SPDIF .. optical audio

[112]

What exactly is the SPDIF used for? It came with my mobo, but I don't see any use for it? What equipment uses the spdif plugs? Thanks.

 

[Gunbuster]

Digital audio out to speakers or a reciever/decoder

 

[shr]

Digital in from a decent CD/MD player otherwise your go Digital/Analog/Digital conversion thru cheap DAs

 

[Woodchuck2000]

SPDIF Input - Used for digital input from a digital source such as a CD player, DVD player, Minidisc etc.
SPDIF Ouput - Used to output to a digital recorder/amplifer. I use mine to hook up to my receiver and also to record from CDs to my portable Minidisc player.

 

[madthumbs]

I use a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. The spdif output to my dolby digital reciever sounds much better than internally decoded ac3 audio. If you watch movies using your computer you can get better sound by running it to your dolby digital reciever as long as you select spdif out in your media player. Some players such as Sasami2k do not support spdif out.

 

[StattlichPassat]

If I'm correct, you can hook it up to a receiver's optical input and get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround or better depending on the chipset and the source audio type.

 

[chizow]

You guys are using mini-plug to toslink/optical cables right? Pisses me off, my $30 monster cable is going to collect dust now and now I'll have to shell out some more bux on a piece of cable

Chiz

 

[LikeLinus]

Can you get 1/8" jack to Optical?? I'm getting my TB SC this week (was using a SB Live) and i assumed i'd just use an 1/8 to RCA and use my digitcal coaxial on my Denon 3802 receiver. How have others been doing it

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus01
Can you get 1/8" jack to Optical?? I'm getting my TB SC this week (was using a SB Live) and i assumed i'd just use an 1/8 to RCA and use my digitcal coaxial on my Denon 3802 receiver. How have others been doing it

Here's what I'll be
hunting for at BB. I'm not sure a mini ---> RCA to coax in will keep the digital signal intact, but I have no idea.

Chiz

 

[Pariah]

mini to RCA is a pretty standard used cable for coax, there is no conversion to coax. Mini to TOS is a rarely used conversion and should only be used if no other options exist.

 

[chizow]

So if I get a mini to RCA for my spdif out and plug it into the coax in on my receiver the digital signal will be intact (ie. I will get 5.1 DTS on my receiver?). This would be a pretty big difference IMO as I know monster charges an arm and a leg for anything with the toslink optical header.

TIA,

Chiz

 

[Pariah]

yea, you can use pretty much any $5 cable from radio shack that fits the mini to RCA characteristics and it will work fine.

 

[LikeLinus]

I've been using the Digital Coaxial input of my denon from my SBLive. It sounds great so far. I've got most of the parts for an HTPC on its way...so that's why i wanted to be sure i was doing it right. That's why i got a TB SC cause It's supposed to have better music SQ. We shall see!

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: 112
What exactly is the SPDIF used for? It came with my mobo, but I don't see any use for it? What equipment uses the spdif plugs? Thanks.

I use the optical SPDIF out on my Aureal Vortex2 to transfer music to my MD-Recorder . I also use optical to connect my DVD Player to my receiver, though I could've used digital coaxial as well