Audio connector for digital out of Aspire 3810tz?

I'm having trouble figuring out how to connect the digital audio out of my Acer Aspire 3810tz notebook to an external DAC/soundcard. The soundcard has both optical and coaxial spdif input.

I tried an ordinary mono 3.5mm mono mini-jack to single RCA Phono plug cable, see below, but it does not work.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005CR1LPY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

I have searched the 3810 user guide and the web and cannot figure out if the digital out is optical or not. I assume not as I see no red glow when I turn on digital out. I tried playing with the audio settings and changing sampling rates etc. but still get no sound. What's the solution?

-Michael

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Tommy-Acer

The port on the left side of the unit is labeled as: Headphone / SPDIF icon

Headphones/speaker/line-out jack with S/PDIF support.

Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).

It is not a Toslink port, so should connect via RCA.

Headphone / SPDIF icon

DeanMartinfan

A followup: so I bought an optical Toslink to mini cable and plugged it into my 3810tz laptop. It definitely has optical spdif out, since there is a clear red glow at the end of the cable. I imagine the red out LED is covered unless the cable is plugged in.

On the other hand, I can't get my external soundcard to recognise the signal. Maybe my cable is too long at 3m. It could also be an issue with the soundcard. I'll post again if I manage to fix it.

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