers have reported that the PVC can’t survive multiple connect/disconnect cycles. As such, it’s best to plug and forget the Amazon Basics cable. If your use case requires constantly switching devices and replugging the cable multiple times, it’s better to consider other options on this list.
2. Monoprice S/PDIF Digital Optical Audio Cable
The cable consists of an optical fiber inside on which a standard PVC jacket provides a good shield. However, you do get molded strain relief connectors which reduce strain where the cable and connectors meet.
Most reviews on Amazon rave about the Monoprice’s optical audio cable offering the value-for-money factor. You get a massive jump in terms of audio quality when you compare it with HDMI audio, without spending a fortune.
3. Monster M-Series 1000
In terms of durability, the Monster M-Series 1000 Cable comes with a Duraflex protective jacket and heavy-duty metal casings – that means you don’t have to worry about it when running it through the wall or plugging-unpluggling it several times. The cable in itself is quite flexible, making it easier to plug and unplug without worries.
With those features comes a relatively hefty price of this Monster cable. However, the brand also offers a 100% lifetime replacement warranty on its cables.
4. iVANKY Slim Braided Fiber Cable
The cable is available in a handful of length options, such as 1-meter, 1.8-meters, 3-meters, and 4.5-meters. The cable is also CL3-rated, making it safe for in-wall usage and can withould high voltage of current up to a certain extent. You also get removable rubber caps to prevent dust and oxidation when not plugged in.
The cable has over 21,000 reviews on Amazon, and most folks praise the high quality of the cable. The braided jacket makes this cable more durable, but it isn’t as flexible as the other options on this list.
5. Bangun 90-Degree Toslink Cable
Thanks to its connector design, the Bangun 90-degree optical audio cable only requires 0.6-inch of space for audio installation. This is considerably smaller than other full-sized cables that require up to 2.8-inch of space.
In terms of built quality, the cable features 24K corrosion-resistant, gold-plated connectors along with a durable PVC jacket. The cable is also available in a huge variety of lengths, starting from a mere 2ft and going all the way up to 130ft.
6. FosPower Gold Plated Toslink Cable
The cable also features PE insulation that helps protect against RF, EM, and group loop interference. Add to that you have heavy metal connectors to dampen vibration, offering great audio quality.
Its build quality is a lot heavier than most Toslink cables. Some reviews highlight that a hanging FosPower cable might damage the port on the back of your TV since most optical audio cable ports aren’t designed to sustain heavy loads. If you plan to pick this one, we recommend to tie the cable and provide some support to ensure there is no downward thrust on the ports.
7. BlueRigger In-Wall Toslink Cable
The connector on the cable has 24K gold plating, and the connector grips are also designed to provide easier handling and installation. The cable is available in various lengths starting from 3 feet and up to 100 feet.
The BlueRigger cable is one of the most highly rated and reviewed cables on Amazon. Most customers admire the built quality along with the affordable price tag.
Improve Your TV’s Sound Quality
Optical Audio cables come with a plethora of benefits. Since they use of optical signals to transfer audio signals, their signal strength or quality is not affected easily, even when you run it over a long distance. The quality on board is also much better than traditional AUX or RCA ports. So you’ll find most modern TVs sporting an option for optical audio port.
So, which optical audio cable will you buy? If you want a basic cable, then the Amazon Basics Cable should be enough for casual usage. However, if you want the ultimate quality, the offerings from Monster and FosPower should fit the bill.
Last updated on 07 June, 2022
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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