Computer's SPDIF to Receiver

[GNR]

Hi all,

New here but I've been following the discussions quite a bit, esp. in the receiver section, as I am currently looking to get one.

I want to connect my sound card's output to the receiver... Now the question - I haven't noticed the receivers which have an "SPDIF" input. Does this mean that SPDIF is actually the same thing as the digital coax inputs on the receivers? If so, I guess for the best (cleanest) possible interface between my comp. and receiver I should get a single RCA connector type cable, and connect SPDIF to Coax.

If I'm wrong please correct me... thanks!

 

[MDS]

More info than you probably need, but you might find it interesting.

S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format) defines the data format and communication protocol for sending digital audio. It is used for both coaxial digital connections and optical digital connections. To make matters confusing s/pdif also refers to the electrical specifications for the coaxial connection. For an optical connection, the interface is known as Toslink (Toshiba Link), which to make matters even more confusing, is also the name of the little connector (in contrast to the connector on a coax cable which is a standard RCA connector).

The short answer is that both optical and coaxial connections use s/pdif and if your sound card has one or the other and can be set to output digital data in that format, you can connect it to the receiver. [Nearly all modern sound cards have a digital out that can transmit s/pdif and the connection is usually coaxial]

 

[GNR]

That's what I thought - thanks!