USB cable 120cm long
Optical cable length 1M
The ends are covered with rubber protective caps.
Standard SPDIF connector with beveled corners.
Many of you, like me, have sometimes seen it on TVs and some computers, but have never used it, so it will be interesting to know what the beast is.
Inside the fiber, if you apply light to one end, it can be removed from the other end.
And finally, the converter itself is a metal box with connectors on both sides.
On the one hand, the inputs: power and digital sound either through an optical Toslink cable like ours, or through a coaxial one.
On the other hand, the outputs: 3.5mm headphones, two RCA tulips and a power indicator, red and quite vigorous.
Converter dimensions are small: 5.5cm * 6cm * 2cm
But it is quite weighty thanks to the metal body: 82g
The converter is easily disassembled, just unscrew the screw.
And then two more and you're done:
The back is somehow a little messy, the soldering is ugly in places, in some places the flux is not washed off.
I give pictures in close-up:
http://s19.postimg.org/42zggy8tv/audio_converter_19.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/bmsjj020j/audio_converter_20.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/o05dpwroz/audio_converter_21.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/fkft8eotv/audio_converter_22.jpg
Well, let's connect.
The connection is outrageously simple, insert the necessary wires where necessary and power it from the USB of the TV itself.
The indicator is torn-eyed, straight mini flashlight.
It is better to turn it somewhere back to the wall or completely glue it, since even when the TV is turned off, then it is turned off.
In the TV settings in the sound section, you can choose where to output the sound, the fastest way to get to Samsung is through the quick settings button.
If the audio output is selected as in the screenshot, then the sound in the TV itself no longer goes, and when trying to adjust the volume, it will write that we have tuned in to external speakers and now have to adjust the sound with the remote control from them.
You don't have to switch the sound to external ones, they always play as soon as they are plugged in, then both external and internal speakers will play simultaneously, and in many cases there will be an echo due to the time the digit is converted to analog, a kind of hall effect.
You can Mute the built-in speakers or lower their volume to zero so that the speaker off icon does not jump to the side.
But when watching especially multichannel films, it is better to use both those and other speakers, the TV reproduces medium frequencies well - speech, music. the center acts as a sub and provides special effects.
The converter practically does not heat up during operation.
I don't have a professional microphone, so I did everything I could with a regular camcorder to tell you the difference in sound between the built-in speakers and the external ones.
In reality, the difference is even higher than in the video.
You will need bass headphones or speakers to hear the difference; in laptop speakers or tabletop plastic beepers, you can hardly distinguish anything.
That's all, thank you all for your attention.
S / PDIF (Sony / Philips Digital Interface) is a widespread and standardized interface designed to transfer digital audio between available components, sound cards, receivers and audio equipment. The connector was originally intended for CD and DVD players capable of playing CDs, with the sole purpose of reducing the amount of wires required for high quality content playback. And after that, the manufacturers of home theaters, TVs and other equipment took the new product into service. Moreover, both because of its compactness (the only fiber-optic cable, resistant to interference, can replace a whole bunch of connectors), and because of the quality.
Important!! S / PDIF perfectly conveys surround sound and allows you to enjoy every second of the track being played or the movie being played.
What is S / PDIF OUT on the motherboard
Accordingly, S / PDIF OUT is a connector, often found on computer motherboards, with the sole purpose of transmitting a high quality digital audio signal between different devices and components without the obligatory, and sometimes inevitable, procedure for converting information into an analog signal.
Basically, manufacturers are offering to complement the PC entertainment experience with third-party hardware, such as 5.1 Dolby Digital speakers or home theater systems for a more complete experience. In some cases, S / PDIF is indispensable if the signal from the video card cannot be output using HDMI, and DVI does not transmit sound.
In this case, it is enough to use additional speakers with an adapter, find the desired output on the motherboard (you will have to open the cover of the system unit in any case; in some cases it is much easier to buy an external audio card that can perform the same task, but many times better), and then - configure the way sound is transmitted.
The procedure will take about 5-10 minutes, and the result will be immediately impressive - advanced quality without interference, long response or strange hiss, known when using low-quality equipment.
In general, S / PDIF is an irreplaceable thing, although it has partially lost its former positions. Although modern motherboards support such an interface, there are fewer and fewer enthusiasts who use S / PDIF each time. And it's not that the world has stopped worrying about sound quality. And in the number of additional solutions and outputs that offer the same functions, but without additional settings.
Vinyl players
Digital sound sources
S / PDIF digital interface and how it works
Digital output.
A socket on all CD transports and on some CD-players that provides access to the digital data stream. With the help of the digital output, the CD transport can feed information to a separate digital processor via the S / PDIF interface (Sony / Philips Digital Interface Format - Sony / Philips digital interface format). It is named after the two companies that invented the CD.
