How to input S/PDIF?

[xtknight]

What is S/PDIF? Do I need a receiver to convert the data to something usable by my speakers? Is this a standard speaker input? How much does a S/PDIF input part cost?

Thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

What are you trying to connect to what?

soundcard -> speakers
DAT player -> soundcard
puffin -> smelt

???

 

[deathwalker]

SPDIF is a digital output port. You could connect it to the digital input of a receiver for use in your home entertainment system.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Sony / Phillips Digital InterFace.

"What are you trying to connect to what?

soundcard -> speakers
DAT player -> soundcard
puffin -> smelt

???"

 

[Valkerie]

SPDIF is a connection for a receiver. It will generally offer better sound quality and help with signal interpretation for higher quality audio, digital most likely. It's sort of like an optical connection, except with an RCA/3.5mm input/out. I still like optical better though, 'cuz the cool light beam that travels through the cords...

 

[moretoys]

The benefit of spdif is the sound quality is as good as the source where the older analog connections could have distortion from the sound card or other components. You need a quality set of digital computer speakers, or a home theater receiver for it to be of real value, imho.
Most soundcards do not provide a good effects quality for games though as they don't encode the effects to the 5.1 or 7.1 channels. That is why many gamers use the analog outputs. I believe many newer games are coming with 5.1 support though. It works very well for dvd movie playback if you have the software to support it.
I use it in my old Nforce 2 MB that has soundstorm (is one of those exceptions that can real time encode). There is also the ability to record from an external spdif source, but few people use it as for DVD & CD it is easier to put the disk in the computer.

Hope this helps...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Valkerie
SPDIF is a connection for a receiver. It will generally offer better sound quality and help with signal interpretation for higher quality audio, digital most likely. It's sort of like an optical connection, except with an RCA/3.5mm input/out. I still like optical better though, 'cuz the cool light beam that travels through the cords...

uhhh...

Isn't it always digital?

Digital coaxial and toslink (optical) are both SPDIF?

 

[xtknight]

Sorry, forgot about this thread for days. 😱 I was going to input S/PDIF from an HDTV capture card (MDP-130). I later realized I'd rather get a 7800 and plus I didn't need the external output because I could just play it through my sound card with the software.

But, I still wonder if there are cheap devices to input it in case I ever had to do it.

Thanks.