Speaker compatiablity check :)

[Ali N]

I'm currently on a Acer Aspire 6930g that I have sat on my desk 80% of the time

I am into my music a lot and these ****ty 2.0 speakers that I got with my first pc are far from cutting it.

I have a budget of very max of £80 to spend on a set of speakers

I really want to get a 5.1 set to fully immerse into music and films

I have picked out the Logitech x-540 for around £65 as a possible candidate

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/sp...s/234&cl=gb,en

(They're well expensive on the official logitech store!)

Anyway, my laptop says that it supports full 5.1 Output but i'm not sure and want to clarify with you.. I have taken a photo of the ports with my digital camera



I just want to check whether the speakers will be compatible with my sound ports

Hope you can help!

[peterb]

Having looked (briefly) at the spec for your laptop, no, I don't think those speakers will work with in 5.1 sound as it stands.

The Logitech speakers you linked to take an already decoded signal from the sound card, which the Acer doesn't appear to have. It does have a digital output (SpDif) which could be fed to a suitable amplifier with a built in decoder to decode the digital signal, and then to surround sound speakers. However in that case you wouldn't need powered speakers (that is, speakers with built in amplifiers)

A decent amplifier with a digital input, together with the speakers, are likely to cost more than £80, however it isn't something I have researched, so I may be wrong on that count.

[Ali N]

aww darn.. That's annoying

Looks like i'll be sticking to the current ones i'm using.

Thanks for your help, saved me lot's of money

[schmunk]

I would like to bet 50 pence that this laptop will output 5.1 through those three jacks.

[martinp]

As peterb says, although your laptop does support 5.1 surround it is only via a S/P-DIF (Sony/Philips - Digital InterFace) optical output. You might see a beam of red light coming from the headphone/line-out port during boot up...

To use this you will need a speaker system with a DAC (Digital>Analogue Converter), generally known in the mainstream as a decoder unit.

These speakers are generally more expensive than the regualar analogue variants as it provides better quality sound as a seperate unit is dealing with decoding the Dolby Digital or DTS stream and a ray of light can't get interference from other sources providing a better signal.

A set that comes to mind is the Logitech Z-5500, however they are out of your budget.

To use a regualar analogue 5.1 system, you'd need to purchase a 5.1 external (USB/FireWire) soundcard - although this would probably come to the same price as the Z-5500's.

However, you say it will be for music so IMO you'd be better with a quality 2.1 speaker system. I had a 5.1 system before but personally I feel music sounds better from just 2 speakers, with a sub providing the lower notes.

Hope that helps without getting too technical/confusing...

[Will404]

I would like to bet 50 pence that this laptop will output 5.1 through those three jacks.

agred, my old pc mobo (sys 4 in the sig) had 5.1 output where in the software you selected 5.1 sound, and it said to use the line in for rear speackers, nd the mic port for front/sub.

Whats the make/model of laptop???

Edit: found out the make, missed it

Edit: Go onto the sound software settings, and see if there is an option for 5.1, and if it says anything about plugging speackers into the mic/line in jacks.

[Ali N]

I found this under a website Q+A representive from the company

"In response to the laptop not having an Optical Out port for sound, what capabilities does this laptop have for outputting 5.1 Surround Sound? Thanks again!
David J: the sound card in the laptop can be tweaked in the settings to allow you to hook up a 5.1 system or you could use the HDMI to go into a home cinema system"

How can you possibly tweak your sound card? and where are these settings

[Will404]

In the notification area of the taskbar there is the standard windows speacker icon, but is there also a second speacker icon.

If so, click on it, and then there should be an option to enable 5.1 audio. If you cant find it, upload a screen shot of the program here, and I will see if I can find an option.

(photobucket)

[Ali N]

Oh wow. I think I've found it




I hope that's what your looking for..

[Naith]

Have you thought of buying some 'decent' 2.1 speakers?

I.e. Acoustic Energy AEGO M's or Altec Lansing MX2051's. They're very good...

[Will404]

Oh wow. I think I've found it




I hope that's what your looking for..

Yep, that should be it.

Now plug your existing speackers/headphones into each of the jacks one by one while playing something like microsofts speacker test:

Rightclick on the lil white speacker icon on the very right, click on speacker, and click on configure speackers. Select 5.1, and click on the different icons to play sound through each channel.

Then you will know it works


Also if you want 5.1 from music using dolby pro logic, you should right click on speackers, and click properties, then enable speacker fill.

[Ali N]

each of the ports works with the speakers.

So now am I alright to know that those logitech speakers will work with my sound card?

[Will404]

looks like they will. Same speackers I have, they are ok, lots of bass, but not so great for higher sounds, or precision. But V-good for films.

[Ali N]

awesome. What ports do they come with to plug into the sound cardy bit?

[Will404]

They come with 3*3.5mm jacks.

So the green one goes into the headphone port, black goes into (probably) the line in, and orrange goes into the mic port. Afank it will work like that

[Ali N]

nice.. Well i'll be placing my order through scan on them fairly shortly..

If I find out that it doesn't work, will I be able to return the speakers for a full refund?

Thanks for all your help.. It's been great for me