Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

5.1 Sound Card for iMac?

richardsim7

richardsim7

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 17, 2007
129
7
Hey guys,

I'm thinking of buying an iMac (don't worry, I don't need convincing)
However I would like to have 5.1 sound to accompany my Logitech Z-5500's

I saw this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/117714/

However it looks like the product is no longer avaliable on the market, does anyone know of a better/similar thing I could get?? :)

-Rich-
 
Couldn't you use the SPDIF jack on the iMac to connect with the Logitechs? I'm not an audio pro
 
flopticalcube said:
What's the problem? Your 5500 has an optical input and your iMac will have an optical output. Nothing else is needed (save for the right cable).
Click to expand...

Wow, I cannot believe I was right (my post was purely a guess) ;) So the OP definitely has a solution
 
Seriously?! :|

I had no idea the iMac had 5.1 built in, awesome!! :D

So if I got an optical cable and stuck one of these on the end:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Adapter-ODT-Socket-Converter/dp/B00006J4GA

it would work?? Cool :)

However, I would be using the optical input of the Z-5500's for my PS3, is there some way I can get it from the optical jack to a digital coaxial??

-Rich-
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
richardsim7 said:
Seriously? I had no idea the iMac had 5.1 built in, awesome!! :D
Click to expand...

It doesn't. It has digital optical out to your amp/receiver. It simply passes through whatever your media has encoded. If it's stereo, then you get stereo. If it's Dolby Digital, than that's what it sends out. Same for DTS, DPLII, etc. If you had content that was 7.1 or 9.1, it could pass that out, too. That's the beauty of digital optical (or coaxial) - it's agnostic.
 
Sorry, I got my words mixed up, I know full well it doesn't have 5.1 IN the mac itself, but the fact it has optical out has made me very happy :D
As far as I'm aware the Z-5500's have digital decoding.

It looks like TosLink to Coaxial could be a bit of a mission, so I might end up getting a little 3 way switch for optical cables to switch from the iMac to the PS3 :)

-Rich-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back