4.1/5.1 speakers and notebooks

Hi All,

I'm a bit confused by sound output setups on notebook computers. I have a set of 4.1 speakers (Cambridge Soundworks 1800) that aren't top of the line, but I've enjoyed. While I'd like to get an Audigy NX external soundcard, I'd rather not spend so much money, given the cost of a notebook like the W3V itself. So, my question is - how is it that a 4.1 or 5.1 speaker setup is compatible with the outputs on a laptop? Would I need to purchase a separate "expander" for the single output provided, or is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks for enlightening an ignorant soul,
Sandeep

 

unforuntaly, i think all notebooks only have 2 channel analog output. I have Logitech Z-560 and I use a splitter (goes from one input to 2). My speakers also have a button to take a 2channel input and convert it into 5 channel surround.

i also want the audigy for my laptop, but at this point, it's a bit too expensive for me (rather buy more RAM or something with that money)

Asus M3NP 1.5GHz Centrino (Dothan /w 2mb L2)
1GB PC2700 DDR
100gb 5400rpm 8mb Cache Seagate Hard Drive /w 5 Year Warranty
Intel 2200BG 802.11g Wireless

 

Interesting...I didn't know the klipsch gmx had built in decoder...might have to look into that. I got the latest CPU-z which was the april release ver. 1.28.6. It seems to detect all my setting fine. Tells me my chipset is i915.

 

It shouldn't run dual channel, but someone else pointed out that CPU-z doesn't support sonoma yet.

Also..... yes the headphone out is S/PDIF (sony / philips digital interface).... all that means is that a digital signal is going from the computer and out the hole.... there isn't a decoder on board.

As I suggested to someone else, if you want the best speakers that come with a decorder as well.. the Klipsch GMX 5.1's are great..... the Ultra 5.1's are better, but they are more expensive and need a decoder.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

On whether the w3v is capable of a 5.1 setup...it's possible in my opinion. I think the headphone out doubles as a s/pdif digital out. Having said that and if that is the case, you would need a 1/8 male to rca type female connector with a coaxial cable connected to a digital decoder in order to use the 5.1 set. The only set i know now that have a built in digital decoder is the logitech Z-680 and Z-5500. The digital output that the computer sends out are binary data that the digital decoder decodes and produces the music.

Off the topic, I just installed 1 addition gig of RAM in my lappy to make it 1.5 gig. CPU-Z shows it running in Dual mode. Is this normal? I've also updated the Bios and my ati memory shows 576mb of video memory. Where can i get the ati driver update if this isn't what it suppose to be.

 

Yeah, I used that version of CPU-z and some guys in here told me it wasn't truely working right.

The GMX's have decoder in the control module.... The GMX's were actually designed to make a slightly cheaper and more affordable Klipsch speaker set to compete with those Logitech's... So I can tell you that they are AT LEAST as good as the Logitechs, maybe better...... they look hot with any Asus laptop as well.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]