Sound Cards in Macs

dotdotdot · May 29, 2005

I am so excited - today I actually had my first conversation with my dad about buying a Mac that he didn't say "You're never getting one!" instead he said, "oh, thats interesting..." (non sarcastically.)

Anyway, if I get a Mac I'm getting the Logitech Z-5500 speakers... 5.1 Digital. I was thinking about getting an iMac or a 12" PowerBook, but I want to take full advantage of these speakers.

If I get a Mac, which one has the best sound card? Also, do they sell external sound cards for the Mac which provide Digital 5.1 Surround sound?

CanadaRAM · May 29, 2005

If you get a Mac with an optical digital output (any of the PowerMac G5's, the iMac G5, 17" Powerbook) then you can take 5.1 digitally to the Logitech Z-5500 Digital with a Toslink cable.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=9486

Otherwise, you can look at the M-Audio Sonica Theater (which has analog outs for 7.1 + optical out) or the Transit (which has an optical out for DTS passthrough only) http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces

5.1 operation depends on the source material being 5.1, and the software you are playing it through supporting 5.1

dotdotdot · May 29, 2005

So Basically, an iMac G5 would 100% support the Logitech Z-5500??

If so, I know which computer I'm going to buy!!

stevey500 · May 29, 2005

CanadaRAM said:
If you get a Mac with an optical digital output (any of the PowerMac G5's, the iMac G5, 17" Powerbook) then you can take 5.1 digitally to the Logitech Z-5500 Digital with a Toslink cable.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=9486

Otherwise, you can look at the M-Audio Sonica Theater (which has analog outs for 7.1 + optical out) or the Transit (which has an optical out for DTS passthrough only) http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces

5.1 operation depends on the source material being 5.1, and the software you are playing it through supporting 5.1

I have the logitech z-680's ( very similar to the 5500 ) and the M-audi Revolutions 5.1 card and I could never be more pleased... these speakers are kick-ass!! and so is the sound card!..

MoparShaha · May 29, 2005

dotdotdot said:
So Basically, an iMac G5 would 100% support the Logitech Z-5500??

If so, I know which computer I'm going to buy!!

No, only the Power Mac G5's and the 17" have built-in optical digital outputs. With the iMac G5, you'd have to get one of the adaptors CanadaRAM mentioned.

aethier · May 29, 2005

i have the sonica theater

i like the digital out, i have not used it since installing tiger as M-audio has yet to get around to producing tiger drivers.

Fuchal · May 29, 2005

MoparShaha said:
No, only the Power Mac G5's and the 17" have built-in optical digital outputs. With the iMac G5, you'd have to get one of the adaptors CanadaRAM mentioned.

The iMac has digital audio output.

stevey500 · May 29, 2005

Tiger should have support for your Sonica card... tiger worked right away with my Revo 5.1

ITASOR · May 29, 2005

Is digital out the port that is powered like on the QuickSilver to work with the Apple Pro Speakers. I don't think so, but I'm not sure what digital audio out is...anyone care to explain?

Ti_Poussin · May 29, 2005

I have a Logitech Z-680 with a m-audio Sonica Theater, take care of m-audio driver, don't install them they totally suck. But since Tiger support the card directly it's ok. I have seen people using the creative audigy external sound card and they are support, no special driver through.

jer446 · May 29, 2005

wait what is this about a toslink cable? I just bought x-530 speakers, and right now have it going to my computer through two headphone splitters, which i feel is a crappy way to do it. Can anyone send me a link to what i would need?

aethier · May 29, 2005

stevey500 said:
Tiger should have support for your Sonica card... tiger worked right away with my Revo 5.1

i'll try again, but the first time i tried in tiger, the drivers did not work and tiger did not detect (wasn't listed as a sound output option)

aethier · May 29, 2005

tried again, doesn't work

dotdotdot · May 29, 2005

So for an iMac I would need:

-An iMac G5
-Logitech Z-5500s
-An M-Audio thing

So, what is the best M-Audio thing for under $150?

