Why does the m1330 appear to have two headphone ports?

Is one of them actually an optical out? Or is it just some 'pseudo-surround-sound' gimmick?

I can't quite get my head around why two seperate stereo outputs would be useful. Perhaps it was a cost cutting exercise over decent soundcard implementation? Unless of course... they simply couldn't fit a soundcard into that miniscule chassis. In which case, it was a nice enough afterthought I guess for atleast a little enhanced audio prowess.

Also, does the HDMI output carry a 5.1(+) signal? Or is that just a stereo transmission too? Just curious.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

They have two so two people can use headphones.. for watching movies while travelling etc..

it's a very good idea imo.

 

Apparently, they are simply two headphone ports (the sound device on the m1330 is a sigmatel chipset, with SB audigy software available for it). In case you're watching a DVD on a plane, with a friend or something.

Analog rear channel is apparently available through a setting that flips the mic jack to a rear output.

No one seems to be able to really confirm the HDMI audio output capabilities, but it definitely carries an HDMI audio stream, and someone mentioned in another thread that "Well, in HDMI audio properties, it allows to switch to Dolby Digital (AC3?), DTS or WMA Pro Audio format. " so it looks pretty promising in that regard.

 

I have a plugin jack splitter worth £1.99 that can do that though. I figured it must have some added worth given its direct implementation. I guess not.

How on earth do you 'switch' a vocal input into a rear signal output? That's really possible? (Although given the built-in mic, it's a nice feature for an otherwise redundant port if true) Makes me wonder if we can also switch one of the two headphones ports into a front signal. To complete the three outputs in an analog setup.

 

From chuckles in a previous thread: "On my m1330, when you insert the plug a window pops up asking if you have plugged in a mic, a line input, or rear speakers. The same socket works for all of them, but it can't tell so you have to tell it."

Why not? The ports are just wired into the audio chipset; depending on the software configuration, each one could easily be used for multiple purposes as above.

Analog surround is almost never 5 channel; the center is modulated from the left/right channels, so you really only need two outputs - one of the headphone jacks, and the multipurpose mic jack. The only way to get 5.1 would be through a Dolby Digital or DTS stream through the HDMI, which the m1330 -appears- to support (yay! confirmation on this anyone?)

 

For 2 speakers and a mic OR Front, Center/LFE and rear for analog 5.1 speakers.

 

This has been a very enlightening thread. Thanks guys!