Let’s first start by talking about what SPDIF is. SPDIF, also known as Sony Phillips Digital Interface, is a protocol connection for carrying digital audio signals between two devices. The two companies got together and developed a standard with the IEC so that different manufacturer components could be linked without signal degradation.

Now I know what you are thinking, “what does this have to do with me?” It has a few things to do with you. Let’s say you have the Crane Song HEDD and you need to get the signal back into your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Well, the HEDD only has a few options for outputs, Analog, AES or SPDIF. If you don’t own a high-end AD/DA converter like an Apogee Rosetta or Lynx Aurora, then by using your SPDIF ins and outs on the HEDD you can purchase a fairly inexpensive SPDIF PCI card for your DAW and bingo! You have made a connection.

Now therein lies the debate, is the signal quality the same if you use an inexpensive PCI card as apposed to a high quality converter? Bob Katz says it doesn’t matter, but you have to pay attention to your clock source: “If the HEDD is set to ‘digital mode’ where it receives signal via its digital in and processes it and then sends it out the digital input, then it is a SLAVE and you must provide a different, internally locked source.” I have to agree. SPDIF is 100% digital. It was created to carry a digital signal between components without any breakdown of signal quality. Metal on metal, as long as the components are connected as physically close as possible, you have a good set of cables and the correct impedance then you will have a great signal path for connecting components.

So the focus here is, if your components have SPDIF, there will be no signal loss or degradation by using SPDIF no matter the quality of the component you are using. If you have it, use it!

“Feel the world instead of trying to understand it.” – Deepak Chopra