MisterMe · May 29, 2005

dotdotdot said:
I am so excited - today I actually had my first conversation with my dad about buying a Mac that he didn't say "You're never getting one!" instead he said, "oh, thats interesting..." (non sarcastically.)

Anyway, if I get a Mac I'm getting the Logitech Z-5500 speakers... 5.1 Digital. I was thinking about getting an iMac or a 12" PowerBook, but I want to take full advantage of these speakers.

If I get a Mac, which one has the best sound card? Also, do they sell external sound cards for the Mac which provide Digital 5.1 Surround sound?

Your speakers ship with a Toslink cable in the box. If you buy a Mac with optical digital output, you don't need to buy anything else. It's a Mac. It just works.

JonMaker · May 29, 2005

dotdotdot said:
So for an iMac I would need:

-An iMac G5
-Logitech Z-5500s
-An M-Audio thing

So, what is the best M-Audio thing for under $150?

UNDER $150?! ROFLMAO!!!

You're kidding, right?

5.1 is overrated anyway.

dotdotdot · May 29, 2005

MisterMe said:
Your speakers ship with a Toslink cable in the box. If you buy a Mac with optical digital output, you don't need to buy anything else. It's a Mac. It just works.

PHEW!! So I save money!!!!

I thought I needed the M-Audio thing for $120... yes JonMaker, $120!... instead, I just need the speakers and the included toslink cable!

!!! I'm so happy now! I mean, if I don't get an iMac G5 I'll be really upset, but if I do, this is GREAT!

CanadaRAM · May 29, 2005

dotdotdot said:
So for an iMac I would need:

-An iMac G5
-Logitech Z-5500s
-An M-Audio thing

The iMac G5's headphone output doubles as a optical digital output. Apple sells a cable for it, http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...voZRs2OOHiDt12oD38GO/2.0.11.1.0.6.25.7.11.8.3
which includes a minijack-Toslink adaptor.

I don't know offhand if a standard Toslink cable will work.

CanadaRAM · May 29, 2005

jer446 said:
wait what is this about a toslink cable? I just bought x-530 speakers, and right now have it going to my computer through two headphone splitters, which i feel is a crappy way to do it. Can anyone send me a link to what i would need?

A Toslink cable is an optical cable for digital audio signals. It is a fibre-optic connection, rather than an electrical conductor.

To use it, you have to have a receiver, amplifier or powered speakers that has an optical digital input, and a decoder for decoding surround sound. Your x-530 speakers do not have digital input, so this is not an option for you.

For better sound, you could investigate one of the USB audio solutions, from the Griffin iMic or Powerwave, the M-Audio Sonica Theater (for surround) or the Transit (for stereo only)

Is digital out the port that is powered like on the QuickSilver to work with the Apple Pro Speakers. I don't think so, but I'm not sure what digital audio out is...anyone care to explain?

Erm... no it's not. It's a digital audio port (as opposed to analog audio, which is what is on speakers, headphones and RCA jacks that go to stereos).

dotdotdot · May 29, 2005

Do I need to buy a Mini-Toslink to Toslink cable to connect it to the back of the iMac G5?

bousozoku · May 29, 2005

stevey500 said:
Tiger should have support for your Sonica card... tiger worked right away with my Revo 5.1

It should but it doesn't support my sonica either. There is a new download for Revolution 7.1 cards, even though the 5.1 driver seems to work. The following is from their drivers area:

M-Audio's engineering department is constantly working to improve and update drivers for our computer-based products. We recommend that you download the latest driver for your device and operating system in order to assure optimal performance and access to the latest features and improvements.

Apple 10.4 Notice:

We are currently verifying compatibility of our hardware with Apple's new Tiger operating system. No device manufacturer can predict the compatibility of their hardware with a new OS until the final version has been released. We value your time and user experience, and want to ensure that our Tiger drivers are as robust as possible before providing them for download. We thank you for your patience while we verify these drivers, and we will post them shortly.

CanadaRAM · May 29, 2005

dotdotdot said:
Do I need to buy a Mini-Toslink to Toslink cable to connect it to the back of the iMac G5?

Yes

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