Proposed soundbar - check

MyRealNameToo

Out of the two listed I'd go for the cheaper QED one as a better brand and also lower price. With free choice would probably buy the Amazon Basics one for £7 and there are some unbranded ones for less on Amazon

ballyblack

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VENTION-Optical-Toslink-Soundbar-KabelDirekt/dp/B09SZ319SH/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=34IJV1EBJJ14M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tro50_rZVJflWqyyR5DSmIFifqXZhNIdJWqG5GCF-gAq5kFxo0CwQgt3kAReKeXPfDxOz7-LKt9Ozh981wCqxGcA9Z_Jr59moru6GZmbIxdsQmg0_Xkgo7bYay7cgbXqHb19V30mvhp0JUNTJEAJAePn6NwhnMg8UY0DOGYgDgqUcP6FohoiGwgWVZoYLTHKzDo3AutHwtAGauGUUrenAQMqzqbOF7BJ2NVetTN3nJc.qt0x85EVrnj0iolVMjfDGveJqRLO4_qjy9H-3ksw5Ks&dib_tag=se&keywords=optical+cable+for+soundbar+to+tv&qid=1769070875&sprefix=optical+cable,aps,156&sr=8-3-spons&aref=wjSTNQgG0g&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

RumRat

Doesn't really matter which one you choose, it won't make any difference. Get whichever is most convenient for you.
You can get them for as low as £3 on Amazon but the ones around the £5 mark are all good.

JSmithy45AD

ballyblack said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VENTION-Optical-Toslink-Soundbar-KabelDirekt/dp/B09SZ319SH/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=34IJV1EBJJ14M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tro50_rZVJflWqyyR5DSmIFifqXZhNIdJWqG5GCF-gAq5kFxo0CwQgt3kAReKeXPfDxOz7-LKt9Ozh981wCqxGcA9Z_Jr59moru6GZmbIxdsQmg0_Xkgo7bYay7cgbXqHb19V30mvhp0JUNTJEAJAePn6NwhnMg8UY0DOGYgDgqUcP6FohoiGwgWVZoYLTHKzDo3AutHwtAGauGUUrenAQMqzqbOF7BJ2NVetTN3nJc.qt0x85EVrnj0iolVMjfDGveJqRLO4_qjy9H-3ksw5Ks&dib_tag=se&keywords=optical+cable+for+soundbar+to+tv&qid=1769070875&sprefix=optical+cable,aps,156&sr=8-3-spons&aref=wjSTNQgG0g&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

A slightly cleaned up link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VENTION-Optical-Toslink-Soundbar-KabelDirekt/dp/B09SZ319SH/?th=1

That is all they need, an optical cable either works or it doesn't.

Yorkie1

Thanks everyone again 

MyRealNameToo

JSmithy45AD said:
That is all they need, an optical cable either works or it doesn't.

Agree that digital cables work or dont work and that the £189 1m AudioQuest cable isnt going to make any difference to the sound but one thing where cables can vary is durability. 

For a soundbar that'll be plugged in once and never touched again probably not too much of a worry but something more often plugged in and unplugged it can be a consideration but Im still talking about paying sub £10 just maybe not the £3 one. 

Grumpy_chap

MyRealNameToo said:

the £189 1m AudioQuest cable 

Wot - nearly £200 for a cable!!!

MyRealNameToo

Grumpy_chap said:

MyRealNameToo said:

the £189 1m AudioQuest cable 

Wot - nearly £200 for a cable!!!

The non-optical version is £600 https://www.richersounds.com/chord-company-epic-digital-solid-rca-to-rca-1m/ 

And this is RicherSounds, a good company but dont do top tier stuff. You can also get the £41,975 kettle lead per https://shop.loud-clear.co.uk/products/nordostodin2powercord?variant=39416381014149&country=GB&currency=GBP

RumRat

Yep, Audiophiles seem to be one of the most ripped off sections of society. 

Grumpy_chap

MyRealNameToo said:

The non-optical version is £600 https://www.richersounds.com/chord-company-epic-digital-solid-rca-to-rca-1m/ 

And this is RicherSounds, a good company but dont do top tier stuff. You can also get the £41,975 kettle lead per https://shop.loud-clear.co.uk/products/nordostodin2powercord?variant=39416381014149&country=GB&currency=GBP

Seems perfectly good value to me.  Nothing is more important than a quality cuppa so I was about to rush out and order one of those kettle leads to ensure that I have only the very best in every part of the tea making process but, unfortunately, the socket is not the same profile as my kettle.

Seriously, what do these top-end cables actually do that is of value in the domestic setting?  I can understand there could be some critical industrial applications where signal interference can have highly negative outcomes or audio reproduction scenarios but, in a domestic setting, the acoustics of the room will more than outweigh any miniscule reproduction loss through the cable.

That said, I have experienced issues with poor quality cables for VGA and HDMI applications on PC / display connectivity.  The most recent was only yesterday when my wife had a new display switch and set up using the HDMI cable supplied with the new switch and it did not work.  Swapped back to the cable she had before the new switch arrived and everything worked as it should.  That is quite possibly simply a damaged cable / misconnected pin.  Not worth investigating as the whole lot was only £39 for the new switch box including the non-functioning cable.  I have also had cheap ethernet cables simply not work but often feel they still offer value as you can buy a pack of 10 online for pennies so just discard any that are DoA.