S/PDIF connections for the PC:

For recording you own CDs or editing audio files on the computer, it can be a good idea to have an S/PDIF input and output available, for example on a sound card. Unfortunately, the capabilities of such interfaces on inexpensive sound cards are fairly limited, which you should take into account before making a purchase. First of all, though, what do you need to know about such connections, and are they really necessary?