Help needed to understand optical output > RCA input

I hope this is the right place to ask - I did search long and hard for the answer before posting.

I was nearly seduced by the ads for a Brennan JB7 as my TEAC H-500 reference system is looking about 15 years old; the md component has been replaced and the cd player has been refurbed once or twice (this thing gets a lot of use but still sounds great !)

Before I spent the £350 my friend said "but you already have all that functionality in your Intel iMac' ! If only you could route that through the TEAC...."

The mac has a dual optical (TOSlink)/mini jack audio output - the TEAC is 6mtrs away. The obvious solution is a long optical cable but the TEAC doesn't have TOSlink input. At least it DOES have optical between the cd and md - but only for sync recording. The receiver has standard RCA jacks input for aux, md, tuner, cd etc.

First I wondered whether I could hijack the TOSlink input on the md and 'play through' the system but seemingly not. It will record from an optical input source but I cannot fathom a way to play straight through.

Obviously I could use the other digital audio (headphone type) output function on the mac which should plug straight through to the receiver RCA inputs but I have heard that theres lots of background hum (ground loop ?) and its quite a long run I gather.

So, short story long, if its all digital signal can I not output via a 3.5mm TOSlink plug, down an optical cable which terminates in RCA digital plugs ? Presumably the TEAC is all digital - we are not talking analogue RCA inputs from cd and md so.....

OK - thats too much to hope - I know that it needs a converter but can I get away with a Digital Optical TOSlink to SPDIF RCA Coax Signal Converter (by Cable Mountain from Amazon for £9.99) or am I completely missing the point ?

Some forums refer to needing really expensive converters - I have seen boxes from £100 to £1000 discussed. Might as well buy the Brennan and chuck the TEAC in the river ? Really confused.

Anyone understanding this rant please put me straight...

Thank you for taking the time to reply Xander - much appreciated.

Couple of things

- there is no USB ipod input on the TEAC H-500 (not on mine anyway). If there was I would have plugged it straight in

- secondly I assumed that as the RCAs were talking signals from the cd player and the minidisc player they would be digital inputs. Are you saying that the cd & md convert to analogue signal before sending to the receiver ?

- lastly, I realised that I can use a standard 1/8" stereo to RCA but having read the forums gleaned that this was the worst possible choice due to noise in the computer and possible ground loop.

Maybe I will look into a cheap wifi streaming solution but there are so many LANs here that I fear tons of interference.

Thanks anyway for trying to help.

Thats brilliantly clear - thx.

So if I want to use the optical out from the mac then I will need to convert to analogue somehow. And that Digital Optical TOSlink to SPDIF RCA Coax Signal Converter isn't going to do it right ? Because an RCA coax isn't analogue ?

I think that I either have to

> use the 1/8" analogue out (and live with background noise)
> buy an expensive digital/analogue convertor (any budget recommendations?)
> find a wifi streaming gizmo with all the interference and quality loss issues.

Thanks guys - you have all been really helpful _ I can see couple of ways forward.

Found this gem for £40 with superb reviews on amazon http://*******.com/2asc8j5

And yes, most of the comp noise issues were from macbook users.
As you say, easy and cheap to try.

Very grateful to you all for patiently answering what must seems like obvious questions. Forums like this are invaluable.

Oooops - by 'this gem' I meant the SAP3 digital-->analogue converter by Cablesson

Following your soooooooo helpful and patient advice have now installed 10m Fisual Pro-install optical cable into a Cablesson SAP 3 DAC , thereafter through 8" TEAC stereo analogue cables into the receiver and blow me down if it don't sound BETTER than direct from the TEAC cd ! The sound is warmer and richer and somehow, more detailed.


£52 all in for a superb solution.

Thanks again to all who took the time to put me straight on digital/analogue signals.



24" iMac 2.8GHz Penryn 2Gb Ram 800MHz
Running OSX 10.6.3