HDMI and TOSLINK cable technologies are the latest evolution in the consumer audio-video interconnection revolution of the past decade. With advanced multichannel surround sound, home theaters, game consoles and advanced high-power PCs growing at an exponential rate, in-wall cabling and installation of at least several access ports to connect component systems is a virtual necessity in any new home or renovation of existing homes.
TOSLINK – all uppercase letters is the only correct version of the name – is the registered trademark for the Toshiba Link fiber optic cable connection system. It is the industry standard for fiber optic audio applications servicing electronics systems from portable personal media players to PCs, encompassing a wide range of game systems, digital home theater systems, HDTV plasma and other high-end audio-video playback systems requiring reliable and interference-free audio connections.
TOSLINK cable is available in several grades depending on distance and application. The most common cables are one millimeter All Plastic Fiber (APF) which can carry signals up to 10 meters with reliability. This is the most cost-effective solution that can service virtually all home consumer requirements. For professional or long-distance applications, multi-strand or quartz-glass fiber optics is the better choice, providing more durable and flexible installation options.
Several plug options are available, the most common being the rectangular plug and jack. Round connectors and mini-TOSLINK cable connectors are becoming more popular because of their smaller size and comparative ease of use, especially with hand-held devices.
HDMI cable is the High Definition Multimedia Interface used for audio and video applications. It has a number of advantages over conventional cable connections, including superior noise and interference resistance. It can also be run over long distances. While technically capable of carrying 8-channel audio signals, many audiophiles prefer the fiber optic audio because it is impervious to electrical interference. Since HDMI cable is a series of metallic wires, care must be exercised to avoid sources of potential interference. Shielding is accomplished by using a grounded foil wrapper – sometimes several layers thick – to surround the wires in the cable. The trade-off is that each layer of shielding makes the cable stiffer, thicker, heavier and not as easy to bend around sharp corners.
The TOSLINK and HDMI revolution answers the demand for the latest technology for carrying high-definition audio-visual signals. When HDMI cable is used in conjunction with fiber optic TOSLINK cable, it is possible to connect your high-end PC audio and graphics video to your large screen TV monitor for spectacular game play and other applications enhanced by superior audio and video capabilities.
