Optical Digital Audio Cable

One cable that is used quite frequently is the optical digital audio cable or some call it S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) this transfer digital audio signals between the components. This optical digital audio cable does not use the RCA style connectors; it uses the TOSLINK or EIA-J.

These use pulses of light to transfer data instead of the copper wire in some cables. They are immune to the interference for electromagnetic and or radio frequency. The signals will not corrupt or weaken the signal over long distances. The inductance, capacitance and resistance are gone. As a result the best reproductions of any digital signals are made possible. Although optical digital audio cable is more expensive, most audiophiles use them. Be careful with these, if they are bent or damaged in any way they might fail to work properly once installed.

A common use S/PDIF interface is to carry digital audio sounds as defined by the standard IEC51937. This connects the output of a DVD player to the home theater receiver. But it must support Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound. This only will support stereo sound, not unless the PC supports Dolby Digital Live or DTS connect.

Today most recordings are digital. Because of that manufactures have come up with new optical digital audio cables that does nothing more than carry the high bandwidth digital audio signals. They look somewhat like the old coaxial cables that used to be connecting to the satellite dish or cable television. Optical digital audio cable is found on the CD and DVD players as well as some stereo receivers.

The optical digital audio cables are now the up and coming alternative to the older audio cables. The older audio cables would use a wire to transmit electric signals now the optical digital cables transmit lit thru fiber optic sending. In recent years many people are going with the optical digital audio cables, even though they do cost more than the traditional audio cables, they last longer, are easier to install and the sound is so much better.

If you are going to install your own home theater with all the bells and whistles and optical digital audio cable, read all you can on the installation. Though it is not hard to do, it can be set up wrong. You will need of course is the optical digital audio cable, connections and other items to make it all work together.

Be sure to read the owners manual of your home theater system to find out which optical digital audio cable is right for your system. Remember the plug of the optical digital audio cable is extremely small; it almost reminds you of a headphone jack.

Any good electronics store will carry optical digital audio cable. Be sure you get the right length of cable so it will reach from the audio equipment to the sound system without a too long of a cable. The longer the cable, the shorter the attenuation (reduces the quality) will become. Hide the optical digital audio cable the best you can. Or some will tie them up with cable keepers.