spdif output

I been checking asus notebook mainly because they have a spdif output which I can connect easily to a sound system, but I am checking the W5F series now and I don't see where spdif output is, is it just part of a headphone output?

 

That's correct, the headphone jack is a SPDIF jack. From here you can connect your external speakers to, provided you have the correct cables.

 

You'll need a TOSLINK to Optical Mini Adpter like this one:



You also need optical-ready speakers .. most HT receivers and "high end" PC 5.1 sets have this.

Cheers.

 

I'm probably looking forward to be able to connect to TVs and maybe sound system that are connect to TV.

computer speakers are pretty easy to me since
I can use the sound blaster audigy pcmia card, but I want to be able to connect to TVs as well.

does that toslink to optical work on standard headphones laptop? or would have to have spdif capabilities?

 

You have to have a laptop with spdif capabilities. If you look sometime, there is a small red light in your headphone port if you have it. This is just allowing you to hookup the optical cable to use that little red light.

 

Hi Boon,

Just noticed you used the Audigy PCMCIA card. Was wondering how you found its sound quality to be? Is it noticeably better than the internal one on your current laptop?

Thanks
Confy

 

The TOSLINK to Optical Mini Adpter looks bigger than the SPDIF 3.5mm jack I have on my notebook.

Is the TOSLINK to Optical Mini Adpter a standard 3.5mm?

 

Thanks for the info seems like some of asus models are unique having spdif output while other laptops dont.

I find the audigy to be that great sound quality actually, but not much when comparing to the current notebook sound card nowadays. But no matter what the sound quality is, it is always better then any onboard sound when it comes to details in sound. I find most effective when getting a high quality headphone or speakers as I find less difference on sound card comparison when using cheap headphone.

only major drawback of it is you cant use notebook speakers with these soundcard so you're stuck with headphone only and some certain notebooks offer more setups like thx and such, while others just plain setups like equalizer.

 

An optical mini is always 3.5mm, since mini itself is 3.5mm. An optical mini looks pretty much identical to a mini-jack (aka 1/8" jack) but has a clear tip so as to transfer the red optical signal.

TOSLINK itself is not 3.5mm and its format and size and looks are completely disparate from that of the optical mini. Hence the name for 'adapter' - the optical mini end goes into your headphones jack while the TOSLINK end can be used to connect a TOSLINK cable (TOSLINK cables have identical ends).

So to answer your question plainly, yes, the optical mini (aka mini-TOSLINK is 3.5mm by standards) and the TOSLINK itself is its own standard.

 

Is there a way to find out which SPDIF format an Asus model uses? I have the A8JP and wasn't sure if I should get a mini to toslink or a mini to coaxial to connect to a receiver.

 

the A8JP has spdif format

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3425&review=Asus+A8JP

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220104

I think most current asus notebooks have spdif output. I think I'm gonna get that adapter too as well

 

I guess SPDIF will be be a common feature from now.. My HP dv2122tu has SPDIF.

 

SPDIF is the signal format, but what is the medium? Optical or Coax?

 

Does this help?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=207617&highlight=spdif+optical

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=208397&highlight=spdif+optical