Optical connection speakers (spdif)

[fryea]

How much of a sound difference is there between the optical connection (aka, spdif i think) and normal 1/8" jacks used on sound cards/speakers? Im pondering getting a second setup in hopes of an optical setup, just for shits and giggles, but curious as to how it sounds comparitively.

 

[Mister X]

Ummm, my psychic skills seem to be pretty weak today.
Now that you know this....how can I (or anyone else) offer you a comparative analysis of products that I (we) know nothing about?
In most cases using a S/PDIF interface (weather that is coaxial or optical) on a consumer level sound card offers little more then a convenient way to connect your components.

 

[SpaceMonkeyAndy]

also note that unless the media is encoded in 5.1 already (like DD or DTS), and your reciever can decode this stream, you will not get 5.1 sound. the exception being soundstorm, which is currently the only sound processor that can encode into DD in realtime.

 

[zachary80]

Originally posted by SpaceMonkeyAndy
also note that unless the media is encoded in 5.1 already (like DD or DTS), and your reciever can decode this stream, you will not get 5.1 sound. the exception being soundstorm, which is currently the only sound processor that can encode into DD in realtime.

which, if you don't realise, is only onboard for now