StarTech.com
StarTech.com 10 ft. (3 m) Digital Optical Audio Cable
Bottom line: The StarTech.com 10 ft. Digital Optical Audio Cable ($5.74 on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 22:15 UTC): Gold-plated metal shells with polished lens for a clean light path; main trade-off: thin jacket offers less crush protection than braided optical cables.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Gold-plated metal shells with polished lens for a clean light path
- ✓ Ultra-thin PVC jacket routes through tight wall channels and slim TV mounts
- ✓ Fiber optic transfer immune to EMI, RFI, and ground-loop hum
- ✓ 10 ft (3 m) reach covers TV-to-rack and console-to-receiver runs
Cons
- ✗ Thin jacket offers less crush protection than braided optical cables
- ✗ Toslink caps out below HDMI eARC for uncompressed Atmos and DTS:X
- ✗ Fiber cores can crack if bent sharply around a tight corner
- ✗ Male/male Toslink only, so mini-Toslink sources need a separate adapter
Manufacturer description
The StarTech.com THINTOS10 is a 10 ft (3 m) Toslink digital optical audio cable built for setups where a stiff, thick optical run simply will not fit. Both ends terminate in male Toslink (SPDIF) connectors with gold-plated metal shells and a polished lens, so the light path stays clean from your source to your receiver, soundbar, or DAC. Because the signal travels as light through fiber rather than as current through copper, this StarTech.com optical cable is immune to the EMI and RFI pickup and the ground-loop hum that plague analog interconnects near power bricks, dimmers, and retro CRT…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored StarTech.com 10 ft. Digital Optical Audio Cable using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the audio & midi category. StarTech.com's audio & midi lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for audio & midi of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What connectors are on each end of this cable?
Both ends are male Toslink (SPDIF) optical connectors with gold-plated metal shells and a polished lens. It is a straight male-to-male cable, so a mini-Toslink source needs an adapter.
How long is the StarTech.com THINTOS10?
It is 10 feet, or 3 meters, which is enough to run from a wall-mounted TV down to an AV receiver or from a console to a soundbar across the room.
Will this work with my soundbar, receiver, or DAC?
Yes, if the device has a standard Toslink optical audio port. Toslink is a universal digital audio standard, so check that both your source and your audio device have a square optical port.
Is it good enough for a retro setup near CRTs and power supplies?
That is where fiber optic shines. The signal travels as light, not current, so it resists EMI and RFI pickup and does not carry ground-loop hum between components.
Key Features
- 2x Toslink (SPDIF) Male connectors
- Gold-plated metal shell connectors with polished lens
- Ultra-thin PVC jacket
- Superior resistance to EMI/RFI and ground loop interference
- Ultra thin and light weight
- Ideal for installations where space is tight or limited
Full Specifications
| Brand | StarTech.com |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Model | THINTOS10 |
| Cable Type | Composite |
| Item Shape | Round |
| Model Name | 10ft Toslink Digital SPDIF Audio Cable |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Item Length | 10 Feet |
| Part Number | THINTOS10 |
| Connector Type | TOSLINK |
| Item Type Name | Audio Cable |
| Number of Pins | 2 |
| Outer Material | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Ultra-Thin, Lightweight |
| Connector Gender | Male-to-Male |
| Specification Met | No |
| Compatible Devices | Audio Device, CD Player, DVD Player, Home Theater System, MiniDisc Player |
| Data Transfer Rate | 1 Gigabits Per Second |
| Included Components | 1 10 ft Toslink Digital Optical SPDIF Audio Cable |
| Full listing title | StarTech.com 10 ft. (3 m) Digital Optical Audio Cable - Toslink Digital Optical SPDIF - Ultra-Thin - Male/Male (THINTOS10), Black |
Ready to buy?
StarTech.com 10 ft. (3 m) Digital Optical Audio Cable - Toslink Digital Optical SPDIF - Ultra-Thin - Male/Male (THINTOS10), Black is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
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