Speedy,

S/P-DIF is the physical and electrical interface, you have to connect to something.

There is nothing wrong with this as an interface except that you find on it cheap as well as expensive devices. It's all about implementation.

On the 596 it is implemented really well using expensive components etc.

What is important about the connector is that it maintains 75 ohm's with no attenuation, a properly constructed cable is all that is required to go from the transport to the processor.

Martin.