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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Connect my macbook to 5.1 surround sound

Connect my macbook to 5.1 surround sound
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jwv101
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Dec 6, 2011, 08:47 PM
 
Okay, I'm fairly new to this so help me out. I'm wanting to connect my 13 inch macbook (latest model) to 5.1 channel surround sound. What equipment do I need to do this properly? i.e. do i need a usb sound card? or 5.1 receiver?
Thanks
     
Waragainstsleep
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Dec 7, 2011, 05:36 AM
 
Thats going to depend very much on your 5.1 equipment. If it already has a processor of some kind, an optical connection should be fine. Toslink is the preference as a rule.
( Last edited by Waragainstsleep; Dec 8, 2011 at 05:53 AM. Reason: Removing nonsense random word)
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
jwv101  (op)
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Dec 7, 2011, 10:54 PM
 
I have Logitech x-540 speakers
     
P
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Dec 8, 2011, 05:40 AM
 
That one has no digital inputs and is made for multiple analog low-level inputs. For that, you need a USB sound card.
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Dec 8, 2011, 05:48 AM
 
From what I can see, the X-540 have analog inputs only.

Either, you just connect them to the stereo output (but only have stereo, unless you switch them to that fake "Matrix" pseudo-surround-blargh), or you need an additional audio interface to decode 5.1 to six analog signals.

That can then be connected either through S/PDIF or via USB
     
P
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Dec 8, 2011, 08:31 AM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
That can then be connected either through S/PDIF or via USB
Note that S/PDIF cannot be used for realtime 5.1 audio, only for pre-encoded AC3 or DTS audio. Best way is an "external sound card" over USB. The only possibility to get 5.1 or 7.1 directly from the Mac sound chip is over DisplayPort, and I'm not aware of any good solutions for achieving that.
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Dec 8, 2011, 09:47 AM
 
I'd assume from the question that any need for 5.1 would arise from thus encoded audio.
     
   
 
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