Laptops with digital audio output

S/P-DIF

— digital audio output (including multi-channel audio) via single cable. There are two varieties of this interface — optical (almost not subject to interference, but requires careful handling of the cable), and electrical coaxial (less interference-resistant, but not so delicate). Specifically, in laptops, such an interface is often implemented in the form of standard 3.5 mm mini-Jack (and an optical S / P-DIF can even be built into the headphone output connector). All these details should be clarified separately.

It should be noted that for the vast majority of tasks, the classic analogue 3.5 mm mini-jack output is enough; and digital audio can also be transmitted through the HDMI and DssplayPort outputs (although these were originally intended primarily for video). Therefore, S/P-DIF is used very rarely in modern laptops — in separate gaming models (see "In the Direction"), where it is supposed to connect external multi-channel acoustics or other advanced audio equipment through such connector.