[bkatran]

I have a 15" powerbook, what speakers can I hook up?
I have the isticks right now but was hoping for somehting with better sound quality
thanks

[YeahIgotone]

i have always purchased bose speakers and when i found out that they had a computer set up i had to get them. Needless to say i was quite impressed. For just being 2 speakers with no sub, they put out incredible sound. if you try hard enough you can even phase them out... Gotta love Bose!!!

[AssassyN]

Basically any speakers w/ a standard 1/8" plug will do.

I'd highly recommend the Klipsch speakers for top-notch sound quality; both their 2.1, 4.1, and 5.1 ProMedia Computer Speakers have insane sound quality at very reasonable prices.

[Tomster]

What type of speakers are you looking for, portable or desktop?

[bkatran]

does the powerbook have that 1/8 audio plug?
the speakers would be for the desktop but on a powerbook

[kstor]

I guess it all depends on what price range you're looking at. First of all, it seems that buying a 4.1 system isn't worth it, since you're plugging it into a 2 canal system (correct me if I'm wrong on this)

Personally, I got the creative i-trigue 3300 system for my 12pb. They're 2.1, sound great (IMO) and have serious bass, with the added bonus of looking extremely stylish. For $76 shipped (search for i-trigue on pricewatch) it's great value for money.

Of course, if you have unlimited resources, I hear the Klipsch are really good, but they're about twice as expensive...

KStor

[AssassyN]

Yep, PowerBook's have the standard "headphone sized" 1/8" Audio-Out jack just like any desktop machine does.

[bkatran]

is that that plug on the left?

[AssassyN]

If I'm not mistaken, the Audio-Out (headphones-out) is the ONLY jack on the 15" PowerBook that's NOT on the back.

[bkatran]

so you can only have a 2.1 setup right?
i want the klipsch promedia 5.1's but would settle for theh 2.1's

[AssassyN]

With the standard Audio-Out jack, you can only use up to a 2.1 sound system.

However, with the addition of the M-Audio Sonica USB Device, you can connect a 5.1 Sound System via it's Optical Digital Out (you'll need to purchase an Optical Cable as well...about $20-30 at Best Buy/Circuit City). On a notebook computer, this device is your only choice to connect a 5.1 rig to the computer.

[bkatran]

ic
so they green cable would go into my powerbook
and then the optical would go from the speakers to this thing via usb
so its kinda like the creative extigy

[AssassyN]

The connections would go as follows:

The Speakers (5.1) have a Digital Out (a single Digital cable) that would leave the speakers & go into the M-Audio Sonica box where it has that slot for "Digital Input". The other "headphone like" input beside the Digital Input on the Sonica box won't be used. Once plugged in there, the USB cable goes into one of your PowerBook's USB ports & you're connected.

[tisoncam]

I think that what you want is the M-Audio Sonica theater. You would connect the green and the black cables to the theather and would then get 5.1 sound. The M-Audio Sonica only supports optical 5.1, whereas the Sonica theater supports standard 1/8" 5.1 speakers.

[AssassyN]

Originally posted by tisoncam:
I think that what you want is the M-Audio Sonica theater. You would connect the green and the black cables to the theather and would then get 5.1 sound. The M-Audio Sonica only supports optical 5.1, whereas the Sonica theater supports standard 1/8" 5.1 speakers.

Most 5.1 Systems send full 5.1 sound via a SINGLE Digital Optical Cable. By connecting this single optical cable from the speakers to the M-Audio Sonica box, and then plugging it into the USB port, you get TRUE 5.1 sound from a single cable...I had a setup exactly like this and it worked perfect.

[tisoncam]

I have a 5.1 system that still uses the older black and greeen 1/8" connectors and I don't think that the Sonica supports this feature, only the Sonica Theater (but I could be wrong as I don't own either of these, though I have been planning on buying the theater).

[AssassyN]

For you that need ANALOG 5.1 hookups, the Theatre is the way to go...however, upon buying new 5.1 systems, you can easily find them w/ the Optical Output in which just the Sonica will do.

[tisoncam]

Great--thanks for the info--makes my life much easier.

[AssassyN]

Anytime!