Thunderbolt/USB to Toslink

[DenBeke]

I'm looking for a Thunderbolt dock, but don't find a lot of them with optical audio output.
So I was thinking of buying a cheaper regular dock, and using some sort of thunderbolt to optical audio adapter. Does such a thing exists? Does it give decent quality?

 

[satcomer]

I'm not sure. You could check out the blog article Best Thunderbolt 2 for Mac.

 

[crewkid89]

Don't all macs have a toslink in the headphone port? I know my iMac does. You just have to get a mini toslink to toslink cable. What model Mac do you have?

 

[DenBeke]

All Macs have indeed optical audio, but I'd like to have a cheap solution for a thunderbolt docking station with dvi/hdmi, ethernet and optical audio.
I thought I could buy a cheaper dock, and put some toslink adapter on it...

 

[Kaspin]

There are USB DACs with optical out that shouldn't be too expensive

 

[DenBeke]

Thanks!
Maybe I should just invest in an overpriced thunderbolt dock with optical audio... That'll be the easiest solution.

 

[crewkid89]

Do any of the thunderbolt docks actually have optical audio builtin? I haven't seen any yet. Even if there is one, you're really limiting your purchasing choices for just one extra cable you'd have to plug in when you get home. You can just leave that one next to your dock.

 

[DenBeke]

I came across the Startech dock with optical audio, ethernet and dual display port. Which is exactly what I need, because I have a dual monitor setup.

That way I can come home and connect exactly one thunderbolt cable + the magsafe cable and everything is ready.