Optical is a legacy connection for people who haven't bothered updating their equipment in years. Might as well support composite video, too.
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Nintendo Switch doesn't support Optical Audio out....
- Thread starter hlhbk
- Start date
Optical is a legacy connection for people who haven't bothered updating their equipment in years. Might as well support composite video, too.
Optical? Given the size of the dock and the machine itself and the fact that optical ports are pretty obsolete these days, I can't say I'm in any way shocked. Should we complain about it not having an RF port, too?
Has any Nintendo machine ever carried an optical port? I don't remember seeing any such thing.
Has any Nintendo machine ever carried an optical port? I don't remember seeing any such thing.
OnionPowder
Member
Transistor
Banned
Except the PS4 slim.
Besides, what was the last Nintendo console that included optical? Why are people even surprised by this?
A lot of high-end audio equipment sold today still uses an optical connection.
It has the advantage of complete electrical isolation so things like ground loops cannot occur.
However you'll only find it used with 2 channel equipment, since the TOSLINK spec can only do lossy 5.1 audio.
Technically, it should be possible to do 5.1 or even 7.1 lossless over optical now, as newer optical devices can support up to 2 channels of 24/192 audio, which could be divided into 8 channels of 48kHz or 6 channels of up to 64kHz audio.
It doesn't surprise me that Nintendo have dropped the optical connection though, and for anyone who is using an older 5.1 receiver that does not support HDMI, it would be better to purchase an HDMI to analog audio converter box - not just for the Switch.
Most old receivers also have 5.1 analog inputs and that is and uncompressed connection, while optical is not.
It won't work with 5.1 sound. It will work with stereo.
Pokemaniac
Member
Switch only outputs raw LPCM. Unless you're using a cable with enough capacity or a box that can compress the signal into a proprietary format, you're not getting more than 2 channels of audio.
Seth Enosh
Member
It doesn't.
You can run a 3.5mm cable from your headphones to your tv, to your receiver, or to an aftermarket breakout box like the hdmi/optical boxes posted in this thread.
FrankWza
Member
Most tvs output 2.0 from optical
Composite is analog. Optical is digital.
Most (all?) do output optical, but anyone who cares about surround sound won't be using it.
This.
Any source on this?
Pokemaniac
Member
They don't specifically call out any special surround sound format on their specs page, and Nintendo usually doesn't pay licenses for these kinds of things if they can avoid it, so it's not officially confirmed, yet. Given the information we have, it's the most reasonable conclusion, however, and expecting otherwise is likely setting yourself up for disappointment.
Transistor
Banned
It was the same with the Wii U. I highly doubt youll be seeing DD or DTS on the Switch. Especially with the lack of optical.
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/hardware/switch/specs/index.html#1
Linear PCM 5.1ch Compatible, Output via HDMI
Dropped? More like never used it to begin with.
Thanks! I just order a Pioneer HtIB at Amazon just to get ready for the Switch. Any help trying to see if It's totally ready for 5.1 PCM? I think it is, but I want to be 100% sure. Thanks
This is the model Pioneer HTP-074
Transistor
Banned
Any modern HTIB will be able to do 5.1 PCM at a minimum. That one will do it jsut fine.
Thanks!, So I guess I'm ready for some BotW Surround glory!