S / PDIF digital interface is a standard format for digital audio transmission, mainly between CD transport and digital processor. The S / PDIF signal can be carried over various types of connectors and cables, such as optical ST or coaxial (discussed later in this chapter). All consumer digital audio equipment - transports, digital processors and digital recorders - use the S / PDIF interface. The professional version of S / PDIF is called the AES / EBU interface (Audio Engineering Society / European Broadcast Union, or the Society of Audio Engineers / European Broadcast Union - organizations that standardized this interface). It is sometimes used in consumer digital audio equipment as well.
Jitter - These are temporary errors of the clock generator, which sets the moments of converting digital samples from a CD into music. Jitter also degrades the sense of space, reducing the depth of the soundstage and blurring the musical imagery. The feeling of transparency of the air between you and the performer disappears, the space seems to be covered with haze.
The main source of jitter in digital audio reproduction is the interface connecting the CD transport to the digital processor. Get rid of the digital interface, which by its very nature lacks in a CD player, and you will destroy the main "causative agent" of jitter. For this reason, single-box CD-players, all other things being equal, have a significant superiority in sound quality over component equipment.
The S / PDIF signal contains the audio data of both audio channels, as well as a sync signal, also known as clock. These clock pulses are recovered by the digital processor, so that the transport and the processor work in the same time basis. An indicator labeled "Lock" or a sampling rate indicator on the front of many digital processors indicates that the clock is restored and the two components are in sync. their clock frequencies are the same.
The S / PDIF interface data stream carries not only audio information, but also service information, including a number of CD subcodes. They contain information about the sampling rate, about the use of pre-distortion, as well as information about the signal belonging to the professional AES / EBU interface or S / PDIF interface for consumer equipment. The subcode data also includes all track numbers and timing information displayed by the CD player or transport indicator. Audio data and subcode information are combined into 32-bit sukers. Each subframe begins with a preamble, a four-bit sync pattern that violates biphase coding rules. The preamble acts as a sync signal indicating the start of a new subframe. The preamble is followed by four bits of "auxiliary information" 20 bits of audio information. If sixteen-bit audio information is transmitted, then the additional four bits are not used (they are replaced with zeros when encoding). The four-bit additional data area can be used to accommodate audio data, increasing the total audio data word length to 24 bits.
An additional four bits (audio validity, user data bit, audio channel status and subframe parity) complete the subframe.
The subframes of the left and right audio channels are identified by slightly different preambles. In a single bit stream, they are transmitted alternately. Blocks with a length of 192 bits are formed from the subframes. At a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, the total bit rate is 2.8224 million bits per second.
The manufacturers of modern TV models have been able to ensure that the reproduced audio signal is clear and loud. But not all owners are satisfied with the standard sound and it becomes necessary to output sound to an external media device, for example, a home theater.
S / PDIF is an international standard for digital audio transmission. Data transmission is realized through several cables and connectors. It was first used in audio players. But technology began to evolve and S / PDIF mode appeared on home theaters, car radios, personal computers and modern TVs.
What is S / PDIF on TV
A digital or optical S / PDIF connector on a TV is required to output and further transmit audio in the appropriate format. If the TV receiver broadcasts a movie or transmission in HD quality and the device supports 5.1, then the TV will output sound in digital or optical format. On modern TV models, it is usually presented as a Toslink or coaxial connector.
S / PDIF types
S / PDIF technology has two types of signal transmission: coaxial and optical.
- Coaxial output.Although this type of audio transmission is a thing of the past, some ISPs and cable TV providers still use it. Also, this connector is present on home theaters, video and audio players and car radios. It provides digital audio quality between digital equipment. For this to be possible, you must connect the devices to each other using an 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.
- Toslink. At the moment, it is through this connector that the TV is connected to external devices for sound transmission. It is an optical interface capable of reproducing a signal that is not subject to external influences. A fiber optic cable is required to connect the media system to a TV receiver using an optical output. If a good quality wire is used, then the connection between the equipment will be reliable and the sound will be perfect. Today's TVs and media systems 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 appropriate connectors. The very procedure for connecting and configuring 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".
What is S / PDIF for?
Sony / Philips S / PDIF interface is very common. This is a standard channel for transmitting digital audio signals between equipment. It is very compact and is the only technology for transmitting sound that is completely resistant to external influences and various interference, which allows you to provide high-quality sound.
REFERENCE! S / PDIF mode perfectly reproduces surround stereo sound, allowing you to fully enjoy your audio or video files.
This connector can be found on TVs, media devices, motherboards of personal computers. Its sole purpose is the transmission of a high quality digital signal between various digital equipment, excluding the obligatory procedure for converting a digital signal to analog.
By connecting various media devices with this interface, you can fully enjoy 5.1 sound. It is especially relevant when it is not possible to connect equipment using a cable and HDMI connector.
