Sony/Philips Digital Interface
Sony/Philips Digital Interface
Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) is a standardized audio transmission protocol used for transmitting digital audio between devices, typically over coaxial or optical cables. It transmits uncompressed audio data in the form of linear PCM, and is commonly used in home theater systems and professional audio equipment.
What does Sony/Philips Digital Interface mean?
Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) is a Digital Audio interconnect used to transmit uncompressed two-channel audio Data over short distances. It is commonly used to connect audio sources, such as CD players and DVD players, to amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). S/PDIF transmits digital audio data in a serial format, using a coaxial cable or Optical Fiber.
The S/PDIF standard was developed in the early 1980s by Sony and Philips as a way to connect digital audio devices. It was first used in consumer audio products in the mid-1980s and has since become the most widely used digital audio interconnect format.
S/PDIF data is transmitted in a frame-based format, with each frame containing a 32-bit word. The first 24 bits of the word contain the audio data, while the remaining 8 bits are used for error correction and synchronization. S/PDIF can transmit audio data at sampling rates of up to 192 kHz and bit depths of up to 24 bits.
Applications
S/PDIF is used in a wide variety of applications, including:
- Connecting CD players and DVD players to amplifiers
- Connecting digital audio sources to digital-to-analog converters
- Transmitting digital audio data over long distances using Fiber Optic cables
- Recording digital audio data onto hard disk recorders and other digital audio storage devices
S/PDIF is an important technology in the world of digital audio. It provides a reliable and high-quality way to transmit digital audio data over short distances.
History
The development of S/PDIF began in the early 1980s, when Sony and Philips were working on a new digital audio format. The goal of the format was to provide a way to transmit uncompressed digital audio data over short distances.
The first S/PDIF specification was released in 1983. The specification defined the physical layer and electrical characteristics of the interface. The first S/PDIF products were released in 1985.
The S/PDIF specification has been updated several times over the years. The most recent update was released in 2008. The 2008 update added support for higher sampling rates and bit depths.
S/PDIF is a mature technology that is widely used in the world of digital audio. It is a reliable and high-quality way to transmit digital audio data over short distances.