As a general rule of thumb, a good audio card needs to come equipped with as many connectors as possible to be compatible with the largest majority of audio accessories. Some computer speakers only accept RCA inputs, while other equipment has moved over to digital hook-ups. Head phones and game ports have been standardized, but with the mass of connections necessary for 5.1 audio, a few different tactics have emerged. Philips have opted to use proprietary mini-DIN cable assemblies for the S/PDIF and Line Out connections.

The S/PDIF cable splits into two RCA connectors, one for PDIF OUT and the other for S/PDIF IN. The other cable, the Line Out cable, splits into three 3.5mm stereo jacks for CENTER/LFE, REAR and FRONT audio outputs. The only real problem we can see here is if you happen to loose one of these cables. Since they are not standard audio equipment you would be out of luck.

There are four audio connectors on the card in addition to the ones along the edge. Internal connectors are important if you intend to use your CD-ROM to play CD's, or set your computer up for other acoustical duties (TAD for example). The PSC706 has the following internal connectors: Auxiliary In, Telephone Answering Device, Analog CD In, Digital CD In.

The Digital CD In connector was in the past a luxury most CD-ROM's left out, and indeed if they did come equipped with the connector, the jumper cable was often not included. All things considered, that cable really isn't required because most CD-ROM's use digital extraction (or the analog cable) to bring audio to the sound card.