Toslink, HDMI to RCA

[totem]

Seldom posting member on this side of AK, and I have a question or two.

I have a Panasonic plasma that I wanted to run audio out to a Linn amp with RCA in only, the TV has an optical out in addition to HDMI.

I picked up an optical to RCA converter and connected it, the optical connection to the TV did not seem to engage as well as the opposite end into the converter, tried various orientations etc.

I thought an optical connection was universal in shape?

Although I do get an audio signal to the amp the output is much lower than
any other source into the amp.

Is this typical of using an optical to RCA converter?

The other option I hadn't considered at the time was to try the HDMI out to RCA into the amp.
Is there a particular HDMI to RCA converter needed? Or simply an HDMI to RCA cable interface.

Rick

Analog guy in a digital world.