Hello all.
I'm trying to get audio working via toslink cable and a soundbar. I mostly use headphones, and for years I had failing Logitech PC speakers (connected with standard audio outs from the mobo). I finally sent those to recycling and made do with just the headphones. But I want to use speakers again, and I have a couple of soundbars lying around so I thought I'd switch to one of those and use the motherboard's optical out. The first setup was using an old Sony HT-CT100 soundbar/subwoofer-receiver device. It seemed to work fine for the past couple of weeks. However, I did have to come to terms with the Toslink only ever transferring 2.0 channel audio. That's fine, for any real immersive applications I will use my headphones.
Ok, all was well until today when I couldn't get any audio from this output device. I double-checked all connections and verified the correct device was selected as default at the OS level, and that the 3rd party mixer I use (EarTrumpet) had the correct device selected. It appeared as though the audio was being put out, but nothing was being received by Sony. It would occasionally make an instant "burst" of sound when I changed output devices sometimes.
At this point, I thought I'd test the stand-alone, more modern Onn soundbar since the Sony is 14 years old and not made for this use-case. I got the Onn bar hooked up and all seemed well. The sound even quality seemed better than the Sony, much clearer. Anyway, after carrying on like this for an hour or so, the issue returned, but much different. Now, I will be listening to audio (mostly Youtube from Firefox, but also system sounds from a browser game), when all of a sudden it switches to loud static, like full white-noise static. The only thing that seems to fix it is switching to a different audio output device, and then back to the Realtek Optical. It will then play fine for 15 minutes, half-hour, etc. until once again reverting to static suddenly.
Please let me know any additional specs that would be helpful.
Here's what I've tried:
I'm trying to get audio working via toslink cable and a soundbar. I mostly use headphones, and for years I had failing Logitech PC speakers (connected with standard audio outs from the mobo). I finally sent those to recycling and made do with just the headphones. But I want to use speakers again, and I have a couple of soundbars lying around so I thought I'd switch to one of those and use the motherboard's optical out. The first setup was using an old Sony HT-CT100 soundbar/subwoofer-receiver device. It seemed to work fine for the past couple of weeks. However, I did have to come to terms with the Toslink only ever transferring 2.0 channel audio. That's fine, for any real immersive applications I will use my headphones.
Ok, all was well until today when I couldn't get any audio from this output device. I double-checked all connections and verified the correct device was selected as default at the OS level, and that the 3rd party mixer I use (EarTrumpet) had the correct device selected. It appeared as though the audio was being put out, but nothing was being received by Sony. It would occasionally make an instant "burst" of sound when I changed output devices sometimes.
At this point, I thought I'd test the stand-alone, more modern Onn soundbar since the Sony is 14 years old and not made for this use-case. I got the Onn bar hooked up and all seemed well. The sound even quality seemed better than the Sony, much clearer. Anyway, after carrying on like this for an hour or so, the issue returned, but much different. Now, I will be listening to audio (mostly Youtube from Firefox, but also system sounds from a browser game), when all of a sudden it switches to loud static, like full white-noise static. The only thing that seems to fix it is switching to a different audio output device, and then back to the Realtek Optical. It will then play fine for 15 minutes, half-hour, etc. until once again reverting to static suddenly.
Please let me know any additional specs that would be helpful.
Here's what I've tried:
- Disabled all other unused audio devices
- in Windows Sound settings: disabled all advanced options (i.e. "Audio Enhancements", "Spatial Sound")
- in Control Panel sound settings: disable "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"
- in Device Manager: removed device, rebooted and verified device reinstalled; verified drivers were updated
- Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.3155
- Motherboard = Asus Rog Strix Z-590E Gaming Wifi
- Soundbar = Onn model 100015716
