TOSLINK red laser S/PDIF cable fixes
 

Not really a fix.

I had to take apart some laser carrier cables and splitters.

Cheap stuff, so wasn't hard to figure.

The input-output laser carrier connections is a matter of 64-ths an
inch.

You can take two of those plastic covered laser carrier wires,
carefully, splice or rather hold together and achieve your own signal
continuity: A powered and connected DAC then kicks in with a signal
present.

Problems are those wires are small, not very thick.

Besides a protective covering, over the fiber optic cable, there's
spring-loaded metal sleeves on some connections;- some are molded and
fitted.

What happens, is that fiber optic cable may slip around, inside cable
covers and end-connections, for some resultant slop and leeway, at the
optic cable mating connectors for distancing itself, farther or closer
to an exact sleeve's end. IOW the cable is protruding from the sleeve
or slipped back inside of it. And it's also out of tolerance and will
not work to mate in a connection.

Doesn't take much for these optic cables to lose it.

And then there's the solution: Got to slip and slide that inside
cable for making that exact tolerance, a somewhat gentle touch, in
matching up for signal continuity. While both carriers are
electronically active, of course.

Not much to see what's happening, to do it. A magnifier and prying
apart an optic splitter unit, I'd bought, which went bad for
examination.

Otherwise, wait for weeks a cheap Chinese replacement to ship in;- or,
pay 500-1000% jobber market-ups on a chance they're selling something
domestically stocked, (likely import production), just better QC.
Maybe.

And that's just how optic carrier stuff is: Potentially more delicate
than usual connections.