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Avid Contributor III
April 9, 2026
Answered

Optical Cable Connection From Amp 2.1 to my Computer to make Computer an audio source

I want to use audio, radio stream, all audio things on my Thinkpad laptop as an audio source for my 2.1 amp system…. (from usb-c out on computer to optical in on sonos)….is this possible? If so how please?

Thanks you…!!!!…..Bill Lutz

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Jamie A
Jamie AAnswer
Sonos Staff
April 13, 2026

Closing as a duplicate of the following thread: 

 

31 replies

jgatie
April 9, 2026

The Amp’s digital input is HDMI-ARC. It doesn’t have an optical in.  Note: The Amp is the latest version of a Sonos amplifier.  If you own a previous model Connect:Amp, it has no digital input, HDMI-ARC or otherwise.  All Sonos amplifiers do have analog inputs, but those are not suitable for real time audio from a PC due to buffering which causes a 75ms delay..

wirlAuthor
Avid Contributor III
April 9, 2026

My apologies….!!!….I also have a Connect gen 1...that is where optical in is...it is also part of my system...so the path would be usb out from laptop to Connect gen 1 optical...Sorry..!!…..will this work?

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
April 9, 2026

Edit: that input you mentioned isn't an input, it is an output, you would need to use the analog inputs.

As long as you have a USB to optical converter and don’t mind the delay. yes.

wirlAuthor
Avid Contributor III
April 9, 2026

Thanks….no...I don’t mind the delay...it will be the sole content at that time going into sonos...Thanks Alot..!!!!

jgatie
April 9, 2026

Connect also has no optical in, it has an optical out.  There are no Sonos devices with an optical in.

wirlAuthor
Avid Contributor III
April 10, 2026

so a better method would be usb out from laptop to rca splitter to phono inputs on 2.1 amp?

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
April 10, 2026

You don't want a splitter, or Y cable, that only gets you two copies of one channel. 

You want a cable that is stereo, fits your USB device on one end and has two, one left, one right, RCA plugs on the other end.

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Gold-plated-Headphone-Compatible-Controller/dp/B00LM2Y2U4/ref=sr_1_3

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Headphone-Converter-Compatible-Samsung/dp/B082WG5VTK/ref=sr_1_8

Many other brands and options.

buzz
Grand Maestro
April 10, 2026

I wouldn’t count on a USB computer port staying synchronized with your screen activity. A better choice would be to use a dedicated analog output, such as a headphone jack. An HDMI port is another potential choice. Overall I’m not keen on attempting to use a computer as an analog audio source  because web page audio might take precedence or even a “bong” from an incoming message.

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
April 10, 2026

There is a group for Sonos as computer speakers, not something I'm going to do.

https://en.community.sonos.com/groups/sonos-products-as-pc-speakers-229137

 

wirlAuthor
Avid Contributor III
April 10, 2026

OK...Great info..thanks…

How about 3.5 headphone jack out from my lenovo to rca left and right to amp phono inputs via splitter?

Thanks everyone..!!