The crappy thing works passively and has too much loss for it to be a reliable component.

So the split Toslink signal was so low as to cause the dropout you were seeing?

 

So the split Toslink signal was so low as to cause the dropout you were seeing?

Yes ... either that, or the amplifier input itself is too demanding. Bit I doubt it, the amp's a good brand, whilst the splitter is a junko-matic thingy.

Like I said, I bought an active splitter and I hope that solves this issue. I promise I'll be back with the results to make sure this thread gets closure .

 

Finally ...

The active Toslink splitter that I ordered arrived a couple of days ago. And I was finally able to finish the job of setting up my home theater. As expected, the new splitter solved all the glitches. The 75" Samsung TV delivers a beautifully sharp 4K image, btw.

But boy oh boy ... I had forgotten how arduous it was to do a proper wiring job. (Here's thinking of you, @nsaspook) And I mean hiding all the cabling the best one can, and always soldering all cable ends and protecting their joints using termofit tubing ... I never ever ever just twist them and wrap them with electrical tape. I've always thought that the best way to prevent future headaches is to always pay close attention to the way one does the wiring in each and every project.

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It took me two freaking days to install the rear speakers and run their wires around the room's perimeter by adhering them at the very edge where the wall and the ceiling meet. I used colored tape for this purpose. The tape's color being the same as that of the wall's, and things look acceptably ok. My house's walls and ceiling are made of brick and concrete, so running the wires through the walls is not a option.

After that, I spent about three hours organizing and arranging all the wires in as few bundles as possible, and then hiding said bundles behind the countertop that I had specially made for this purpose. It's not a perfect job, but it's very acceptable. And besides, I rent this house and I'm not going to dump too much money in it for perfection's sake.

The fireplace at the left is fake, and it's there merely for ornamental purposes. But I already bought one of this fake electric fireplace logs to make things look a little more attractive. And I also plan on placing a potted plant or something else in front of the router to hide it the best I can.

 

Finally ...

The active Toslink splitter that I ordered arrived a couple of days ago. And I was finally able to finish the job of setting up my home theater. As expected, the new splitter solved all the glitches. The 75" Samsung TV delivers a beautifully sharp 4K image, btw.

But boy oh boy ... I had forgotten how arduous it was to do a proper wiring job. (Here's thinking of you, @nsaspook) And I mean hiding all the cabling the best one can, and always soldering all cable ends and protecting their joints using termofit tubing ... I never ever ever just twist them and wrap them with electrical tape. I've always thought that the best way to prevent future headaches is to always pay close attention to the way one does the wiring in each and every project.

View attachment 286825​

It took me two freaking days to install the rear speakers and run their wires around the room's perimeter by adhering them at the very edge where the wall and the ceiling meet. I used colored tape for this purpose. The tape's color being the same as that of the wall's, and things look acceptably ok. My house's walls and ceiling are made of brick and concrete, so running the wires through the walls is not a option.

After that, I spent about three hours organizing and arranging all the wires in as few bundles as possible, and then hiding said bundles behind the countertop that I had specially made for this purpose. It's not a perfect job, but it's very acceptable. And besides, I rent this house and I'm not going to dump too much money in it for perfection's sake.

The fireplace at the left is fake, and it's there merely for ornamental purposes. But I already bought one of this fake electric fireplace logs to make things look a little more attractive. And I also plan on placing a potted plant or something else in front of the router to hide it the best I can.

Sweet. I'm sure it sounds great too.

 

Sweet. I'm sure it sounds great too.

There's a scene at the beginning of "Star Trek: Into Darkness", where the Enterprise emerges from the sea and then there's this volcano "implosion" from which Spock is rescued in the nick of time.

I swear the quality of the image and the sound of that scene makes it perfect for testing purposes.