TV optical output connectors
 

Are there slightly different sizes of connector ?

I use a Bluetooth link from the TV optical output via optical - micro USB cable, to a separate Bluetooth transmitter for hearing aids.

TV internal bluetooth is not used due to inhibiting the audio speakers when in activated - family requirement.

TV optical socket appears to be larger than that on the separate TV recorder; a loose, intermittent connection vs a snug fit.

Why a difference, what can be done to connect to the TV, which hopefully provides a better synced connection ?
No spare USB output from TV.

I have no experience of optical audio however I would :-

Look in the manual.
Look for a manual on google.
(Take some care for dodgy software. DON'T download software. Look at it in your browser or download PDF. If unsure post details here.)
Post EXACT Model number here. Usually in middle of back panel. I usually photograph it and transcribe at leisure.

e.g. I have a Toshiba "Model No. 32XV635D" here.
It also says elsewhere "32XV635DB", more is usually better. I suspect "B" is a country code.

Thanks,

Visiting some low-end phone and electrical shops this morning, I identified what appeared to be a slightly larger optical plug/cable, but the shop did not know of any different sizes.

The optical connection is identified on the Bluetooth transmitter as 'Toslink'; the connector (plug) as JIS-F05, which is compatible (interchangeable?) with 3.5 mm audio jack plugs, and it this which appears to differ from 'standard' audio connections.

The link has a picture; furthermore the text relating to mini Toslink appears to identify the incompatibility, which if so, then the required adaptor is for the input device, not the tv output. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK

Thus the search is for a 'mini Toslink' adapter - large female optical, not 3.5mm, to small male optical (Toslink) plug; nothing found so far on the web.

The tv output limitation is with the audio jack plug, not usb (my typo).

There's a mini version of the optical audio connector, which doesn't have the rectangular body, and looks more like a jack plug. See this cable which has one of each type. They both have the same round optical bit but I guess the mini connector would be wobbly if you were able to plug it into the larger socket.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7b9dd0d7de.png
The HDMI interface carries the audio. You have to plug it into an amplifier to split the audio from the picture, but there are boxes which do that.

HTH

Thanks,

Thoughts are moving away from a plug adapter to a cable based solution.

Thus what is required is a standard (larger) square optical plug for the tv output and either a mini square Toslink plug or 3.5mm audio jack for input to the Bluetooth transmitter - as you indicate. This assumes that an audio jack will work with an optical plug and does not require any 'splitting' (not understood).

An alternative may be a cable with 3.5mm at both ends which then assumes that the tv optical output is compatible; using the tv audio output (3.5mm) not an option because it inhibits the tv sound.

My reference to an audio jack plug was that the mini optical connector looks a bit like one. It won't work into a standard 3.5mm audio socket though - you'd need an adaptor with electronics inside, and you can't split an optical signal without going through some electronics either.

If your TV and Bluetooth device both have optical connectors then I'm sure you can find a cable that fits at both ends.

Does your TV have an HDMI audio output (sometimes labelled ARC). That would give you another option because you can get HDMI to bluetooth devices (at a cost of course).

A happy ending
 

I found an audio-optical cable in a local superstore.
1m length with 'larger' (standard) TV sized optical square plugs on each end. Thus a good TV connection.

The input to the Bluetooth device was resolved with a 3.5mm adapter plug which fitted over the square ended optical plug. Two adapters were in the cable pack.
The 3.5mm jack plug is mainly plastic with a short metal tip surrounding the optical core. This is know as a TOSLINK, which I understand is a Toshiba connection for some laptops and DVDs.

The TV required a configuration change to enable simultaneous 'speaker and audio' output opposed to 'optical' only which cut out the speaker with the optical plugged in.

Clear synced Bluetooth audio which switches on / off with the TV.
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