So, I'm using my laptop as the media box at the moment and it seems the one I purchased doesn't have a SPDIF out (it was supposedly an option, I thought it was standard). I've seen a few on E-Bay for pretty darn cheap but they're not very specific on what quality audio it outputs.

I'd buy a higher priced one but I'm not sure how much longer I'll use the laptop as I wouldn't mind a pretty looking desktop case to fit in with the other audio/home theatre gear.

Has anyone purchased one of the cheaper USB or mini pc card type sound cards with "SPDIF" out on them? Do they sound OK? I'd like DTS quality audio.

I thought SPDIF was pure digital so the audio chipset wouldn't touch the audio part?

what laptop is it?
i have dell Insperion and the video out/S-Video port also caries Coax SPDIF Audio you just need the right adapter for it.

It's a HP laptop, I looked it up, it was an option that isn't on mine :(

It's got two headphone ports, if you take the option one of them is able to be made a SPDIF.

I'm right in thinking there's no way to strip the audio from HDMI and split that off to a digital input right?

I'm right in thinking there's no way to strip the audio from HDMI and split that off to a digital input right?

There technically is, but it would involve way too much extra equipment and dollars so don't even bother.

SPDIF is indeed a digital format so you don't have to worry so much about quality of cabling etc like you do for analogue audio - it either gives you sound or it doesn't. I'm by no means an expert, but I'd think you'd be fine with a cheapy.

Are you sure that your laptop doesn't support it though? Easiest way to check, if you have the correct drivers installed is to go into your sound properties and under the playback tab look for anything like "Digital Output Device".

To clarify, SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format and there are two different methods commonly used to deliver the signal - Optical or Coaxial.

Coaxial comes in the form of a single RCA style connector (same as a composite video cable, except usually orange instead of yellow).

Optical usually comes in the form of the square TOSlink plug that beams out red light when connected, but the laptops i've seen that use optical SPDIF use mini-TOSlink and the jack doubles as a regular analogue 3.5mm stereo jack (every new macbook has this afaik).

never used it but you said cheap
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15745

There technically is, but it would involve way too much extra equipment and dollars so don't even bother.

It's actually fairly easy these days

http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%201x1%20Audio%20Converter.html

last edited by tequila at 15:46:01 22/Oct/09