Amazon Basics Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable, 6 Foot
A cheap, dependable optical cable; use HDMI eARC instead when you want Atmos.
The short version
- Anyone connecting a TV, console or PC to a soundbar, receiver or DAC that has an optical input
- Setups with hum or interference from a shared electrical ground
- Your TV and soundbar both support HDMI eARC, which carries Atmos and lossless audio
- You need a run longer than 6 feet
What owners like
- Plug-and-play setup with click-fit plugs that seat securely
- Durable PVC jacket
- Named the value pick in optical cable roundups for soundbar and TV use
Common complaints
- The protective caps must come off before the plug will seat, which catches some people out
- A little stiff out of the box
- No extra features compared with premium optical cables
Based on Nerdtechy and Sarah Lee and Johnny optical cable roundups, XDA Developers on what optical can and cannot carry, and the Amazon listing.
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A 6 foot fiber optic Toslink cable from Amazon's house brand for sending digital audio from a TV, console or player to a soundbar, receiver or DAC.
- Fiber optic link, so there is no electrical connection between source and speakers and no ground loop hum
- Fits standard Toslink ports on TVs, soundbars, receivers, game consoles and Blu-ray players
- PVC jacket over buffer tubing protects the fiber
- Ships with caps on both plugs to keep dust off the ends
A sensible buy for hooking a TV or console to a soundbar or receiver over optical, and editorial roundups list it as their value pick. The real limit is optical itself: it carries stereo PCM and compressed Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1, but not Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or lossless formats, so use HDMI eARC instead if your gear supports it.
How it compares
Specs
- Length
- 6 ft
- Connectors
- Toslink male to male, gold-plated housings
- Construction
- Fiber optic core with buffer tubing and a PVC jacket
- Extras
- Protective end caps
- Audio carried
- Multi-channel digital audio: PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS
Questions
Does an optical cable support Dolby Atmos?
No. Optical tops out at compressed Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 or stereo PCM. Atmos, DTS:X and lossless audio need HDMI eARC.
Do I need to remove the caps on a Toslink cable?
Yes. Both plugs ship with protective caps that must come off before the cable will seat in the port.
Is a more expensive optical cable worth it?
For a short home run like TV to soundbar, the roundups read pick this cable as the value choice. The signal is digital, so pricier cables mostly differ in build and extras.
Why use optical instead of HDMI?
Optical has no electrical connection, so it can cure ground loop hum, and it works with older receivers and DACs that lack HDMI eARC.
Sources
- Amazon: Amazon Basics Toslink Digital Optical Audio Fiber Optic Cable, 6 Foot
- Amazon: Amazon Basics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable, 6 Foot
- Nerdtechy: 8 Best Optical Toslink Cables
- Sarah Lee and Johnny: Best Optical Cables for Audio
- XDA Developers: Your surround sound is being limited by this ancient cable
Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.
