How to Put Two Fiber Optic Audio Cables Into One Fiber Optic Input

Cosolidating two optical cables for use in one input can be done inexpensively.

Many receivers have limited digital audio inputs. Having a single optical input can be potentially limiting in the age of digital audio. However, inexpensive devices exist to consolidate or split a pair of optical feeds, making the single input on the receiver a virtual non-issue. Once connected, two digital optical inputs can be used alternately, with no loss in sound quality.

Things You'll Need

• Optical splitter
• Optical cables (x3)
• Optical digital-equipped receiver
• Fiber optic-equipped source devices (x2)

Instructions

1. Locate the single optical digital input on the back of the receiver. Remove the plastic cap on the input (if present) and the protective caps on each optical cable.

2. Plug a short optical cable into the input. Plug the other end into the single input terminal on the optical splitter.

3. Connect an additional optical cable to each of the two inputs on the optical splitter. Connect the other end of the optical cables to the individual fiber optic-equipped source devices.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not operate both digital-equipped devices at once, to avoid potentially speaker-damaging noise bursts or damage to the digital input board.

References

• Integrated Publishing: Fiber Optic Couplers

Resources

• HDTV Italy: Optical Splitter/Combiner Image