Circuit & Information on TOSLINK interface
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZqatf_dzS1yQCGxex5UWTV_sLTXu9zMfsdHmVhrhih-71r6hrNnwrjiHoetgca5j5O1C9lsga9Qnoq7t9J5WuEwBCFPYpkhjvKegfMwHQjLrFfjaIhkAqaUnGgpvISxLZaQi47wA8YGs/s200/circuit.gif)
So you want to get a high quality audio for minidisc recording but when
using red and white RCA, the quality drop drastically. Here a my cheap solution for you.
Actually you can find a lot of references of this type of simple project in the internet.
REF
* S/PDIF = Sony/Philips Digital Interface
* TOSLINK = (
TOSLINK Interconnect History & Basics
)
* Another web offering the same information
* SPDIF at epanorama.net
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtTxuJ3AtHV2Z3Bi_PDPn6a82vYjw_a0u2QeYjyPdBz3osbhO7hBzzDkq2elewhmRu0nkOlNrNbVWhTRhrSHd5sI5Sz1xKXzz67kfWW0ID-Fy1E1zNiCjfR6jtW-JN3q-xk0CRrRRJoaE/s200/parts.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMff83U-MiYYNrzko1asiv4_OrgAHkFj6_p5Xs2DDxC71zgU8KEAvTA5p_BxUyATtXXnDKkdavDXBB8OypxPB7Ah4lyW8CEkE8b3HbE_PpUr_SNtMtH-UIcVTjD6cR9zbUoSLKeZRada0E/s200/wihout_plug.jpg)
Meet my version of cheap, 2 components TOSLINK @ S/PDIF.
Try to find a cable with connector from old PC casing for this.
(HDD led,reset switch or power button connector)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUfPn1IV5FA5GNfwgKUjwkpxyQ46L_HZ4mZoBPTYWfM3PARXr2xICFmFLCZ65lTLvmt8SUVoQEVzSa_NVpzVxsqSkVrj4bY7LDrsLejxOjcnJwKo4BIw5ULMgm3up6J0ZlbzpotPpEtft/s200/blow_up.jpg)
Assemble it using your own creativity. Use the pen tube for the light transmission.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAv7XaYnL5ArI7ce_l8_8fIHkgwRE85N0VGhcmw_UE-IM1ZM1cG5EeX6ZaYab9aNHt5j06DNkZ-l6AFpiFQpRljHeItCtmnZ0F8kdlY36Hn_ieEUc8YZ1kg42tLwyza26YN2Reneucwiz/s200/cdrom_connect.jpg)
Connect it to the back of your CDROM drive. Since (D, the signal should go to anode and G should go to the ground/cathode)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnXN743qccHaPWPr9Uxvo0l_Y90rpc6ZcmCHG-_fGldxSnaQ9aBVsvOSqsEuzFNKNMtTsEHbpV8dafncIX6-StDs61O6c22FHhN7VBMN3bUWfjiL7Eqov7pi9AR7VOPevbSue0cP3O5UL/s200/llight_it_up.jpg)
Test it out. you should see the light come out from the tip/tube.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianKGRB_pxooUlJiimMN7izGgLRPB0KH05Xqwy0o6fljNZ87UlU2J3pyVPVNIYQhMsu_WcU0wBRdCP__TO6ZWB-vn43KVuQb2nPl5nMhplMH-OrEa_-FKKEy8y36QkzP8-7Uu3YxxcWimP/s200/recording.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUaCN8Cphy0c49yE9w5nLmI30ZmJ-cnPKfHZW_R_RC9J3bzRMoyRh-LqEFfhfrecBBcbiMVzg0uS6KY8MtMC7ezBTmDW4OzIPEFYQen9ZzvN_mGZZj1D58ZdmqlLyN88NxL3NXtpVrN0y/s200/pa_back.jpg)
Connect to your MD or other device such as power amp that support optical in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWnhkLFfkmUo1SSn7bpwVLWS6XnRA4sRD1rnpfLlaDjG278cDaappVjR_Ne4_hsjp4N1hNeTU0GhVD_v1Y1_rUfOdS6hM_3IMuDvxN57fWnGjMuOsx7k8DO8_B5PckIhiG_HERbXt9ybL/s200/md_port.jpg)
Actually, I have one of this (USB to SPDIF converter) for my minidisc but just to share with you on how to find a supercheap
solution before start buying. :-)
Even my new MSI mainboard do have built-in TOSLINK :-)