Was just about to start my own thread on this but found this one! Yes, I've just discovered this too as I use optical out and was planning to buy a touchbar MacBook Pro soon.
I have a work colleague who has just got one and does presentations using the digital optical out and I have now had to scramble to find yet another dongle to hang out of his MacBook to avoid having a big problem during his performance. As for me, well I use the
https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/product/speaker-system-z906 using the optical out of my 2015 MBP to get the best possible audio out of it.
In the meantime I've been recommending this (but doesn't support 5.1 on Macs):
https://www.uk.insight.com/en-gb/pr...MIl-yn8v7o1wIVZLftCh38yQGhEAQYAiABEgKeEvD_BwE
So the only other decent one I can find this minute is this:
https://uk.creative.com/p/sound-cards/sound-blaster-digital-music-premium-hd
So seriously Apple... the built in sound chip you put on the MBPs is pretty good, but you make be buy a USB soundcard anyway so I can get digital out!!?
Sad to see Apple remove this, but I've also noticed as I'm upgrading my PC that I can't find a suitable mini-ITX board with optical out built in anymore without buying an additional SPDIF bracket! Of which can't be fit on most mini-ITX cases because they only have room for a video card and so don't supply space for any additional bracket which has scuppered my upgrade plans!
Anyone any ideas here? Are manufacturers abandoning the SPDIF port?