What is the S / PDIF mode in a TV: S / PDIF standard types, for which S / PDIF is needed.

Manufacturers of modern TV models were able to ensure that the reproduced audio signal was clear and loud. But not all owners are satisfied with the standard sound and there is a need to output sound to an external media device, for example, a home theater.

S / PDIF is the international standard for digital audio transmission. Data transmission is implemented through several cables and connectors. At first it was used in music players. But the technology began to develop and the S / PDIF mode appeared on home theaters, car radios, personal computers and modern TV models.

What is S / PDIF on TV

A digital or optical S / PDIF connector on the TV is required for output and further transmission of the audio signal in the appropriate format. If the TV receiver broadcasts a movie or transmission in HD-quality and the device supports 5.1 format, then the sound will be output from the TV in digital or optical format.

On modern TV models, it is usually presented in the form of a Toslink or coaxial connector.

S / PDIF Types

S / PDIF technology has two types of signal transmission: coaxial and optical.

1. Coaxial output. Despite the fact that this option of transmitting audio signals is already a thing of the past, some Internet providers and cable TV providers still use it. Also, this connector is present in home theaters, video and audio players and car radios. It provides digital sound transmission between digital equipment. To make this possible, it is necessary to connect the devices to each other using the appropriate coaxial cable. The digital connector is capable of transmitting multi-channel or stereo sound without loss of audio signal quality. This connection option is inexpensive. But if there is an electromagnetic field nearby, the sound quality drops dramatically.
2. Toslink. At the moment, it is through this connector that the TV is connected to external devices for transmitting sound. This is an optical interface capable of reproducing a signal that is not subject to external influences. To connect a media system to a TV receiver using an optical output, an optical fiber cable is required. If a high-quality wire is used, the connection between the equipment will be reliable, and the sound will be perfect. Televisions and media systems now available are equipped with an optical interface. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the connected devices, as well as whether there are corresponding connectors. The connection procedure and setup itself is quite simple. Using a cable, you need to connect all the devices, and in the sound settings of the TV you need to find the item “Speakers” and select “External speakers”.

ATTENTION! It is not recommended to use cables longer than 10 meters. The longer the cable, the worse the sound quality.

What is S / PDIF for?

The Sony / Philips S / PDIF interface is very common. This is the standard channel for transmitting digital audio between equipment. It is very compact and is the only technology for transmitting sound that is completely resistant to external influences and various interferences, which allows for high-quality sound.

REFERENCE! S / PDIF mode perfectly reproduces surround stereo sound, which allows you to fully enjoy audio or video files.

Such a connector can be found on televisions, media devices, motherboards for personal computers. Its sole purpose is to transmit a high-quality digital signal between various digital equipment, excluding the mandatory procedure for converting a digital signal to analog.

When connecting various media devices using this interface, you can fully enjoy the sound in the 5.1 format. It is especially relevant when there is no way to connect the equipment using a cable and connector HDMI

This technology is very popular in televisions. Connection and settings take very little time, in return the user gets high-quality sound.