Laptop external 5.1 sound system

[TallTravel]

OK, I know I can't get great sound from this set up, but is this the best I can do?

My laptop has only a 1/8" mic jack on it for audio, and no RCA at all. I purchased a 5 speaker 5.1 system with subwoofer/amplifier from Sam's Club, but I can get only one physical connection for audio. Sounds system came with an adapter from three separate 1/8" lines (green, black, and yellow) to two RCA jacks, but that again requires RCA.

Am I stuck with getting all this pumped through a single 1/8" audio jack, or would I benefit by purchasing a (PCMIA or whatever the laptop cards are called now) sound card from Creative Labs?

Don't really want to spend twice the amount of the sound system on the sound card unless I have to...maybe I ought to have kept the desktop...

Ideas? Shall I shut up and purchase a Creative Labs sound card?

[AnotherMuggle]

You will find that the soundcard in the laptop is low quality through a surround system. Also since you dont have a digital connection or ALL the plugs available on the laptop you can never get TRUE surround sound from it anyway...at most you will get Dolby Prologic II which to be honest isn't all that impressive.

If you are intent on connecting the laptop to a surround sound system then a proper add in card (PCMCIA) is the way forward!

[TallTravel]

double post, sorry people....wireless connection is not too reliable today...

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by Sunset If you are intent on connecting the laptop to a surround sound system then a proper add in card (PCMCIA) is the way forward!

That is what I was thinking I will have to do: spend $100 on a sound card when I spent only $60 on the surround set of speakers.....oh, too bad Sammies' Club does not have a Creative Labs sound card for a small price...

[AnotherMuggle]

Are you in the UK or US?

Try www.newegg.com
OR
Try www.overclockers.co.uk/

You may find some decent priced products

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 Are you in the UK or US? Try www.newegg.com OR Try www.overclockers.co.uk/ You may find some decent priced products

Sorry, US. I must learn to mention that, eh? I am new to the board.

Thanks.

[thefultonhow]

I have a Phillips Aurilium USB sound processor. It was $20 direct from Phillips on closeout a year or so ago. It works fine with my Klipsch 5.1 speakers, although the software is a bit buggy -- it doesn't redetect the processor when I plug it back in without restarting (i.e. when I take my laptop out to class and then bring it back, hibernating it each time). I have to restart the application for it to work properly.

[TallTravel]

I went to a local computer store and found a couple of choices:

A USB device for $30 which converted to a decent output for better sound.

A 5.1 compatible sound card which cost $100.00, made by Creative Labs

The choice I actually made was a Belkin converter which sounds GREAT on the 5.1 surround system:

At WalMart, a $3.50 product which converted the three 1/8" male plugs from the 5.1 system to a pair of RCA jacks.

Now, all 5 speakers and the subwoofer are putting out great, deep, sound, and the entire set up cost me only $60.00.

Gotta love that!

[AnotherMuggle]

Belkin converter - what kind of a converter is it? You mean the converter for the 1/8" connections from WalMart?

Sorry, I got a little lost in that last post

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 Belkin converter - what kind of a converter is it? You mean the converter for the 1/8" connections from WalMart? Sorry, I got a little lost in that last post

My fault if you got lost. Sorry. The Belkin converter, at it's physical level, has two " sides " to it:

one side has two male RCA jacks on it.

the other side has one 1/8" male audio jack on it (I do not know the proper term for the 1/8" audio jack which is on the laptop, sorry, the female one which is designed to receive the mic or headset.

So the Belkin converts this physically, and I don't know how it splits or converts the sound, but the result is perfect for me.

Clear as mud?

[AnotherMuggle]

I think I know the connection you are talking of and I'm pleased that you have got your setup working to a standard you are happy with

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 I think I know the connection you are talking of and I'm pleased that you have got your setup working to a standard you are happy with

Me too, actually. I watched a movie on the system last night with all of the speakers spread around the room, the subwoofer operating as designed, and it was a different experience than I have had in the past, to be sure. That, and the streaming audio I listen to from the net make it a rather nice experience.

Getting it set up right was a worthwhile effort, and one which will keep me happy for some time.