PC Peripherals What are S/PDIF ports used for?

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montylee

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Some new motherboards are coming with S/PDIF support which is basically a Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format.

So, can normal headphones or speakers be connected to these ports? or only devices having digital (optical) support be connected to these ports?
 
these spdif ports are used to output only a PCM/AC3/DTS or other digital stream.

yes, only other devices having an SPDIF digital input can be plugged in

SPDIF is not optical.It is Electrical. the optical link is another rival format developed by toshiba, and hence it being called TOSlink. but most of us call it optical anyway :P
 
either a home theatre reciever, or creative makes a line of speakers with a built in decoder. also, you can buy a seperate decoder from creative. but for the kind of cash the creatives sell, you're better off with a better soundcard or a reciever
 
Here's a pic of SPDIF connector

slotsounddigitalwp2.jpg


Two types of SPDIF (Digital audio): an RCA/coax connector on the left, and a TOSLINK (optical fiber) on the right (source :Tomshardware)

These are for digital audio outputs which must be connected to a receiver which can decode the digital signals.
 
Ya i know abt creative. They have a model with hardware decoder (Model no. 2300D i suppose).

So, my doubts are clear now. Thanks for ur replies...
 
Shakensoul said:
Two types of SPDIF (Digital audio): an RCA/coax connector on the left, and a TOSLINK (optical fiber) on the right (source :Tomshardware)

These are for digital audio outputs which must be connected to a receiver which can decode the digital signals.
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There's a third type of connector as well... the AES/EBU connector for balanced connections. It has mandatory shielding and is generally found on pro equipment... runs at 3-10V vs 0-1V for normal Coax connectors, its a lot less susceptible to noise than normal RCA/BNC connectors. Even though they are not so much used for digital connections, for Analog, they are used much more widely.

PS: I run my soundcards over spdif and connect it to the external DAC with its own dedicated linear toroidal PSU... results in way better audio quality than anything any discrete soundcard for PC can produce.
 
Chaos said:
PS: I run my soundcards over spdif and connect it to the external DAC with its own dedicated linear toroidal PSU... results in way better audio quality than anything any discrete soundcard for PC can produce.
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That's why u r the best audiophile on TE!

BTW which external DAC do u have? and how much did it cost?
 
Citypulse DA7.2x costed me 400$ including shipping. Another 50$ or so of mods in the mail which should arrive this week. Check the link below for more info.

diykits.com
 
Chaos said:
Citypulse DA7.2x costed me 400$ including shipping. Another 50$ or so of mods in the mail which should arrive this week. Check the link below for more info.
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^^you're gonna mod THAT?
whats getting replaced :D?
 
Chaos said:
Citypulse DA7.2x costed me 400$ including shipping. Another 50$ or so of mods in the mail which should arrive this week. Check the link below for more info.

DIY Network : Home Building, Home Improvement, Hobbies, Crafts, Gardening & Woodworking Projects and Videos : DIY Network
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I read another post in which were talking abt poor people. http://www.techenclave.com/forums/pny-8800gts-on-its-way-82189.html?highlight=poor

so i would like to reply in the same tone.

Ch@os is one poor guy...:ohyeah:
 
greenhorn said:
^^you're gonna mod THAT?
whats getting replaced :D?
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Clock chip..... Since its an oversampling DAC, it benefits a lot from a clock upgrade.... the higher the rate of oversampling, the better the final analog signal. Replacing the stock 22.x MHz clock with a newer more accurate 33.x MHz clock chip.
 
Chaos said:
Clock chip..... Since its an oversampling DAC, it benefits a lot from a clock upgrade.... the higher the rate of oversampling, the better the final analog signal. Replacing the stock 22.x MHz clock with a newer more accurate 33.x MHz clock chip.
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ohk! if you can notice the difference, then sweet!:hap2:

what are the output op amps btw? are they easily swappable too?
 
I'm not sure if there are any gains to be had using a discrete small signal stage:huh:, especially with so much digital circuitry unshielded in the same box
 
^^All high end DACs use a discrete output stage. The only opamp'ed dac I know of is the Benchmark DAC-1 which doesnt have that special a reputation. See the red blocks in this pic... thats the output stage.

DSCN2421.jpg
 
Oh! they're shielded! (actually was wondering what the red modules were:D )

then should be a ok!. just that swapping different op amps is fun :ashamed:
 
^^True as long as the opamps are electrically identical its a lot of phun :P. Else its toast :P. I'm thinking of replacing the big nichicons with blackgates while I'm at it. The question though is where the hell do i get blackgates :(.
 
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