5.1 Computer Speakers with an mp3 player

[drunag]

I recently received a logitech 5.1 computer speaker system set as a gift. I already have decent computer speakers on my desktop, so i was wondering if i could use these for a mp3 player?

The speakers have the 3 connectors to go into a soundcard that supports 5.1, however since my mp3 player only has a headphone jack, is there such a thing as an adaptor? I could even use it for my laptop then.

I have already tried it and no matter which one i plug in, only 1 or 2 speakers work, and the sound is kind of muffled.

any input would be appreciated.

thanks

[evanx]

It will not work as it is an analogue stereo signal from your mp3 player's headphone jack. Each analogue connector on the speaker system corresponds to a stereo output to the appropriate speakers. A split head converter/adaptor will send 2 of those signals from your jack to 2 outlets, one for each connector, but that acts as a 2x stereo.

The best way to utilise it, as you mentioned, is a soundcard. There might be "boxes" where they "convert" a stereo signal to a 5.1 but there aren't worth it (unless it's optical and there's an onboard encoder).

[Bskll]

if your speakers have a button for matrix mode, you gotta turn that on to have the speaker turn stereo sound into 5.1 sound.

[justmehereajax]

I don't know if its worth the price...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/LOGITECH-5-1-GAME-CONSOLE-ADAPTER-FOR-SURROUND-SPEAKER_W0QQitemZ140281412509QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPC A_Speakers?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I have a couple spares of these from my Logitech x-530 purchases a couple years back.

They work to output the sound to all 5 speakers and subwoofer but that all I know.

Dave

[TruE SkiLLS]

wont work as 5.1 for sure

unless ur mp3 has digital out / optical out / LOD
and ur 5.1 has optical in / digital in / LODock

[evanx]

I don't know if its worth the price...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/LOGITECH-5-1-GAME-CONSOLE-ADAPTER-FOR-SURROUND-SPEAKER_W0QQitemZ140281412509QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPC A_Speakers?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I have a couple spares of these from my Logitech x-530 purchases a couple years back.

They work to output the sound to all 5 speakers and subwoofer but that all I know.

Dave
Those are RCA to 1.8" stereo mini-plugs, which will not help his case if he does not have an RCA to mini-plug adapter already. Note that it's probably a 2x stereo output and not real 5.1.

[justmehereajax]

Those are RCA to 1.8" stereo mini-plugs, which will not help his case if he does not have an RCA to mini-plug adapter already. Note that it's probably a 2x stereo output and not real 5.1.

His MP3 player is in analog stereo anyways. I doubt he has a MP3 player that has SPDIF or anything like that to create 5.1 from stereo...

He has an analog 5.1 speaker system and thus this is the good method to get 'sound' to all 5 speakers + subwoofer cheaply and easily. Those RCA to 3.5mm adapters are inexpensive anyways. One cable should be no more than 5 bucks.

Remember this adapter is from Logitech so it should be good if not adequate for his needs.

I found them alright. But I wouldn't just setup something like this for just an MP3 player. For a laptop, I would invest in a true 5.1 sound card.

Dave

[drunag]

wow thanks for all the replies

I wasn't expecting the sound itself to be 5.1, because i know the output is not 5.1... but i just wanted the sound to come out of all 5 speakers and the sub without sounding like crap. that logitech adaptor seems like it might do the trick, and i have a y cable sitting around somehwere as well.

also, i had no idea that there are soundcards for laptops that can do 5.1... rfd users teaches me something new everyday :)

[willy]

As Bskll asked above, does your speaker has "Matrix" mode button ?

[justmehereajax]

Back a year or so ago, I wanted the same solution for my laptop and I had a spare x-530.

My laptop had SPDIF but I did not have a speaker system that was capable of receiving SPDIF.

I thought of buying this solution from Monoprice: USB to Audio Converter Cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10311&cs_id=1031105&p_id=1614&seq=1&format=1#largeimage). Back then it was $30 I think.

Till now I don't have a 5.1 solution for my laptop. I felt it was overkill. I have 2.0 solution.

I am currently using USB to Audio adapter based on the C-Media 108. It also has SPDIF and has VIRTUAL 7.1 Surround Sound to 2.0/2.1. It sounds good with all the fancy effects but IT IS NOT 7.1 and not 5.1.

I will buy a true DIGITAL 5.1 surround sound system one day but for a HTPC or sumthing.

Dave