Optical cable for home theater system: the best tips

How thick should an optical cable for your home theater system be?

Fiber optic cables do not need to be specially shielded. Nevertheless, different thicknesses are also available for TOSLINK cables:

Thicker cables can usually be bent closer without kinking, so they are more robust. A kink in the fiber optic cable interferes with the light signal and thus impairs the transmission.
A TOSLINK cable for your home theater system is usually not moved or stressed. So a medium strength cable is sufficient.

As long as the digital light signals arrive at the receiver, the cable works perfectly. There are no different quality levels here.
Up to a length of five meters, transmission is possible without any problems. With cable lengths over five meters, it is possible that the signal will not arrive.
In the device from which the audio signal comes, there is a diode that sends the light signal. The strength of this diode depends on whether the signal arrives at your home theater system.
Whether a signal reaches more than five meters also depends on the light conductivity of the respective material. Light-conducting plastic is used in some optical cables and glass in others. Glass usually ensures better transmission. However, it is also more expensive.
Conclusion: If you want to connect a playback device to the home cinema via TOSLINK, the two devices should not be too far apart.

First, make sure that both devices that you want to connect have a TOSLINK socket.
Optical cables are often supplied with plastic protective caps. Be sure to remove them before connecting the cable. The plastic caps are usually difficult to see and may cause considerable damage to the socket if they are not removed before connection.
The plug of your fiber optic cable should snap into place. This is the only way to guarantee the error-free transmission of the light signal.

Many home theater systems come with a simple TOSLINK cable. This is usually sufficient to supply your home theater system with a high-quality sound signal.
If no cable is included or if it does not meet your requirements, you can also take courageous access to cheap products. If you like it a little more robust, the Amazon Basics product is a good choice.

We will show you in another practical tips whether stereo or surround sounds better.