Cable from Laptop to hometheater:Quality?

Hi Guys;

I bought a home theater system from Amazon as below:
Philips HTS 3270 5.1 Heimkinosystem schwarz: Amazon.de: Elektronik


And the inputs are in the picture below:

Kundenbildergalerie für Philips HTS 3270 5.1 Heimkinosystem (HDMI, Upscaler 1080p, DivX Ultra-zertifiziert, 420 Watt, USB 2.0) schwarz

I have a Sager 9262 and currently use a 3.5mm cable to connect from laptop to theater system.

1)Does it deliver a true 5.1 sorround system with the present set up?
2)If I used a co-axial cable from the SPDIF out of thelaptop to the co-axial in of the system would there be a noticeble increase in the sound qualityand/or make it true 5.1?

Looking forward to your views!

 

Don't know what you mean by 3.5mm cable (I assume 3.5 to red-white RCA?) but 3.5mm jacks do not support surround sound.

A 3.5mm jack can only carry two signals, in 5.1 there's 3 - left/right, rear left/right, and center/sub.

Coax does support digital 5.1.

Remember that if your laptop supports HDMI output then you can use that for both sound and video.

 

By 3.5 mm output I mean the one where we plug in our headphones to listen to music.As I suspected its stereo.My laptop doesn't have HDMI out and the system cannot take HDMI in also which rules HDMI out.

So a co-axial cable can make true 5.1 sorround sound? Would this one do the job?
3 Meter Premium DIGITAL COAXIAL VIDEO KABEL (K1-3) bei eBay.de: Kabel (endet 30.12.10 16:04:25 MEZ)

 

Your best choice and always go with this choice is HDMI, it provides ease of use and up to 7.1 uncompressed, and some other audiophile settings that you probably won't need to concern yourself with. The other reason to go with HDMI is it mixes V-Games into 5.1 aswell, what I mean when I say this is that the SPDIF or optical audio from a laptop will not MIX a 5.1 system, rather only a 2.1 audio set up. This is due to the LACK of Dolby Digital Live or DTSLive(im not sure if the DTS version is called live but it does the same as dolby digital live), this feature will mix hd and send it over optical audio or co-ax to have the amp just play it and not decode and mix the audio signal. The only content that will stay 5.1 is dvds and blu rays, this is because there is a pre-exisiting audio track on these discs that do not have to be mixed on the fly.

Oh and let me clarify for the users what OP means by 3.5 mm, this is a headphone jack, but with a special adapter some laptops have it as a back up TOSLINK output, or optical audio. Unfortunately like I explained in the above paragraph most systems wont output games in 5.1 through this method, only movies. This is obviously different on video game systems like PS3, were if you have your system outputting Optical Audio, the system will mix it in 5.1, this is because they have Dolby Digital Live tanslator.

So if your just watching movies, this will be fine but for games go with HDMI. Also HDMI with be your best option because moving forward for atleast the next ten years you'll haev future proofed yourself for any upgrade. HDMI is quickly becoming the standard for most things and with the death of VGA by 2015 the age of anolog connections is slowly seeing its way to the grave.

 

Would love to if the laptop had an HDMI out and the home theater had an HDMI in which unfortunately they don't?So the next best choice would be co-axial, I presume?

 

Thats if your lappy uses the Co-ax as an audio output, check the specs of your lap first to make sure, if not then your only option is the Optical Audio which will be more then fine for movies, but games will only go to 2.1 set up. I figure now because you must be using an older laptop that the co-ax might just be used for video to your tv, a 480p signal like the yellow cable for composite cables, and I think we are using the wrong name then, its RCA jack rather than CO-AXIAL, co-ax is what you used to plug old cable tv or bunny ears into, Im at work so I have limited access to pictures and sites.

but rca is this : rca jack - Google Search

and Co-Ax is this co-axial cable - Google Search


EDIT: or you have one more option, getting an external sound card for your lappy, that allows that surround sound RCA output, I know some amps have that as an option. Or try looking for an external sound card with Dolby Digital Live that outputs Optical Audio, then you'll be golden.

