Sager NP9262 -- S/PDIF (Digital Audio) Output to Logitech Z-5500 Speaker System

Hi all,
I need some help in figuring out connections from my Sager NP9262 laptop, using the S/PDIF output jack provided on tha laptop, to my Logitech Z-5500 speaker system.

The NP9262 has 4 audio jacks in front: Headphone (3.5mm) jack, Microphone (3.5mm) jack, S/PDIF (Digital Audio) Output (3.5mm) jack and a Line In (3.5mm) jack.

I want to use the S/PDIF jack on the laptop, which I think is a standard 3.5mm (1/8") jack, to output digital audio to my Logitech Z-5500 speaker system. My goal is to get full 5.1 audio output, if possible when watching movies on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The Logitech Z-5500 speaker system has 2 options for digital audio input:
- Optical Input
- Coaxial Input

My questions are as follows:
1. Is there a difference in audio output clarity and performance between coaxial and optical (even though both are digital)?

2. Most of the Optical cables I have seen online have the standard optical connectors on both ends of the cable. So, one end of the cable will go into the Logitech Z-5500's control panel input, which has the correct jack for this.
However, how do I connect the other end of the optical cable to my NP9262's S/PDIF jack (which is a standard 3.5mm jack)?
- Do I need an adapter for this? If yes, what kind of an adapter do I need?
- Are there cables available that have one end as an optical connector and the other end as a standard 3.5mm jack? Is that better than using an adapter?

3. Same question for Coaxial cables -- where can I get a similar adapter for connecting a coaxial cable to my laptop's S/PDIF jack?

Thanks a lot in advance for any links/ pointers/ answers that can be provided!!

 

I went over this many many times over the months.
go here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4255913

its using coax SPDIF.

you will need a 3.5mm mono to RCA.

 

Hi Gophn,
Thanks a lot for your reply -- very useful information and exactly what I needed clarified!!

I have read through all of the attached threads in your reply regarding this issue and I think I am clear on the hardware I need now.

So, based on what I have read, please help me confirm the following:

1. The Sager NP9262 has a Digital Coax output jack -- not a digital optical output port (since I do not see a red light inside the jack).

Please confirm.

2. In order to get digital audio output, from my laptop to my Logitech Z-5500 speaker system, I have 2 options:
a. Get a regular digital coax cable, with both ends of the cable having standard RCA connectors, and then also get a RCA-to-3.5mm connector. Then I plug one end of this cable into my speaker's digital coax INPUT (using the RCA end), and using the RCA-to-3.5mm connector, plug the other end into the laptop.

Please confirm.

b. Second option is to get a pre-made cable that has one end as an RCA connector and the other end as a 3.5mm connector. This will also serve the same purpose.

Please confirm.

3. Out of the 2 options above, is there a difference in audio quality output (between (a) and (b)), or does it not matter at all?

Please confirm.

Thanks a lot once more!

 

correct. its NOT optical SPDIF.

it is indeed coaxial SPDIF

its cheaper to go with option A

Nope.

I have both options tested... same quality.

I used gold plated wires and adapters... not expensive ones... the kind you would find at RadioShack or electronics store.

 

Thanks Gophn! I will go with Option A...and let you know how it works out by posting to this thread again......Thanks a lot for all your help!!

 

Hi Gophn,
One quick clarification about Option A: I searched online for the RCA-to-3.5mm adapter and I see 2 kinds:
- RCA Female to 3.5mm MONO male
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=118&sku=40633

- RCA Female to 3.5mm STEREO male
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=118&sku=40637

Which one is the one I want -- is it the MONO or the STEREO? Is there a difference in the two that would impact the audio quality?

Thanks!

 

its mono that you need.

mono will create the correct SPDIF coaxial bridge.

... it has nothing to do with analog signals like in the previous days of mono/stereo.

 

Ah, I see. Thanks!

So the STEREO version will *not* work, I assume?

Also, is this particular adapter a good quality one? Is there some other better website to order from? You had mentioned "gold-plated" adapters and I was wondering where you got them from?

Does Radioshack carry these adapters as well?

Thanks again!

 

you can get the adapters at almost any place that sells electronics and accessories.
Radioshack
Bestbuy
..etc..

even ebay might sell it for cheap

 

Hi Gophn,
Quick update -- I have S/PDIF digital audio output working now on my NP9262...and it sounds awesome! Thanks a lot for all your help.

For the benefit of future users like me, who have similar issues/ questions, here are the list of steps I follwed to enable S/PDIF digital audio output, over a COAXIAL cable, on my Sager NP9262, running Vista Ultimate (32-bit):

1. Get a standard Digital Coaxial (RCA-to-RCA) cable.

2. Get a RCA (Phono)-to-1.8" (3.5mm) Mono Plug (Adapter). I got one at the local RadioShack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102693

3. Connect the adapter to one end of the RCA cable and insert it into the NP9262's S/PDIF output jack (in front of the laptop). Insert the other end into the Digital Coax input jack of your speaker system.

4. Select COAXIAL input on your speaker system's control hardware (if available). I have the Logitech Z-5500, where the Control Pod allows you to select the audio input source.

5. On Vista, look for the audio icon in the system tray (bottom right corner). Right-click on this icon and select "Playback Devices". Select "Realtek Digital Output" as the default output audio source.

6. Ensure that the "Digital Audio" volume icon is also UNMUTED. Select OK.

This should enable clean, crisp sound over the Digital COAX connection.

Enjoy!

 

nice.

glad to hear you got it going.

 

Hi,

I have a that have a ALC888S with a Digital out like show here :

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5669/comp2.jpg

The yellow is the Digital OUT



I plug it using that cable :

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/8416/cable.jpg



And I plug it on the logitech base at the coax :

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7721/based.jpg



But I'm getting No digital data. I play song and still I don't hear any song.

Am I suppose to use the converter RCA Female to 3.5mm male?

Is enable on my sound card setting

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5836/soundy.jpg



Thanks

 

Never mind i found the problem

 

I think I have a cheaper solution to this problem. I just use the normal 3.5 mm jack to stereo RCA (3.5mm in one end and red and white RCA in the other end). Then I just connect the white RCA plug to the digital coax input on the speakers, and leave the red RCA unplugged.

Works for me. And this cable is much more common than 3.5mm mono to RCA.

 

Yeah, that should work fine, but the cable is likely not as well shielded as a proper digital coax cable, so you might lose some quality.