[saltines17]

Does anyone know how I would go about connecting these speakers to either a G4 tower (single 450MHz) or to a Cube?

Also, another question:
I have a Cube which I use as my main system and a single 450MHz tower which I don't really use (don't ask ). If I can connect those speakers to either computer which would you recommend for me to do:

1) Replace the Cube's original speakers with the Bose set.

or

2) Keep the Cube connected to its original speakers for use with games etc, and connect the Bose speakers to the tower to use as a stereo system.

Thanks!

[olePigeon]

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/macintosh/

Here ya go. You'd need to use the Tower cuz it requires a PCI slot.

[Evangellydonut]

In a reply to olePigeon's post, i mentioned that I've heard of A TON of problems with the soundblaster card, maybe someone can confirm/deny that...but until you have a very good knowledge from which ever source about the stability of SoundBlaster, hold back a few thousand dollars on those speakers 'cuz you can't use them...besides, with speakers like those, I'd rather use it on a 60in HD projection TV to watch DVDs, since they are the only major source that supports 5.1. As for gaming...uh, get a PC? I'm not advocating for it, just that if you are a big enough gamer and have enough money, its probably to your advantage to get a seperate PC setup for games, since theres much more hardware AND game selection with much better cutting-edge technology/M$-propaganda support (ie DirectX8.0/8.1) that can dramatically enhance your gaming experience...

Cube only use USB sound, which is a pathetic way to do sound, no way to connect to it to utilize those speakers to 1/10th its potential...(exaggerated, but not by much) Setup 2 is more ideal, but again, Soundblaster only supports 4.1 (4 speakers + woofer) and the Bose looks like a 5.1 (it'll still connect, just don't get the ideal setup for DVD watching, which is more enjoyable on a 35in HD Wega or bigger HD projection TVs anyway ^_^ unless you are in a Dorm room and short of space)...still better than a 16-bit stereo output from your original equipment in the Tower, but again, take caution with the sound-card...

[saltines17]

Originally posted by Evangellydonut:
<STRONG>As for gaming...uh, get a PC? </STRONG>

No, I didn't mean specifically for games… I mean just as for whatever i'd be doing on the Cube at the time… I do play games sometimes

[saltines17]

Does OS X support the Soundblaster card?

[saltines17]

Originally posted by Evangellydonut:
<STRONG>
Cube only use USB sound, which is a pathetic way to do sound, no way to connect to it to utilize those speakers to 1/10th its potential...(exaggerated, but not by much) Setup 2 is more ideal, but again, Soundblaster only supports 4.1 (4 speakers + woofer) and the Bose looks like a 5.1 (it'll still connect, just don't get the ideal setup for DVD watching, which is more enjoyable on a 35in HD Wega or bigger HD projection TVs anyway ^_^ unless you are in a Dorm room and short of space)...still better than a 16-bit stereo output from your original equipment in the Tower, but again, take caution with the sound-card...</STRONG>

So since it supports 4 speakers instead of 5 will sound actually come out of the 5th speaker?

----------------
Thanks

[Evangellydonut]

OS X support has to be referred to Creative Labs, since they are the ones writing drivers for it. If there's a driver for OS X, then I guess its all good ^_^ look through their website or email someone, not hard to figure out.
As for sound out of the 5th speaker...I have no clue...it'll probably just share a channel with another speaker or something...which is pretty easy to do software/hardware...

[saltines17]

Thanks for the replies so far!!

[Mr_Solar_Wind]

Actually your sound output will be limited to 4.1 regardless of which system you choose: the limitation isn't in the hardware, but in the software hooks from the Mac OS. Currently in OS 9 (neither are available for OS X yet, and supposedly a more advanced sound framework is in the works) all sound output is piped through the sound manager before it is outputted to the speakers and sound card. This means at best you can get two channel stereo from any computer running Mac OS. The soundblaster card gets around this limitation by using sending two sound samples to the card at one IIRC, i.e. one from the front and one from the back. Like I said, supposedly OS X will be getting a more advanced sound framework, but as it stands there's little to gain using OS 9.

FWIW my setup uses the stereo signal from my analog headphone jack connected to my Yamaha home theater system. It's not true surround sound, but the Yamaha DSP is capable of expanding the stereo signal into "big sound" on 5 quasi channels. It sounds like you're thinking of a setup similar to what I have, you'll need to look into a home theater receiver as well. btw my setup cost around $500 (YHT-18) and I've been thoroughly pleased with its price/performance. That Bose stuff is generally overpriced.

Solar

[saltines17]

Ok, so would it be possible to connect the cube/tower to a yamaha receiver which would connect to the bose system I linked to originally? (I like the bose thing for the little cubic speakers )

And if yes, you're saying all of that wouldn't work in OS X yet?

