[rhodesy]

As the post title suggests - I am looking to setup surround sound with my MBP and 23" HD screen.

I was wondering what options I had and which option is the best.

Also - are there any COMPLETELY (with exception to the power cable) wireless surround sound systems - rather than just the back 2 speakers.

Thanks

[brassplayersrock²]

only way to get any sort of surround sound on a laptop is to get an external soundcard that is usb, like the m-audio sonica theater. for the wireless surround sound, i think the speakers your looking at for the 2 "wireless" rears are from logitech. those arnt exactly wireless, you need to plug them into a power source, but wireless from the main sub, yes. for a completly wireless surround sound, i have not found any, and if there is, id think they wouldnt sound all that great. maybe in another few years. good luck with your quest

Brass

[rhodesy]

Thanks for that.

Do you recken that the USB on the apple cinema screen (that is divided from one usb port into 2) would be enough to power the surround sound. Or even one of the firewire ones that have been divided from 1 into 2. It's just that way it makes turning my mbp into a home cinema is that much easier.

[ibook_steve]

Hang on. Doesn't the optical out (SPDIF) give surround sound without the need for an external device?

Steve

[rhodesy]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

Hang on. Doesn't the optical out (SPDIF) give surround sound without the need for an external device?

Steve

I read that it has the optical out but didnt know if it would then mean surround sound. Wouldn't apple want to say if the mbp had surround sound...

[rhodesy]

hmmm, apples pdf document about the mbp says the optical out can be used for 5.1 surround sound - where does that leave me with which system to get?

[brassplayersrock²]

Originally Posted by rhodesy

Thanks for that.

Do you recken that the USB on the apple cinema screen (that is divided from one usb port into 2) would be enough to power the surround sound. Or even one of the firewire ones that have been divided from 1 into 2. It's just that way it makes turning my mbp into a home cinema is that much easier.

i usually plug mine directly into the back of my cinema display and it works fine. i'll look into the optical thing mentioned
edit:

The audio out jacks are actually 1/8 inch mini-jacks BUT they also can hook up to an optical Tos-link cable (via a tiny 'adapter that's 1/8 inch to Optical) direct to...say, a Stereo receiver that can decode 5.1 audio. Set your pref's in DVD player to go digital out and the machine's sound pref's to be Digital out (which may only show up as an option if you have the cable pluged in and available)...then Play you movies on DVD Player, Decoder decodes and plays 5.1 Dolby or DTS etc. Works like a charm.
Other apps utilize this feature as well

Originally Posted by rhodesy

hmmm, apples pdf document about the mbp says the optical out can be used for 5.1 surround sound - where does that leave me with which system to get?

I have the logitech z-5500 5.1 speakers and they sound great, really, any speakers that have optical out will do, but I highly recommend a set with a built in decoder like the ones i mentioned abouve.

Brass

[harrisjamieh]

The optical audio out port will give you 5.1 digital surround sound. Thing is, the speakers usually cost more as you need to get digital speakers

[rhodesy]

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

The optical audio out port will give you 5.1 digital surround sound. Thing is, the speakers usually cost more as you need to get digital speakers

Any recommendations?

[DeputyDoofy]

You could also consider getting an amplifier which supports 5.1 and has an Optical In. That way you should be able to use any speakers you so desire.