Difference between SPDIF and Optical cables/ports?

Question

I'm looking into upgrading my HDTV in the near future and I have my eye on one in particular (the ViewSonic N4790P).

After some research, I found out this unit does not have an Optical Audio out port, which is a problem because that's how I have my current TV connected to my surround sound system.

The TV does, however, have an "SPDIF" port...but I'm not sure what that is exactly. Will an optical cable work in that port? If not, is there some sort of cable I can get that has one end SPDIF and one end Optical so I can hook up the new TV to the surround sound receiver in the same way?

Also, is one considered "better" than the other? This is one of the only televisions I've seen of this size that does not offer an Optical Audio port, and I really need to be able to hook my new TV to my receiver. What can I do?

Answer 1

They are different names for the same thing.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

Answer 2

Spdif Vs Optical

Answer 3

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RE:

Difference between SPDIF and Optical cables/ports?

I'm looking into upgrading my HDTV in the near future and I have my eye on one in particular (the ViewSonic N4790P).



After some research, I found out this unit does not have an Optical Audio out port, which is a problem because that's how I have my current TV connected to my surround...

Answer 4

Spdif To Optical

Answer 5

Why are you running audio out of your TV if you have a receiver.? If you have HDMI on your receiver, run that to the TV and that is all you will nee. If you dont then you can run component (red, green, and blue) to the set but that will only do video. The point of a receiver is to control the audio and the TV for the video. So run your dvd player, cable box, gaming console into your receiver and use it as a "passthrough". Yeah you will not get TV sound but why would you need TV sound if you have external speakers? And to answer your other question, optical is the best for sound quality, (the one that has the red light on the end when you plug t in) and the second would be a digital coax (usually is an orange rca plug, like the red and white but a single connection) Last of course would be the rca's.

Answer 6

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SPDIF: A common use for the S/PDIF interface is to carry compressed digital audio as defined by the standard IEC 61937. This mode is used to connect the output of a DVD player to a home theater receiver that supports Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound. Another common use is to carry uncompressed digital audio from a CD player to a receiver. This specification also allows for the coupling of personal computer digital sound (if equipped) via optical or coax to Dolby or DTS capable receivers. TOSLINK: It's the same as optical fiber. Optical uses light to transmit a digital signal, and it is made from glass (and sometimes plastic, like in the fiber optic decorations) Coax consists of a copper core, surrounded by an insulated layer, surrounded by another conductive layer, and finally covered with a insulating layer. My recommendation is to use Optical.