S/PDIF to Toslink?

I want to take advantage of the S/PDIF output on both my Sager Notebooks and use them to connect to my Tritton AX Pros which (for the most part) only have optical in. I bought an adapter from Turtle Beach thinking it would basically convert electrical output that are in most jacks to power a light to convert it to optical, but no. All it did was change the plug type from toslink to a 3.5mm with a hole in it.

What are my options to convert S/PDIF out that we find on our notebooks to Toslink (Optical) for under $20?

I mean really I don't see how it would be that complicated. I figured this would work because I actually though about how it would be made technically.

I figured that headphones are powered through their 3.5mm jack via on off switches. I also figured that optical works the same way but with light. So I assumed that a converter to go from SPDIF out to Optical would just be a metal connector that fits both and has a little light in it instead of using the power to move tiny speakers in headphones.

Am I wrong here?

 

S/PDIF Optical Toslink To Digital Coax Audio Converter - eBay (item 260651169265 end time Nov-13-10 08:47:05 PST)

 

Thanks but that's Optical in to Coax out. Neither of which are 3.5mm and is the opposite direction I need.

Anyways, I ended up just ordering the Micro II from Turtle Beach.

Just sucks that we can't fully use the S/PDIF out on our laptops to become optical (at least not cheap).

 

Where exactly is the SPDIF output?

I have three analog outputs, and one "digital output" according to realtek control panel. I assume this "digital output" is the SPDIF?

Also, to convert SPDIF to a Optical Toslink, try this converter:
Digital Audio (S/PDIF) Coaxial to Toslink Optical Digital Converter

It costs $14. Very cheap. But it's kind of bulky and also for some reason need it's own powersupply...I guess converting digital signals to optical signals is srs business.

 

Yes, S/PDIF is the digital out. The symbol is like this:



See the problem is S/PDIF generally is either Coaxial or Optical. We don't have either on our laptops. We have 3.5mm S/PDIF Out. So to use something like that, I would need to get a 3.5mm to coaxial converter, then have that convert the coaxial to optical (probably losing a ton of quality in the process).

I basically went with a USB to Optical conversion, but it is a shame that there wasn't something simpler.

 

3.5mm to coax is just a simple plug/cable, they are the same standard, just different plugs.

here:
3.5mm Mono Male to RCA Female Audio Adapter - eBay (item 140417416167 end time Nov-11-10 23:29:21 PST)
3.5mm Male Plug to RCA Male Plug Mono Audio Cable 6ft - eBay (item 150490529185 end time Nov-06-10 12:04:33 PDT)