I am glad that a digital audio interface now exists to eventually replace the old analog audio interfaces that are still ubiquitous in electric equipment today, and I hope to eventually own a speaker set that uses this new S/PDIF standard, but I have several questions to ask about it before I make such a purchase and investment.
First, why does the S/PDIF standard use only a single pin in its connector, and why is that pin exposed? Most other interfaces standards have multiple pins for transmitting large amounts of data simultaneously, and those pins are embedded into the connector to prevent them from being damaged (such as USB and HDMI connectors). With only a single pin, it seems to me that an S/PDIF connection is limited in the amount of data that it can transmit at one time, and with that pin being exposed, it is vulnerable to being damaged. Additionally, the connector too strongly resembles an old analog connector, which could lead to confusion and simply is odd to me, as newer connectors usually are very different in appearance compared to the old connectors that they replace, such as a SATA conenctor in comparison to a IDE/PATA connector. Would it not be better to have a digital audio connection that had multiple pins for better data transmission, those pins embedded to protect them from damage, and a different appearance from analog connectors to distinguish it?
Second, does S/PDIF offer plug-and-play capability, as do USB and HDMI, and can it convey information between the computer and audio devices (such as model name or number of sound channels), the way that Display Data Channel does for monitors?
Third, how long may it take for digital audio connections, S/PDIF or otherwise, to completely replace analog connections and become as ubiquitous as are analog connections, currently? I notice that S/PDIF connections currently are used only in expensive, high-end audio equipment, and I am hoping that they shall eventually be used in all audio devices, which nearly all use a 3.5 mm TRS connection.
What does everyone else have to say on this subject? What insight can you offer? I await your responses.