Optical audio output not working

[Emperoryder]

I have purchased a optical audio cable to hook up my 15" mbp to my LCD.

One end is the toslink and the other end is the toslink adapter, when I put both end into its place. The speaker icon turns gray and I cannot adjust the sound level and the music stops from the laptop speaker.

Also, the optical digital audio out option is not showing up in audio preference.

 

[moel]

The speaker SHOULD turn grey and be unable to be adjusted, Optical out is merely a digital passthru. Once your using it you have no way of altering the signal, what comes in has to go out.

Having it dissapear from the audio device list is a bit odd

Two things to check

1) Are you sure that hole in the back of the TV is for optical INPUT, or could it be an output to go to a surround amp?

2) Have you got another device with an optical out other than your mac (say for example a cd deck) that you could plug in and test out instead?

 

[Clete2]

1) Are you sure that hole in the back of the TV is for optical INPUT, or could it be an output to go to a surround amp?

This is highly likely. Check the specifications of your TV on the manufacturer's support website.

 

[Emperoryder]

Yup...

On the back of my LCD only has digital audio out...

I bought analog and that is working currently, but do not like how it sounds...

Anyhow, I guess I have no choice.

 

[Slypr]

Yup...

On the back of my LCD only has digital audio out...

I bought analog and that is working currently, but do not like how it sounds...

Anyhow, I guess I have no choice.

Using an optical cable wouldn't really make it sound a whole lot better. It sounds bad because your using built in TV speakers