Connect Optical or Coaxial Laptop to 3.5mm or RCA TV Audio

Your Laptop (Optical Out)

OR

Your Laptop (Coaxial Out)

Your TV (3.5mm In AKA "Aux In")

OR

Your TV (Composite (RCA) In)

While not the most ideal solution, sometimes you don't get to choose what ports you have to work with. In the event you have an optical or coaxial output on your laptop and a 3.5mm input or a composite (RCA) input on your TV, you'll need three of the following five items to successfully connect your laptop audio to your TV's speakers.

Optical (Toslink) Cable

The optical cable carries a digital signal from your computer to the adapter, where it gets converted to an analog signal. One end of the optical cable will go into your computer's OUTPUT and the other end will go into the digital-to-analog adapter's INPUT.

OR

Coaxial Cable

The coaxial cable carries a digital signal from your computer to the adapter, where it gets converted to an analog signal. One end of the coaxial cable will go into your computer's OUTPUT and the other end will go into the digital-to-analog adapter's INPUT.

Digital (Optical/Coaxial) to Analog (3.5mm/RCA) Converter

A digital to analog converter is required to convert the optical or coaxial cable's digital signal to that of an analog signal that may be utilized by a 3.5mm cable or two Composite (RCA) cables. This particular adapter only works one way. This means the optical or coaxial cable must leave your laptop's OUTPUT port to plug into the adapter's INPUT side, and the 3.5mm or RCA cable must leave the adapter's OUTPUT and plug into your TV's INPUT port.

3.5mm (Mini-jack) Cable

One of the most universal stereo audio cables available, the 3.5mm cable can be applied to just about everything. iPods, smart phones, laptops, and TVs are just a few devices that have the ability to utilize a 3.5mm cable in some fashion. This cable will plug into the adapter's OUTPUT port, with the other end plugging into the TV's INPUT port.

OR

Composite (RCA) Cable

Alternatively, if your TV doesn't have a 3.5mm input, chances are it has a composite input. This cable requires two ends for stereo or one for mono. For mono sound, plug one end of the white-tipped cable into the digital/analog converter's OUTPUT port and the other end into your TV's INPUT port. For stereo, do the same with the red-tipped cable. Once all the cables are properly connected to your laptop and TV through the adapter, your sound should come through perfectly!