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Thread: pc speakers

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    pc speakers

    Can you use 5.1 Surround Speakers (and a sub) on a pc with just the normal linein/out/mic jack sockets?

    Don't you have to use a 3way cable or whatever?


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    Rob
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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Well, the sound card has to support it, in which case there are usually more connectors on the back. However, some sound cards can reroute the jacks to serve different purposes, depending on your speaker setup.

    Unless you have a digital setup - you get three jacks for 5.1 - and need a 5.1 capable sound card.
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    It's a PC Chips M848A board that says it uses AC'97 Codec and supports 6 channel audio output - oh I think I get it, the outs are (share) so you must use all thre jacks and presumably some kind of s/wre config to tell it there are 5.1 speakers connected??

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    Senior Member oshta's Avatar
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    you can always wire a 5.1 set up to a cheap 2.0 card - but theres little point :S

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    Ah, I see now - the mobo supports 6 channel audio, but I need a front/rear panel adaptor plate with the right sockets on it. The I just connect off the mobo to the panel.

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    Spodes Henchman unrealrocks's Avatar
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    If its got the CMedia chip on - in the setup options you can tell it what all the ports are to be used for ... kinda cleaver - kinda stupid!

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    Well i had 6 channel on my mobo but i decided to buy a soundblaster live card. Main reason being that the card handles 5.1 perfectly and seein as its like £15 you wont have any hassel then. : )
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    The Soundcard wouldn't provide enough Omph for proper speakers / Sub. Ie Bookshelfs/Floorstanders and Large seperate sub. You will need a seperate amp.

    If you are talking about PC Speakers the Sub normally doubles as an AMP. So you have 3 cables running to the amp/sub (Front/Rear/Centre and Sub) 3 stereo leads.
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    Studmuffin Flibb's Avatar
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    • Flibb's system
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    If you hunt around there are some AV speaker sets that have an amp built in to the sub. They are mainly used with DvD players that have dolby dig decoder built in.
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    Senior Member oshta's Avatar
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    Originally posted by unrealrocks
    ... kinda cleaver - kinda stupid!
    Id go for "kinda stupid" - it would be ok if they gave you a backplate with them all on as well thought

    - but as i have a 5.1 set up and what to play my mini disk player thought the sound card its a masive pain in the arse!!!

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    Spodes Henchman unrealrocks's Avatar
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    Yeah - but kinda cleaver means theres no annyoing backplates!

    I like the setout of the back of the A7N8X, all the audio connectors, losing a serial port (your never gonna use anyway) and no addon bracket apart for Game port, been using that up untill today ... now I have an Audigy2

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    Senior Member oshta's Avatar
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    Yeah - but kinda cleaver means theres no annyoing backplates!
    yeah i know but if theyhad it so that (as now) you could change from 5.1 to 2.0/line in/MIC

    BUT also have a optional back plate for people who need to use the line in and mic ports while using the 5.1

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