How can I get my computer to recognize and use my mini-Toslink for S/PDIF sound?

FFlintstone
FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

Tinkerer

The machine specs show the sound output is dual Realtek and mini-Toslink (S/PDIF) but sound settings won't allow digital audio output unless the HDMI cable is plugged in and the TV is on. But I want to listen to music without the TV on. Of what use is a digital optical output if the HDMI has to be plugged in and the TV on? How do I force the machine to recognize the cable plugged into the DAC (Digital Analog Receiver)?
«1

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,330 Trailblazer
    It would help to know what full ACER model number you have. Like E5-575G-xxxx or ES1-5xx-xxxx???? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    Oh, sorry Jack, and thanks for answering. I'm running Windows 10 64 bit on an Acer Aspire A315-42.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,330 Trailblazer
    >>>The machine specs show the sound output is dual Realtek and mini-Toslink (S/PDIF) >>>A315-42. >>>

    Do you have a reference to these specs? The A315-42 specsheet I have only shows the ALC255/ALC256 codecs. No optical output shown? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    >>>The machine specs show the sound output is dual Realtek and mini-Toslink (S/PDIF) >>>A315-42. >>>

    Do you have a reference to these specs? The A315-42 specsheet I have only shows the ALC255/ALC256 codecs. No optical output shown? Jack E/NJ
    Thanks, Jack. No. There is such codec. Do you know where I can find and download it? Sorry for the delay.
  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    No computers made within the last 5 years come with mini toslink.

    You can google the following terms: acer a315-42 "spdif". Not a single hit in the whole world mentioning such feature.

    It's all in your imagination.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,330 Trailblazer
    edited January 2022
    Sorry. You don't download a codec. The Realtek AL255 audio codec is a device --- a piece of hardware --- that's already installed in your laptop. You can download its updated Realtek software drivers from this link but not the hardware. The HDMI device output specification is for both video and audio. The spdif device is aka bluetooth usually integrated with the wifi card. That's also already inside your laptop. You need  bluetooth-capable audio receivers (eg BT headset, headphones or speakers) to use it. Walmart even has a BT RXTX adapter that may work with your stuff. Amazon has BT RXTX adapters with all kinds of jacks.

    Jack E/NJ

  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    JackE said:
    Sorry. You don't download a codec. The Realtek AL255 audio codec is a device --- a piece of hardware --- that's already installed in your laptop. You can download its updated Realtek software drivers from this link but not the hardware. The HDMI device output specification is for both video and audio. The spdif device is aka bluetooth usually integrated with the wifi card. That's also already inside your laptop. You need  bluetooth-capable audio receivers (eg BT headset, headphones or speakers) to use it. Walmart even has a BT RXTX adapter that may work with your stuff. Amazon has BT RXTX adapters with all kinds of jacks.

    Thanks, Jack. It already works with the headphones I have. I wanted to connect the mini-Toslink to my DAC and make it work.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,330 Trailblazer
    >>>sound settings won't allow digital audio output unless the HDMI cable is plugged in and the TV is on.>>>

    Have you tried updating the drivers or using DriverBooster or DriverPack to find better drivers online?

    Jack E/NJ

  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    edited January 2022
    Thanks, Jack. It already works with the headphones I have. I wanted to connect the mini-Toslink to my DAC and make it work.
    There is no mini-toslink in basically any pc/laptop made in the last 5 years.

    If you can't find a single google search result telling you a315-42 has a mini-toslink --- in a tech review website, in a support forum, in the official acer website..., then it doesn't exist.

    Look at your laptop, does your laptop's jack icon looks like this:

    This is from Quick Start Guide of Aspire 3810TZ https://www.acer.com/ac/en/ID/content/support-product/1176;-;


  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    If your laptop's audio jack icon label doesn't have SPDIF written on it, then it doesn't have mini-toslink.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,330 Trailblazer
    Yes, I think that's understood. An adapter is being used here.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    The OP is going to disappear once again.

    He basically misunderstood the phrase combo audio jack as headphone + mini-toslink, when the actual meaning of combo is headphone + mic.

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/990650
  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    Joe9844 said:
    No computers made within the last 5 years come with mini toslink.

    You can google the following terms: acer a315-42 "spdif". Not a single hit in the whole world mentioning such feature.

    It's all in your imagination.
    Plug a mini Toslink into your audio output and tell me if you see a red light on the other end? I did. That's not my imagination. When I tried to activate it, the machine said that it "preferred" I use HDMI for optical audio. Also my imagination?
  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    Joe9844 said:
    The OP is going to disappear once again.

    He basically misunderstood the phrase combo audio jack as headphone + mini-toslink, when the actual meaning of combo is headphone + mic.

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/990650
    Wrong. I plugged the mini toslink into the audio jack and got red light on the other end. When I tried to configure it, the machine told me it "preferred" that I use HDMI for optical audio output. I prefer otherwise.
  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    edited February 2022
    Wrong. I plugged the mini toslink into the audio jack and got red light on the other end. When I tried to configure it, the machine told me it "preferred" that I use HDMI for optical audio output. I prefer otherwise.
    Where does the Acer Aspire A315-42 manual say anything about spdif?

    https://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Document/User%20Manual/User%20Manual_Acer_1.0_A_A.pdf?acerid=636960915219505412&Step1=NOTEBOOK&Step2=ASPIRE&Step3=ASPIRE%20A315-42&OS=ALL&LC=en&BC=ACER&SC=PA_6

    It doesn't exist.

    If there is a mini-toslink jack then the manual would clearly stated it --- like the Aspire 3810TZ manual shown above.
  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    Joe9844 said:
    The OP is going to disappear once again.

    He basically misunderstood the phrase combo audio jack as headphone + mini-toslink, when the actual meaning of combo is headphone + mic.

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/990650
    Wrong. I plugged the mini Toslink into the audio jack and got a red light on the other end. When I tried to configure it, the machine told me it "preferred" that I use HDMI for optical audio output. I prefer otherwise.
  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    edited February 2022
    Don't connect your mini-toslink cable.

    Connect your laptop to your tv using HDMI cable.

    When you switch from Intel Display Audio (or AMD HD Audio) to Realtek then your HDMI tv will not use audio from HDMI cable.



    Then you play a youtube video on your tv and confirm that your laptop's internal speakers are playing the sound and not your tv.

    Then you play a song in whatever music software you use and confirm that your laptop's internal speakers are playing the song and not your tv.

    If your laptop has mini-toslink then your acer realtek audio console should have a realtek digital output device and you can configure from there.



    Show us the "preferred" error message by doing a screenshot (windows button + shift + s).

  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    edited February 2022
    You may also list your tv model number and your av receiver model number/

    You may also specify exactly how you connect all your items together into which ports on the tv and the receiver.

    Check your receiver's manual because some receivers can select their audio input priority (optical vs hdmi vs analog).
  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 549 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    @FFlintstone

    Haven't heard back from you, have any of that help?
  • FFlintstone
    FFlintstone Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    Joe9844 said:
    @FFlintstone

    Haven't heard back from you, have any of that help?
    Sorry, Joe. I've been very busy. I'm going to try to get that screenshot this week. But to answer you, I don't want to use the HDMI cable though it works. I want to be able to use the mini-Toslink which, despite FFlintone's statements, does exist. When I plug it in, I get the red light on the end of the cable.