iBook G4 and 5.1 speaker system?

[TangyToad]

I'm thinking of getting a 5.1 surround sound system, but I want to use it with my new iBook G4. Is there an affordable way to get 5.1 sound out of my iBook with a usb attachment or something?

[LimeLite]

edited because I can't read.

[cpjakes]

Just go with a Sonica or Sonica Theater, they're both USB -> digital audio. The Sonica will get you what you want, optical out for 5.1. The Sonica Theater also gives a line-in, which you may or may not need. I have a Sonica, and it works flawlessly with Panther's DVD Player.

Good luck!

cpjakes

[bousozoku]

I agree about the sonica and sonica theater. I have a sonica and feel it's a worthwhile improvement to any system. I get better performance from games because of it.

[crazzyeddie]

You get better performance from games? How so?

[bousozoku]

Since changing to sonica, I've noticed that games don't hesitate when making sounds, as they did when the onboard sound was used. It's not just the sound that would hesitate but the whole game.

I wish I had some way to show it.

[crazzyeddie]

And it did this while you were plugged into the wall and not on battery power?

Usually that problem only happens when using battery power, because the computer shuts down the audio subsystem.

[Dreadnought]

Does anyone have a website for the sonica? It sounds cool!!

[plinkoman]

Originally posted by crazzyeddie
You get better performance from games? How so?

because the cpu doesn't have to handle all the sounds with a dedicated sound card, leaving more power for everything else.

http://www.m-audio.net/products/consumer/index.php

[crazzyeddie]

I was never able to receive a clear answer as to whether or not the M-Audio USB products (or even the PCI cards) off loaded the audio processor or still used the CPU... this would be interesting to know.