I just bought new logitech 5.1 Dolby surround sound speakers. do i need a toslink cable/splitter or a 5.1 usb sound card to hook them up? if neither of these what would u recommend?
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Just Bought Speakers Please Help Me Connect Friends
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It depends whether your Logitechs have an optical input and a Dolby decoder built in or not. Don't know because we don't know what speakers you have.
IF the speakers have an optical digital input, then get an optical cable with appropriate ends (check first) and let the speakers decode the signal. You will NOT be able to control volume through the Mac software.
IF the speakers have analog inputs only, you will have to get an external 5.1 USB or Firewire audio output device. Or run them in 2.1 from the standard line outs.
IF the speakers have an optical digital input, then get an optical cable with appropriate ends (check first) and let the speakers decode the signal. You will NOT be able to control volume through the Mac software.
IF the speakers have analog inputs only, you will have to get an external 5.1 USB or Firewire audio output device. Or run them in 2.1 from the standard line outs.
From Apples website under Macbook:
Audio
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in omnidirectional microphone
Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
So - if your 5.1 speakers support TOSLINK fiber optic input - you can use it. You will need either an adapter to go from your "1/4" headphone/optical" jack to a standard toslink cable.
If you want to enjoy DVDs in 5.1 surround - be sure your Macbook DVD player has dolby output enabled. As mentioned - you will lose volume control via the computer. (for some reason iTunes and VLC can still adjust their volume output though - but system volume is otherwise locked)
I got my optical cable from Amazon.
Look for: 3m VELOCITY LT DIGITAL OPTICAL TOSLINK/MINIPLUG CABLE
Sold by Cables To Go
Edit: I do know the Logitech Z5500 supports toslink / dolby surround. As that is what I'm using.
Audio
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in omnidirectional microphone
Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
So - if your 5.1 speakers support TOSLINK fiber optic input - you can use it. You will need either an adapter to go from your "1/4" headphone/optical" jack to a standard toslink cable.
If you want to enjoy DVDs in 5.1 surround - be sure your Macbook DVD player has dolby output enabled. As mentioned - you will lose volume control via the computer. (for some reason iTunes and VLC can still adjust their volume output though - but system volume is otherwise locked)
I got my optical cable from Amazon.
Look for: 3m VELOCITY LT DIGITAL OPTICAL TOSLINK/MINIPLUG CABLE
Sold by Cables To Go
Edit: I do know the Logitech Z5500 supports toslink / dolby surround. As that is what I'm using.
I believe you need an mini optical out and then a toslink to connect your laptop optical out to your decoder or surround sound. Here is a website for the adapter. One of the previous posts has a link to the cable.
http://www.amazon.com/TOSLINK-TO-OPTICAL-MINI-ADAPTER/dp/B0002MQGRM
http://www.amazon.com/TOSLINK-TO-OPTICAL-MINI-ADAPTER/dp/B0002MQGRM
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