Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > SPDIF and digital coax... same thing?

SPDIF and digital coax... same thing?

Forum CPU & Components : Sound Cards - SPDIF and digital coax... same thing?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
Col_Kiwi   11-28-2002 at 02:46:49 AM

I'm looking into buying a new soundcard around christmas, definately with spdif out. my home theatre receiver thats in the same room as my computer has a digital coax input. You know, the kind that's like an "RCA-jack" connection. If I get a converter for 1/8" mini plug to RCA jack, will I be able to use sound card's SPDIF out to reciever's digital coax in? Are they the same type of signal?


[EDIT] I was just noticing when reading up on the card i'm planning on getting (Turtle Beach Santa Cruz), it's multi-function "versa-jack" has one function being "Digital out (1 & 2)". I assumed that was SPDIF... as i've read elsewhere the card offers SPDIF... it IS SPDIF, right? [/EDIT]

Another question, I'll need around 15 to 20 feet of cable to connect it, as the two devices are on opposite sides of the room. Is that long enough to cause sound quality to degrade?

-Col.Kiwi

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Crashman   11-28-2002 at 07:27:16 AM
- 0 +

SP-DIF (Sony/Panasonic Digital InterFace) is the same as Digital Coaxial. You just need a high end RCA cable to connect SP-DIF out to Digital Coaxial In. No 1/8" minijack adapters, those would be for analog sound.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
Col_Kiwi   11-28-2002 at 04:22:31 PM
- 0 +

From the picture of the TBSC card, the digital out on it appears to be a 1/8th inch minijack!

I was talking about not a converter cable from 1x 1/8th minijack to 2x RCA for analogue stereo, but 1x 1/8th minijack to 1x RCA for SPDIF/digital coax.

Does this work?


-Col.Kiwi

Reply to Col_Kiwi
Crashman   11-28-2002 at 08:28:44 PM
- 0 +

Wierd, er, OK. Well, I'm not certain if they used a non-standard plug for SP-DIF...

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
Col_Kiwi   11-28-2002 at 11:23:05 PM
- 0 +

<A HREF="http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/santacruz/indetail.asp" target="_new">Here</A> is specs of the TBSC from turtlebeach.com. That picture looks to me like the VersaJack, one of which's functions is "digital out" is 1/8th minijack.

Can anyone who owns a santa cruz verify that this is in fact SPDIF output?

-Col.Kiwi

Reply to Col_Kiwi
Crashman   11-28-2002 at 11:28:53 PM
- 0 +

OH, hey, I remember Varsa-Jack from a review, it functions as either a digital or analog output based on how you set it! OK, it should come with it's own adapter then? Yes, it should work, I think you have to switch it from analog to digital in software though.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
Col_Kiwi   11-28-2002 at 11:43:18 PM
- 0 +

Ya I saw on the TB website you have to change it's setting in drivers... it's as easy as a dropdown box though so it's no hassle. I'll email someone from TB and ask if it comes with its own adapter or not i guess.

-Col.Kiwi

Reply to Col_Kiwi
r2k   11-30-2002 at 12:01:15 PM
- 0 +

Not that it matters but that's 'Sony/Philips Digital InterFace' IIRC.

Reply to r2k
Crashman   11-30-2002 at 01:12:01 PM
- 0 +

LOL, that sounds better, thanks for reminding me!

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

Reply to Crashman
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Sound Cards > SPDIF and digital coax... same thing?
Go to:

There are 777 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.435 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them