Optical cabling? (audio)

[Incitatus]

I just got an XBox and was a bit dissapointed that all it came with was 3 RCA plugs for all of the A/V output. Ugh, cheapasses.

Obviously, Dolby Surround doesn't work with RCA left/right channel audio

I think I need to get the XBox AV Kit Thing which will give me optical outputs. Said optical audio will allow Dolby 5.1, which will make me smile. 😀

So my issue is, where do I get optical audio cabling and how much should it be? Honestly, I've never done anything with optical connections ever. It was about a month ago that I found out the optical audio "plugs" were just pieces of plastic to protect the internals. 😱

Some searches yielded 10ft for $89 at ConUSSR. WTF? Please tell me this is not what I want. I know some of the newer computer speaker setups (and almost all of the new sound cards) have optical outputs, so people on here must know where to get the cables and how much they should be.

(I need ~15ft preferrably.)

Thanks

 

[Viper GTS]

Yes, they are expensive. Does the A/V pack also include a coax digital? If so, it would be much cheaper to use that.

You can do much better than $89 for a 10' though, let me look around for you...

Looks like $14 shipped is the going price on ebay for a 12'. You can probably find longer if you look around a little more. Just search for "toslink."

Viper GTS

 

[Goosemaster]

ACtually I got 8ft of monster for $12 at CC...your millage will vary.

Acoustic research would be my first for quality and dirt-cheap price.

Basically get whatever you caqn find. Most likely you will find it cheaper online

 

[Heisenberg]

The 6' one I bought at wallyworld cost like $15. I don't think they carry anything 15' long. Probably have to find it at a stereo shop or online.

 

[Goosemaster]

Check out Radioshack...somes..and I MEAN ONLY SOMETIMES...their optical cables are cheap

 

[Incitatus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Yes, they are expensive. Does the A/V pack also include a coax digital? If so, it would be much cheaper to use that.

Nope, its more or less said "you need optical for dolby surround. If you have optical, you can use Dolby Surround 5.1" or something repetitive like that. I /need/ optical 🙁

Thanks to all the other replies. Now I just need to figure out what to do.. perhaps rearranging the A/V stuff is in order. Everything is sitting on top of the TV, which is sort of inconvenient as the cable would need to go from the XBox (on the floor) all the way up to back of the receiver (on top of a 52" projection TV.. a good ways up from the floor) :/

Hrm.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Incitatus

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Yes, they are expensive. Does the A/V pack also include a coax digital? If so, it would be much cheaper to use that.

Nope, its more or less said "you need optical for dolby surround. If you have optical, you can use Dolby Surround 5.1" or something repetitive like that. I /need/ optical 🙁

Thanks to all the other replies. Now I just need to figure out what to do.. perhaps rearranging the A/V stuff is in order. Everything is sitting on top of the TV, which is sort of inconvenient as the cable would need to go from the XBox (on the floor) all the way up to back of the receiver (on top of a 52" projection TV.. a good ways up from the floor) :/

Hrm.

Coax digital is capable of carrying the exact same info as a toslink cable.

However...

Get this

Dirt cheap, & plenty long.

Viper GTS

 

[BigSmooth]

Obviously, Dolby Surround doesn't work with RCA left/right channel audio

Actually, Dolby Pro Logic and PLII only utilize two channels and they provide "surround sound". 😉 It's certainly not discrete 5.1, but technically...

Anyhoo, for optical cables, you could check out Target or Walmart (seriously). They have some decent quality cables for less than $20, and with the digital connection it's not like you can experience signal degradation or anything anyway. I was lucky and found some on clearance at Target a few months ago for about 7 bucks, and they've worked perfectly.

 

[Incitatus]

Awesome, thanks for all the information. Much more managable than $10/ft! Mmm. I'll go shopping tomorrow and see what I can find 🙂 else ebay.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Incitatus
Awesome, thanks for all the information. Much more managable than $10/ft! Mmm. I'll go shopping tomorrow and see what I can find 🙂 else ebay.

Ebay is going to be your best bet.

B&M stores LOVE cabling, they make HUGE profits off it.

Viper GTS

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Incitatus
Awesome, thanks for all the information. Much more managable than $10/ft! Mmm. I'll go shopping tomorrow and see what I can find 🙂 else ebay.

Ebay is going to be your best bet.

B&M stores LOVE cabling, they make HUGE profits off it.

Viper GTS

I just bought 3 optical cables off ebay.. GET THEM THERE.. RS wanted $40 for a 12'.. Got them on ebay for $6

 

[isekii]

I need an optical cable for my hoontech card.

Watching movies on the computer screen just don't cut it.

Optical out with TV out = the bomb.

i have a surround system 🙂

 

[NewSc2]

Check out the XBox thread in Hot Deals. I think they have a link to a partsexpress deal. It's like $6 maybe, but like $8 shipping. Call them up and see if you can get it shipped for much less.

Other than that, you could just go to Target or Wal-Mart and buy a 3 or 6 ft. optical cable for $10-15.