Please post your laptops audio output spec sheet, I can then tell you what your best option is.

 

Hi

The laptop seems to have:S/PDIF (Digital Audio) .It's a sager 9262.

And the input for home theater is Co-axial digital in like the picture below:
Kundenbildergalerie für Philips HTS 3270 5.1 Heimkinosystem (HDMI, Upscaler 1080p, DivX Ultra-zertifiziert, 420 Watt, USB 2.0) schwarz

So the cable below would work?

3 Meter Premium DIGITAL COAXIAL VIDEO KABEL (K1-3) bei eBay.de: Kabel (endet 30.12.10 16:04:25 MEZ)

 

1 DVI Port
1 CRT Port
4 USB 2.0 Ports
4 Audio Jacks
1 RJ-45 LAN (10/100/1000Mbps)
1 RJ-11 Modem
1 IEEE 1394a Fire Wire
1 S-video TV-Out
1 S-video Video-in (Optional TV-Tuner Module Required)


Audio System
Built-in 8ch Azalia Sound System (with 8 external speakers output without Ext. decoder)
S/PDIF Digital output
1 Built-in Microphone
4 Built-in Speakers

Ok so this up here is your audio and your interface, the interface is what you can plug into the laptop, and by the looks of it, the co-ax or rca jack is only used for CRT output, meaning it only ouput video. The only options you have is using your optical audio or SPDIF cable, Or getting and external sound card with digital co-ax output. Again the Optical audio will NOT make games 5.1, but your movies will be. Your other sound ouput on your laptop is 3.5mm jacks, normally used with computer surround sound. It uses the microphone, headphone, and the other ones to seperate the individual channels, and plug them into COMPUTER surround sound. You might be able to find an Adapter to Plug them into and output Digitcal CO-AX. worth taking a google look.

 

Exactly! So this cable can do the job right?

3 Meter Premium DIGITAL COAXIAL VIDEO KABEL (K1-3) bei eBay.de: Kabel (endet 30.12.10 16:04:25 MEZ)

 

Unfortunately no, you laptop doesnt output Digital Co-Ax, you would need a converter, or an external sound card. something like http://img.alibaba.com/photo/293356596/HA-INFO-NG-COAX-Sound-Card-USB-to-SPDIF-COAX-Converter-Pure-Digital-Output-Sound-Card.jpg
and hopefully it comes with software aswell.

And now the more I think about this, the external sound card might be your best option, or look for a 3.5mm jack to ditigal co-ax converter.

But if your just using it for movies then an optical audio cable will do the trick, just the games wont have surround sound.

 

So without any external sound card there is no way to get SPDIF output to work with Optical or Co-axial in of the system?

 

Hold up , we must have a miscommunication somewhere, all you need is the SPDIF Optical Audio cable, with the 3.5 mm jack to plug into your laptop. THIS WILL MAKE DVDS AND MOVIES 5.1, thats it. BUT if you want to play GAMES in surround sound you will need a different solution.

 

You mean I need a cable that can plug to the 3.5mm output of the laptop, where we plug in the head set to Co-ax in?Isn't it same as 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable?Or no?

Thanks for all the answers!

 

I think you're confusing output connection with plug type? If your computer only has coax output, then that's the plug you're limited to; and the one to use to connect to your TV or stereo receiver. Which one of these two you choose depends on the corresponding input to receive the surround signal. Receivers are best, since they typically have the most variety of inputs, and offer the most flexibility in control (that's what they're made for).

If nether one can receive coax, then you'll need a converter (to adapt to whatever connections you do have) to get surround to work.

 

Would come one be kind enough to tell me what I need to connect the Sager 9262 with SPDIF out to the home theater system below for a true 5.1 surround sound?

