What is a Digital Output ?

A digital output is an electrical or optical connection that allows digital audio or video program material to be fed to another device in a digital format without being converted to an analog signal first.

The most common digital outputs used on audio devices are S/P DIF and TOS or TOS-LINK, AC3-LINK ,USB and IEE 1394. Of courses there could always be new standards developed when needed. S/P DIF and TOS are very common and are included on virtually every new CD player and DVD player manufactured today. We can thank the MiniDisk (MD) for that. In order for MD recorders to record MD's they needed a digital signal source.  Kind of like a the which came first the chicken or the egg  scenario.  You need a digital output to record a digital MiniDisk. MiniDisks were touted by consumer electronics manufacturers to be the next personal audio platform but became overshadowed by the less complex personal MP3 player.