Digital Audio
SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) is a consumer digital audio format used to transmit stereo audio between devices via coaxial or optical cables without converting it to analogue.
SPDIF is a two-channel digital audio transmission protocol developed by Sony and Philips. It carries stereo PCM or compressed digital audio (such as Dolby Digital) over either coaxial (RCA) or optical (TOSLINK) cables. The signal remains entirely digital, preventing the degradation associated with analogue conversions.
Commonly found on CD players, audio interfaces, and consumer receivers, SPDIF supports sampling rates up to 96 kHz at 24-bit depth. It is electrically similar to the professional AES3 format but uses lower voltage levels and consumer-standard connectors. SPDIF provides a simple and effective way to link digital audio devices in both studio and home applications.
