Is SPDIF in the same as OPTICAL in?

DallasStar

I think they're the same, but before I spend a hundred bucks buying something with "spdif in" thinking its "optical in" and getting the wrong thing, I'd like to make sure. If any of you know if they're the same, please say so and tell me.

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"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Funkybuffalo

Correct me someone if i'm wrong, but I am pretty sure they are not the same. S/PDIF is digital not optical.

Necrosis

You are right they are not the same, though they both are digital. It comes down to a matter of type of connectors for input as well. The Creative Platinum and DMX6 are the only two lower priced cards that have true optical in. However, with the correct adaptor you can use the digital s/pdif in for pretty much the samething. Just not as nice as a true optical connection.

digitalwanderer

Methinks my Hercules Fortissimo II has both spdif & optical in/outs, if you're looking for a cheap sound card with those options. ($42us shipped on pricewatch...anyone else love the new way that pricewatch ranks the prices according to price&shipping costs total now?!? )

If this is about something entirely different, please pardon my intrusion.

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WTF is up with the sigs?

Necrosis

What about the Hercules Game Theater?? I'm sure you can find that under $100.00

DallasStar

I'm thinking that I'll just buy the "Audigy Drive" for my soundcard. Only prob is that they don't sell it... I can always buy livedrive... but that may or may not work, will not have tech support, and is probably with less features than the Audigy drive.

__________________
"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Necrosis

The live drive will work. However, I'm not sure how well it will work. I've known people to get them to work together. I think the only thing you'll miss out on is the firewire on the front, and maybe remote.

Frank D

I think this is what you need:



It's an extension for the Live and Audigy card with both ( optical and spidf ) in/out!

http://www.hoontech.nl/sbdbiii.html

Necrosis

Sweet man, thanks for the link!

DallasStar

Thank you very much. I'm going to buy it TODAY (and save 70-100 dollars because I don't have to buy a livedrive or a different hardware decoder ) THANK YOU!!!! Now I can replay Final Fantasy X with my new optical connection in full dolby digital

__________________
"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Necrosis

Where did you find it at to buy???

I know a load of folks that would be interested in this, how much was it?

DallasStar

34 bucks

for USA peeps: http://store.yahoo.com/tracertek/hoonsbdbifor.html

for peeps in other countries:
http://www.hoontech.com/english/index.html

__________________
"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

DallasStar

see here: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/thread.php?id=2684

__________________
"A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Frank D

No probs, Have fun! hehehe

What also can is to use an mini jack to 2 tulp converter on you digital port on your live drive. Then use a simple tulp cable on te left channel to connect to your digital connection on your amplifier! But it's only for sending a signal out to your amp. and not to receive or to record an incoming digital signal.