Hooking Speakers to Laptop

I'm trying to hook up my surround speakers from my old desktop into my laptop. But my laptop only two input holes... one is definitely for sound since it works when I plug my headphones in. I was hoping the other one would work for sound, but is it only for microphone?

Since, my speakers have 2 plugs which went into my old ancient desktop. But when I plug both into my laptop, only 2 of the 4 speakers have sound.

Do most laptops only have 1 audio input? I didn't even think of this when buying it. Is there some sort of adapter I can buy, and does it diminish sound quality?

Thanks! Getting used to this laptop still.

 

Both are headphone jacks. They're for music "sharing". They're not surround sound. You need third party stuff to get 5.1 sound.

 

I would think one would be a headphone jack, and the other a line input. I might be wrong, but i've never had a laptop with 2 headphones out. Unless ofcourse they make a mixed mode input/output.

 

You said that backwards but I know what you mean

No, no. SPDIF there is his surround sound. Or even better, just connect the HDMI.

 

Oops, I did have it backwards. One jack has a headphones symbol, the other one has a microphone.

Unfortunately, my speakers don't have HDMI input... they're a couple of years old.

Would headphone splitters work?

 

What kind of speaker system do you have right now? If you can get a picture of your speakers or describe the number and type of speakers and list all plugs/jacks that would help.

Most computer 5.1/4.1/2.1 (X number of speakers and a sub) systems that I have seen, all the speakers get wired to the sub which as a built in amplifier that powers all the speakers. Are you using a home audio setup that just has a bunch of line ins on the back of a receiver to feed?

Either way a splitter will work, just use one side of the split signal to power the right and the other for the left side speakers. You won't get any differentiation between front and back, but you will have all 4 speakers running on the proper right/left signal anyways.

 

Most laptops that support surround sound have about 4 audio jacks. Sometimes 3. If you only have 2 then jacks then you have 1 mic input channel and 2 channels which is normal stereo (left & right).

Cobrien has given the most useful advice.
If you want to use all 4 speakers, all you need is a 1/8" or 3.5mm splitter. Should be stereo or you will lose more channels.
It wont be 'true' surround sound, but you need DVD or special formats to use that anyway. The only problem I can see with this is it might not be as loud, because you are 'splitting' and also halving the total audio output power.

Here:
3.5mm male to femal audio splitter Jack Adapter cable | eBay

I don't know what the heck you think you are talking about.

 

No, this is not a feasible solution for someone who wants surround sound. This will only divide the stereo in a separate pair of speakers. However, my solution is intended for speakers with a regular L/R connector. The inexpensive computer speakers don't typically offer that.