Toslink is dying!

[Seth=L]

Ever notice this? Less and less electronic devices are offering toslink connectivity or are limiting implementation for this connection, especially in the lower end market. Just a few years ago most receivers had an overwhelmingly dominant amount of toslink connections, now you look at the back your your average Onkyo receiver 5 years ago, and look at one now. Same with Sony. My Sony STR-DA1000ES has 4 optical inputs and one coax, the new ones have at least half of the digital inputs dedicated to both.

 

[markw]

Maybe they are finally wising up?

If you have two ways of doing the same thing, one simple and one complex, why choose the complex route?

When you consider that a digital coax connection performs the same, I've always wondered why they went through the trouble of developing toslink in the first place.

The optical connenctions are more finicky, it has a poor bend radius, and offers no improvement in signal transfer in home uses. As for the "grounding" issue, I don't ever recall this being a problem in the real world.

Add to that the fact that virtually any modern 75 ohm interconnect lying around will suffice for a digital link for the lengths used in the home and you have a no brainer.

 

[Seth=L]

No kidding. I really don't see the benefit of optical on only but a few devices. I would say a coaxial digital output would look pretty strange on the PS3.

It was rumored at a time that toslink was cheaper for everyone to manufacture. Quite frankly I don't see how that would be the case. Maybe the cost of the cable is cheaper, but certainly not the connections on each end (source and input).

 

[j_garcia]

I've never really liked optical; I have always preferred coaxial whenever possible and did actually make equipment selection based on the presence of coaxial. IMO, it won't be missed.

 

[sparky77]

Strange but true. The only source I can think of where the optical would be better is for computer outputs near the noisy rf generating electronics.

The odd thing is that my iptv cable box only has optical or hdmi for digital audio output, no option for coaxial.

 

[gtaylor0]

Strange but true. The only source I can think of where the optical would be better is for computer outputs near the noisy rf generating electronics.

The odd thing is that my iptv cable box only has optical or hdmi for digital audio output, no option for coaxial.

And in fact most TV's have only optical, so perhaps audio through HDMI might supplant it but -- at least with cable boxes and TV's -- optical kinda seems alive and well.

 

[GlocksRock]

I'm noticing this too, but also seeing more and more devices using HDMI, therefore eliminating the need for extra toslink/spdif inputs.

 

[fast1]

Ever notice this? Less and less electronic devices are offering toslink connectivity or are limiting implementation for this connection, especially in the lower end market. Just a few years ago most receivers had an overwhelmingly dominant amount of toslink connections, now you look at the back your your average Onkyo receiver 5 years ago, and look at one now. Same with Sony. My Sony STR-DA1000ES has 4 optical inputs and one coax, the new ones have at least half of the digital inputs dedicated to both.

isn't it because of HDMI that this is happening?

 

[Seth=L]

And in fact most TV's have only optical, so perhaps audio through HDMI might supplant it but -- at least with cable boxes and TV's -- optical kinda seems alive and well.

I just wondered why it seemed to be dissapearing on standard DVD players (ones without upscaling).

 

[MUDSHARK]

But I have so many optical cables laying around the house

 

[lsiberian]

It's all about selling some new gimmicky connector. In 5 years they will probably make a new BS connector to sell more cables.

 

[JAMS]

hdmi takeover

Soon the audio will be hdmi or none,copy rights you know!

 

[j_garcia]

There's always analog

 

[JAMS]

forever theres still analoge

Well i was kidding,hdmi might have there way but a massive proabition on other digital outputs is quite Drackonium !
Theres the never give up the ship guys using backwards capatibility dvi to hdmi and making out of region players work for dvdS!!
OPPO are rebelling, and others that are also seperatist that hdmi would like to squish!
Audio is on the back burner for the copy guard storm troopers! lol