Thanks again…

[Mr_Solar_Wind]

Originally posted by saltines17:
<STRONG>Ok, so would it be possible to connect the cube/tower to a yamaha receiver which would connect to the bose system I linked to originally? (I like the bose thing for the little cubic speakers )

And if yes, you're saying all of that wouldn't work in OS X yet?

Thanks again… </STRONG>

Sorry, you misunderstood me:

Of course it works under OS X! What doesn't work under OS X is the Soundblaster Live (since there are no drivers)-- and there's no way to connect the speakers directly to the cube because it doesn't output enough power for the speakers (or output in 5.1 for that matter)!

But the setup I described WILL work under OS X!

The "system" you showed us is not actually a home theater system-- merely a set of overpriced (though good sounding) speakers. If you get a home theater receiver (doesn't have to be yamaha) to power the speakers, then use the headphone jack on your cube to connect to the surround sound receiver, I GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL WORK-- I'm running OS X exclusively and it works great for me!

[saltines17]

Originally posted by Mr_Solar_Wind:
<STRONG>

Sorry, you misunderstood me:

Of course it works under OS X! What doesn't work under OS X is the Soundblaster Live (since there are no drivers)-- and there's no way to connect the speakers directly to the cube because it doesn't output enough power for the speakers (or output in 5.1 for that matter)!

But the setup I described WILL work under OS X!

The "system" you showed us is not actually a home theater system-- merely a set of overpriced (though good sounding) speakers. If you get a home theater receiver (doesn't have to be yamaha) to power the speakers, then use the headphone jack on your cube to connect to the surround sound receiver, I GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL WORK-- I'm running OS X exclusively and it works great for me!</STRONG>

OH!! THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. SOLAR WIND!!!
THAT SOUNDS EXCELLENT!!! YAY!!!!
And Yamaha apparently has USB receivers too!!
So I think I will end up getting a Yamaha receiver and some speakers, though I'm not sure about those because of the price.

Thank you SO much!!

(Maybe I'll connect the receiver through the headphone jack on the cube speakers so I can have an excuse to keep them there because they are so damn cool )
Or maybe I'll just connect it to the tower… whatever

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: saltines17 ]

[aaanorton]

I don't know much about surround systems and computer signal output.
However, I own a Monsoon speaker system (subwoofer & 2 satelites) which I love. They sound and look great. They offer a 5 piece system as well. Check them out. I think Monsoon makes the best multimedia sound systems at a given price point.
Cliff

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by Evangellydonut:<STRONG>
As for gaming...uh, get a PC?
</STRONG>

I only bought a $150 celeron PC just so I could play TWO games (Subspace and Darklands.) I'd use VirtualPC but it has major problems with networking and is impossible to play Subspace on it.

I see no reason to get a PC as Neverwinter Nights will be released for pretty much every platform (even Amiga!) And I plan on spending 99% of my gaming time with Neverwinter.

DAMN IT THAT GAME IS GONNA F*CKIN ROCK!!

http://www.neverwinternights.com

[saltines17]

Ok guys, I've revised my desired speaker system
How does this sound (pun very much intended ):

These speakers,

This subwoofer, and
This receiver.

Unfortunately it totals to $697…

What do you guys think?

Thanks

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: saltines17 ]

[G4ME]

I would Highly recamend going over to HiFi.com they sell Yamaha and cambridge sound works which have the same small crystal cube speekers (like the bose) and a great downward firring Sub so the sound gose to the room to shake that not your ears. I would recomend these speekers. and the reciver that you mentioned before Try and listen to the speekers befor you buy because the sound of the Cambride sound works will beet the yahmaha hands down. I have These and they blow me a way better than my 100 Watt shelf system that cost almost three time as much Go with Cambride Soundworks you won't be disapointed

[cube-dude]

Transferring this speaker discussion to the Peripherals forum. Find thread there.

Er, yeah. I'm in a similar quandary: I'm going off to college in a matter of weeks, and have a TiBook. Is there any way by which I can connect my TiBook to the Bose Lifestyle system, so as to send mp3s to the good bose speaker system?

[saltines17]

Originally posted by &lt;Jonathan from AI&gt;:
<STRONG>Er, yeah. I'm in a similar quandary: I'm going off to college in a matter of weeks, and have a TiBook. Is there any way by which I can connect my TiBook to the Bose Lifestyle system, so as to send mp3s to the good bose speaker system?
</STRONG>

Go look at yamaha's "CAVIT" receivers - their USB receivers for speaker systems. Unfortunately, the receiver that supports 5 sound channels costs $450
(It's the one that I linked to above)

So has anyone heard the yamaha speakers I linked to?? They good???

Thanks

[G4ME]

Go with the Cambridge Sound Works they are on the same level as the Bose but half the price. Trust me I have the suround sound speeker package and a 200 dolby digital recever and they totally kick ass by far.

[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: G4ME ]