This technology is very popular in TVs. Connection and settings take very little time, in return, the user gets high-quality sound.
S / PDIF or S / P-DIF - stands for Sony / Philips Digital Interface Format, or how Sony / Philips Digital Interconnect Format also described as IEC 958 type II in the international standard IEC-60958. It is a collection of low-level protocol and hardware implementation specifications that describe the transfer of digital audio between various components of audio equipment. When describing S / PDIF, it is necessary to describe both the physical part (that is, in fact, how the signal is transmitted and for what), and the software part (that is, the protocol used).
S / P-DIF is the consumer version of the standard known as AES / EBU; has minor protocol differences and requires less expensive hardware.
Applications
S / PDIF was originally used in CD players (and DVD players that play CDs), and later became a common way of connecting and transferring sound in other audio components such as MiniDisc\u003e players and sound cards for personal computers. It has also gained popularity in car audio, where the old mess of multiple wires can be replaced with a single fiber optic cable that resists electrical interference.Another application of the S / PDIF interface is in the transmission of a surround sound bitstream as defined by the IEC 61937 standard. This mode is used to connect the output of a DVD player to the input of a home theater AV receiver that supports Dolby Digital or Digital Theater System (DTS) surround formats. sound.
S / PDIF (Sony * / Philips * Digital Interface) is an audio transfer format interface that supports the transfer of digital audio signals from one device to another without conversion to analog, thus avoiding audio degradation.
Connector RCA is the most common connector used with S / PDIF and is identical to the connector used in consumer audio products. In addition, an optical connector is used in some cases. In order to connect an audio system directly to the speakers, the latter must support S / PDIF input.
If your desktop board does not support the onboard S / PDIF connectors, you can install a sound card that includes these connectors.
Hardware implementation
The S / PDIFormat specification allows several types of cable and connectors. Key words for electrical type are "coaxial" and "RCA jack". Another type is called "optical" with the frequently used word " TOSLINK”Or, less commonly,“ EIAJ Optical ”. There are adapters for converting from coaxial RCA Jack S / PDIF to optical TOSLINK S / PDIF and vice versa, they require an external power supply. The advantage of the S / PDIF optical type is its excellent electrical immunity.S / PDIF was developed from the professional audio industry standard known as AES / EBU, which is commonly used for digital tape recording in DAT systems and for audio transmission in professional recording studios. S / PDIF remains largely identical at the protocol level, but has different physical connectors, which, unlike XLR, are cheaper and easier to use.
Types of connectors and cables
- Digital signal with TTL levels. TTL - Transistor-Transistor Logic. TTL usually (but not always!) Has two levels:\u003e 2.4V (one) and 0-0.4V (zero). TTL S / PDIF outputs are also available in sound cards.
- Coaxial. 75 ohm coaxial cable connected to RCA connectors. Conventional audio cables (tulips) can be used to transmit S / PDIF signal over short distances (up to 0.5 m), for longer distances, 75 ohm coaxial cable must be used. The connectors on each side must have 75 ohm terminating resistors. Without load resistors, the voltage deviation is ± 0.5V, with resistors ± 0.25V.
- TOSLINK is a fiber optic cable. Nowadays, MiniTOSLINK connectors have become very popular - this is an optical cable connector in the 3.5 jack form factor. Very often, such connectors are found in modern laptops, where the S / PDIF output is combined with the headphone output. To connect such a laptop to the receiver, you need a MiniTOSLINK - TOSLINK cable, or an adapter for a standard TOSLINK-TOSLINK cable.
Protocol
S / PDIF can be used to carry digital signals in a variety of formats. The most common of these are the format used in DAT with a sampling rate of 48 kHz and a CD recording format with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz. In order to support both of these systems, the format does not have a specific data bitrate. Instead, data is transmitted using the Biphase Mark Code, which has one or two transitions for each bit of data, allowing the original word clock to be transmitted along with the signal itself.Expanding the capabilities of this interface, S / P-DIF can be used to carry 20-bit audio streams plus other related information. It is also possible to transmit 16-bit streams with zero padding or 24-bit, at the expense of eliminating additional information.
The low-level protocol is almost the same as in the description of AES / EBU. The only difference is the "Channel status bit".
Channel status bit in S / P-DIF
There is one channel status bit in each sub-frame, so a 192-bit word is formed in each audio block. This means that there are 192/8 \u003d 24 bytes available in each audio block. The meaning of the channel status bit in S / P-DIF is completely different from AES / EBU.For SPDIF, 192-bit words are divided into 12 words of 16 bits each. The first 6 bits of the first word are the control code; the meaning of these bits is shown in the table:
Other
S / PDIF is defined by the international standard IEC 60958-3.S / PDIF is protected by a patent:
