Best Mini PCs with Optical Out for HTPC & Digital Signage

The market for Mini PCs with native optical output (S/PDIF/TOSLINK) has transitioned into a highly specialized niche. While mainstream consumer brands like GEEKOM and MINISFORUM have largely phased out the port in favor of HDMI and USB-C audio, the feature persists in the industrial and B2B sectors, particularly in OPS (Open Pluggable Specification) units designed for digital signage and high-end interactive whiteboards.

Enthusiasts still actively seek these units for Home Theater (HTPC) setups to ensure galvanic isolation, which eliminates electrical noise and ground loops common in USB connections. For modern consumer hardware, the industry has shifted toward USB-to-TOSLINK bridges and HDMI audio extractors as the standard workarounds to maintain compatibility with legacy high-end audio receivers.

Detailed product lists and market shift analysis are available in the findings file below.