This cable is cheap
Is the cable expensive?
I really wish that I was able to use HDMI, but I can't... so I had to go with optical.I have used optical cables in the past and they haven't been my favorite, but I was out of choices here so I gave it another go.This cable is cheap and works about the same as any other optical would, but I find that the sound that it sends is bad.  I have tried another optical cable belonging to my brother and the sound quality seems much better.  I don't know if it's a flaw in the cable or just due to the production or what.  The cable DOES work and it is a decent cable, but it just does a lackluster job on the sound quality end, it seems.In the end I've just decided to use the TV speakers for now, while I decide what kind of receiver to get (one that has an HDMI hookup). 