Reddit mentions of FosPower (3 Feet) 24K Gold Plated Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Optical S/PDIF Audio Cable with Metal Connectors & Strain-Relief PVC Jacket

Something like this would be what you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_2eyIwb7BGSKM4

The Chromecast Audio's 3.5mm jack doubles as an optical digital output. You could use this cable and connect it to your receiver and let the receiver act as the DAC. That would be better than using bluetooth and better than using a 3.5mm to RCA cable (which would mean the Chromecast Audio's DAC is used).

Awesome.

So, you'll want something like this. It has a 3.5mm jack out and supports tons of streaming services as well as bluetooth. If you can find a chromecast audio anywhere, that might even be better, especially if you don't need to talk to it.

For speakers, these ascend acoustics will be your best bet. They're awesome speakers, with detailed highs and plenty of low end extension.

If they'll be close to a wall, or if you'd just rather order from amazon, these elacs are fantastic speakers. The front port means you can put them close to the wall, so that won't be a problem. They're a very easy to listen to speaker IMO. I have them and I like them a lot.

These monitor audio speakers will sound a bit better (better detail, tighter midrange, etc) but will have a bit less low end extension.

These by HSU might be a gamble. Reviews are scarce, but the ones that are out there are great. Mine aren't here yet so I can't give you any more info than that. Sorry.

Last one (and my personal favorite) is a pair of kef q150. Stunning details, low and tight bass, amazing vocals, the whole 9. They'd be closer to the top of your budget, but they are absolutely fantastic speakers. I really like them a lot.

That budget is kinda in a 'no mans land' for speakers. It's between where the 'budget' speakers are and where the 'high end' speakers start, if that makes sense. Those are pretty much all the ones in that price range, but those are some pretty solid options.

You'll need a way to power them as well.

If you don't have tons of space, a little chip amp could do the trick. I've got a bunch of those and they're all great, but not the best.

Your next best bet would be a 2 channel receiver. Even better, if you're okay with refurbished, a Denon receiver would be great.

To connect the speakers to the receiver/amp, you'll need speaker wire. You can cut it and strip it with a knife or scissors, but this will make the job easier.

Oh, and you'll need this to connect the echo to the receiver. And this one if you go with the chromecast audio.

How does this all look?

This is what you want to get audio to your speakers, it's called a DAC, (better, more expensive options are available, but that's the best you're gonna do for under $100 lol) and this is the cable to connect the two devices (you'll also need RCA cables)

This will get you video to your projector.

Unfortunately since it looks like you're using powered monitors, you'll need a pre-amp to control the volume.

You may be thinking wow that's a lot of stuff, and it doesn't even come with a remote! And you're absolutely right. Unfortunately, the only thing that does all that is a full blow receiver, which get quite expensive and are usually aimed at surround sound systems. Most receivers don't like powered monitors though, so you'd have to get a very special one.

This is where you realize that passive speakers are what you really want, and you blow hundreds of dollars on speakers and equipment and you become an audiophile. Luckily there's a bunch of guides to get you started over on /r/zeos. But the stuff I listed earlier should let you jerry-rig a working set up while you save up :P

First double check that your PC doesn't have a combo jack (3.5mm analog and 3.5mm optical in the same port). a lot of modern PCs (especially macs) have this and if that's the case this is your best bet for audio. This is what you'd want.

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If you're using HDMI output (especially if you're using a receiver or multiple HDMI inputs), something like this is a good choice.

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If not, your next best bet is a internal soundcard with optical output (like this one) if it's a desktop, or an external USB soundcard with an optical output if it's a laptop (like this one).

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If neither of these work, and/or you're on a device that only has a 3.5mm analog output and nothing else, you can use one of these with one of these adapters. It's known as an analog to digital converter (ADC) and will take in analog (RCA/3.5mm) and convert it to a digital format like optical. This isn't super recommended, as it add extra conversion steps to the process and will reduce the sound quality of your soundbar somewhat unless you pay out extra money for a high quality professional ADC.

It depends on the model. https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202730

You'll need an optical cable that plugs into the headphone jack. Something like this: https://www.amazon.ca/FosPower-Toslink-Digital-Connectors-Strain-Relief/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=pd_sbs_504_1

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The Chromecast Audio already has a digital audio out. You can get a mini Toslink cable like this and make it work with your amp: https://www.amazon.com/FosPower-Toslink-Digital-Connectors-Strain-Relief/dp/B00T8HWUVS

You can also look into a Raspberry Pi based system along with one of these for a toslink output: https://www.hifiberry.com/products/digiplus/

The 3.5mm output on the Chromecast Audio also doubles as a mini Toslink (digital optical) output. You are probably more familiar with the regular size Toslink digital output that is more common. Here is an adapter that takes you from mini Toslink to Toslink.

If your DAC only accepts a Coax digital input, though, you will need to take that a step further with something like this that converts from Toslink to Coax.

I have not used either of these products, specifically, and therefore cannot attest to their quality or performance. You may want to research their quality and/or consider similar alternatives from other manufactures. I just wanted to provide you with some examples.

Personally, I use just CCA with 3.5mm to RCA analog output right into my amp, and find its internal DAC decent enough for my purposes.

3 x HDMI inputs
1 x HDMI output (supporting ARC)
1 x 3.5mm Analogue/digital combi

Its there in the 3.5 jack. Just need a special cable thing:

https://www.amazon.com/FosPower-Toslink-Digital-Connectors-Strain-Relief/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41QcDXYtJOL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=E6J4G8BM6TAZS69JVXF8

Basically the optical lens is at the bottom of the barrel jack. That "cable" in the link will take the standard square TOSlink on one end and connect into the 3.5 jack on the other.

The Chromecast audio has a good number of compatible apps. But the Bluetooth could potentially be easier in certain situations.

I can still control the volume on my phone when connecting to mine. I used a mini toslink to Optical cable :

FosPower (3 Feet) 24K Gold Plated Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Optical S/PDIF Audio Cable with Metal Connectors & Strain-Relief PVC Jacket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.l16Ab2CG1BC0

If for some reason you can't, you could always connect it to your AD18 via the 3.5mm cable it comes with. It would essentially use the DAC on the CCA which isn't that bad.

You could try an audio out to optical connector, something like this

You got me in the right direction though.
digital optical to 3.5mm

I've used this for my Playbar; seems to work fine:

FosPower (3 Feet) 24K Gold Plated Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Optical S/PDIF Audio Cable with Metal Connectors & Strain-Relief PVC Jacket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VyGJzbER6RQJE

Then in that case I would just use optical audio cable between the mi box and the receiver make sure the optical audio cable has the little adapter mini toslink with it for the mi box.

I found this cable ...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yM-hybBYH846N

I thought this was a digital to 3.5 but I was mistaken I think. Although maybe I could use an adapter like this? And yes I don't know the difference and am pretty ignorant about this kind of stuff.

Yeah I have enough mixer inputs but I need to get an adapter to convert my PS4 and WiiU audio into 3.5mm. Could I use something like this? Or do I need a full on converter like this?

Edit: Nvm I do need to box.

Just had a look there. Indeed the tv has an optical out but the motherboard I/O on the PC does not. Will I need to get something like this for the PC?

The 3.5mm optical cable cable is digital-only. It can't convert a digital signal to an analog one. The combination port also carries an analog signal for a 3.5mm miniplug stereo TRS or miniplug stereo + mic TRRS, but those are capabilities of the port hardware, not the cable.

Edit: I reread the question, and I get that you're looking for the jack hardware. No idea about that, sorry.