Toslink headphone jack questions on mac

[ve7dfi]

I am trying to use the Toslink (optical) output on Macs. Does anyone know where I can get the Toslink(headphone jack) to optical cable (square) adapter?
Or even a Toslink to optical cable?
What is the bitstream that comes from the Toslink output - is it only 2 CH stereo or can it be 5.1 or something else of a bigger bandwidth?
Has anyone had any experince using this optical output for audio or other uses? Any experience with the Apple TV optical output?
Is there any other way or device other than a Mac or Apple TV to get multichannel audio to an AVR?
Ultimately I would like to get uncompressed 5.1 audio from the internet if it is possible or even available.
Thanks
Robin

 

[chas_m]

I am trying to use the Toslink (optical) output on Macs. Does anyone know where I can get the Toslink(headphone jack) to optical cable (square) adapter?

Assuming your Mac has optical audio out (most recent ones do, but the latest MacBook Pro for example does not) this should answer your question: http://www.noproblemmac.com/blog/2014/0 ... -receiver/

Or even a Toslink to optical cable?

Any of the "high street" electronics and AV dealers should have them or be able to tell you where to get them: if you're in town, I'd say start with Atlas Sound on Yates and Vancouver.