Kundenbildergalerie für Philips HTS 3270 5.1 Heimkinosystem (HDMI, Upscaler 1080p, DivX Ultra-zertifiziert, 420 Watt, USB 2.0) schwarz

 

Haha ok I think your getting your cables mixed up, the cable you get will look like this http://www.cable-trader.co.uk/images/items/CABLE-624.JPG This is an optical audio cable, you will plug this into your headphone jack and then into your amp through the port called "optical audio", this will give 5.1 on your movies, but GAMES WILL NOT BE IN SURROUND SOUND, you will still hear it in 2.1 audio. forget about your co-ax cable.

 

his sagers RCA jack is for 480p video, his reciever has an orange "digital co-ax" cable that some desktop computers use to output 5.1, his laptop does not have this, his three options are 1. optical audio to haedphone, 2. all 3.5 mm jacks used together with a converter perhaps to co ax if one exists, or 3. external sound card.

 

On the contrary, I believe you should give the OP the alternative and let him decide which he prefers.

The coax offers the same digital quality with less possibility of aberrations. Personally, I recommend him using the highest plugs your unit offers.

In that case, at least number two still applies.

 

Yes lol my point, OP doesnt have digital co ax output, so either external sound card with it, or converter, thats the only way he will get games in surround, My g73 have optical output but without dolby digital live it wont output

 

Could you elaborate on that coax option you mention?May b a link to the cable or so?

Thanks for the link.Since 3.5mm output of laptop send audio in stereo format can this setup have a true 5.1 for movies?

 

They both offer the same digital signals. However the coax option only works if your computer offers a coax port--which typically is of higher construction and is much less susceptible to interference.

 

I have rep'd all of you.

Any one to elaborate on the co-ax option?Is it the same as SPDIF on my laptop?And if I used a 3.5mm out from headphone jack to Optical converter to be plugged in to the home theater system?Would it be a true sorround sound since headphone jack is stereo out?

 

You're complicating a simple matter OP. The headphone jack will only output stereo. Therefore, if you want surround you have to use one of the other aforementioned ports: HDMI or SPDIF

Again, the HDMI offers simplicity with an all-in-one A/V cable. The SPDIF is merely another route to surround, if you don't have or choose not to us an HDMI port. The one you pick depends on what you want to connect it to, and/or the cables you may already have available.

 

Seriously OP, since you don't have HDMI, just go with something like this:

Amazon.com: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro USB Audio System with THX SB1095: Electronics

Laptop to Sound Card (USB), Sound Card to 5.1 Receiver (optical).

@The previous posts, the 3.5mm optical cable only works if your 3.5mm jack is also an optical digital output. It would be best to consult your manual or call the company to see if it does.

Edit: Wait, your laptop has S/PDIF Digital output? Why not hook it up to the S/PDIF Digital input on the receiver?

 

Thanks for replies guys.

I am pretty suer the 3.5mm doesn't have optical as well.This is what I wanted to clarify before.I know some of the laptops have this feature but not many.

Yes SPDIF is an alterntive but I dnt know to get which cable to plug into the port of the home theater below which has a co-axial digital input.
Kundenbildergalerie für Philips HTS 3270 5.1 Heimkinosystem (HDMI, Upscaler 1080p, DivX Ultra-zertifiziert, 420 Watt, USB 2.0) schwarz

 

clasic thread, learning about cables is so mind boggling. I love it lol...I think what there refering to is a toslink though, just google toslink to 3.5mm adapter and you should find what you need to connect the two.

 

As the myriad of posts suggest, the alphabet soup of cables and plugs can be daunting. That's one of the main reasons for adapting to HDMI. It's simple all-in-one plug capability and unique shape (at least until Dell's Display port went and complicated things), makes it a no-brainer.

 

Don't forget that display port has more features and can easily be converted to hdmi, passively. I think HDMI is great because of it's great allrounder capabilities, but DP does even expand these features.

 

It's not an option for him.