Okay, let's be honest. Who else feels slightly betrayed by their shiny, supposedly "smart" LG TV? You get it home, unbox it with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning... only to discover something's missing.
Specifically, the optical digital audio out. Yep, that little glowing port. Vanished. Poof! Like a magician’s rabbit, but way less cute.
The Great Optical Escape
Seriously, LG, what gives? I thought we were friends. I trusted you with my streaming binges and my questionable taste in reality TV.
Now, I'm staring at the back of this sleek screen, feeling like I've been ghosted. An optical audio out? Apparently, it's gone on vacation without telling anyone.
Is it just me?
Maybe I'm the only one still clinging to this ancient technology. Am I officially an audio dinosaur? Is everyone else happily embracing HDMI ARC or eARC?
Probably. But hear me out! There's something comforting about that little optical cable. It’s a reliable, old friend.
It just *works*. Or, well, *used* to work, before my TV decided to stage this optical vanishing act.
My Unpopular Opinion
Here's where things might get controversial. I kind of... like optical audio. There, I said it!
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the benefits of HDMI ARC. Fewer cables, simpler setups. All that jazz.
But optical? It’s like the cassette tape of the digital audio world. Endearingly outdated, but dependable. Plus, it avoids some of the weird compatibility issues ARC can sometimes cough up.
The Quest for Sound
So, now what? I'm left with a beautiful LG TV that seemingly doesn't want to play nicely with my beloved soundbar. Cue the frustration.
I guess it's time to dive deep into the world of HDMI ARC, hoping I can figure out how to get everything to communicate without a major meltdown. Wish me luck!
Or maybe I’ll just buy a really long optical cable and run it from my Blu-ray player directly to the soundbar. A little clunky? Perhaps. But desperate times...
The Moral of the Story?
Check the back of your TV *before* you buy it. Make sure it has all the ports you need. Unless you enjoy the thrill of technological adaptation.
And LG, if you're listening, maybe consider throwing us optical audio holdouts a bone? A little port never hurt anyone.
Okay, maybe it did hurt the sleek design a little. But still! A guy can dream, right? I mean it's a digital audio format which has been around for so long.
For now, I'll be over here, wrestling with HDMI settings and trying to convince my soundbar that it actually *wants* to be friends with my TV. Send help (and maybe an optical cable splitter).
