External sound card advice

[hgabor84]

Dear Forum Members!

I want to connect my MacBook Pro Early 2011 to my 5.1 sound system - Creative T6300. What are my options? I was thinking of a usb solution, but I can't find a type available anywhere in my country (Hungary) - unfortunately the Creative Sound Blaster Omni is not - so I'm looking for help from more experienced people.

Best regards,

Gabor

 

[satcomer]

Your best bet is to connect Instruments to your M1 or Intel Mac your best bet is get a powered USB Hub that has the quickest port on your Mac then buy the USB mixer from Maccie Mixers and get grove on live!

 

[hgabor84]

Your best bet is to connect Instruments to your M1 or Intel Mac your best bet is get a powered USB Hub that has the quickest port on your Mac then buy the USB mixer from Maccie Mixers and get grove on live!

Yes, I need more usb-ports as hub because I have two overall. I really like your suggested devices named Mackie Mixers but they are too advanced for me as normal everyday use. I don't wanna be a DJ but I'd like to watch some movies with 5.1 sounds by my CreativeLabs T6300 sound setup. All what I need is would be a simple and small usb device with 3 jack connector slots for connecting my T6300 but I didn't find the best yet what really supports 5.1, MacOs-compatible and that is in good prices. Creative SoundBlaster Omni would be good one but its not available in my country and I don't wish to order with extra high prices from the USA.

 

[satcomer]

Then read the article HomeStudiosRecording.com and decide which one you want for you audio file person!

 

[Boyd01]

You keep suggesting audio interfaces but that is clearly not what the OP is looking for - they only want output, not input. I believe this is commonly called a "DAC" (Digital to Analog Converter). I have a couple audio interfaces but no experience with DAC's or 5.1 surround sound. A simple Google search for "usb dac 5.1" provides lots of products but I can't recommend any myself.

 

[theluggage]

I want to connect my MacBook Pro Early 2011 to my 5.1 sound system - Creative T6300. What are my options?

Cant find any specs on the T6300 - but does it have an optical (SPDIF/Toslink) input?

If so, you may be in luck because the 2011 MBP has an optical output buried in the headphone socket (something that has been dropped from modern MacBooks). In that case you'd just need a Mini-jack to TOSLink (optical) cable. You might not get surround sound from regular Mac applications but many video player apps will send 'raw' digital sound from sources with a 5.1 soundtrack, that a surround system will decode.

Unfortunately, 5.1 surround stuff with anything other than HDMI seems to be getting a bit rare now...

 

[coolajami]

You'll need a 5.1 external soundcard. The only one's I know that are external are the SoundBlaster ones, like the Soundblaster X3 and X4.