What is TOSLINK ?

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What is TOSLINK ?

TOSLINK (from Toshiba Link) is a standardized optical fiber connector system originally from Toshiba, who created TOSLINK to connect their CD players to the receivers they manufactured, for PCM audio streams. The software layer is based on the “Sony/Philips Digital Interface”(S/PDIF), while the hardware layer utilizes a plastic optical fiber(POF) transmission system, rather than the traditional electrical (copper) hardware layer of S/PDIF because POF has advantages of high elastic strain limits, high fracture toughness, high flexibility in bending, and high sensitivity to strain.

TOSLINK was soon adopted by manufacturers of most CD players. It can often be found on video source (DVD and Blu-ray players, cable boxes and game consoles) to connect the digital audio stream to Dolby Digital/DTS decoders. The name is a registered trademark of Toshiba, created from TOShiba-LINK. Variations of the name, such as TOSlink, TosLink, and Tos-link, are also seen, while the official generic name for the standard is EIAJ optical.
TOSLINK Optical

Clear TOSLINK cable with a round connector for S/PDIF connectivity.
TypeOptical digital audio connector
Production history
DesignerToshiba
Designed1983
ManufacturerToshiba
ProducedSince 1983
General specifications
Hot pluggableYes
ExternalYes
Audio signalDigital audio bitstream. Originally limited to 48 kHz at 20 bits. Extended to support all modern formats (Depending on manufacture and specification)
CableOptical fiber, ~10 m (33 ft) maximum
Pins1
ConnectorJIS F05 (JIS C5974-1993 F05)
Data
Width20-, 24-bit audio samples
Working Wavelength 650nm (RED)
BitrateOriginally 3.1 Mbit/s;
now 125 Mbit/s
Max. devices1
ProtocolSerial

Also known generically as optical audio, the most common use of Toslink is in consumer audio equipment (via a “digital optical” socket), where it carries a digital audio stream from components such as CD and DVD players, Digital Audio Tape recorders, computers, and modern video game consoles, to an AV receiver that can decode two channels of uncompressed lossless pulse-code modulated (PCM) audio or compressed 5.1/7.1 surround sound such as Dolby Digital or DTS Surround System. Unlike HDMI, TOSLINK does not have the bandwidth to carry the lossless versions of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or more than two channels of PCM audio.

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