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Best cheap way to get 5.1 on the (white) MacBook?

Buschmaster

Buschmaster

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 12, 2006
1,306
27
Minnesota
Hey there everyone.

I'm not the smartest person when it comes to audio and speakers and everything, so I'm looking for some advice. Well, really more of clarification really.

My understanding is that, via a toslink cable I could hook up a 5.1 speaker system that has digital input.

The other way to do it would be to get something like the Griffin Firewave which would take audio out from my USB port and have the correct ports for analog 5.1.

Is this correct?

The speakers I was looking at were these:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-9702...2?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1241285267&sr=1-2

With which I'd need a Griffin Firewave or similar device, if my understanding is correct. But that would still seemingly be cheaper than a set of speakers I can use the toslink with correct?

The main purposes for 5.1 would be DVDs and games (And just being surrounded by audio even when it's 2.1 ;))
 
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Buschmaster said:
Firewire 800 or 400?
Click to expand...

Either will work as you can get a cable that has the 800 on one end to the 400 on the other that is required by the FireWave. I would add that mine outputs 5.1 from the media that has it without problems now whether that is "true 5.1" as the other poster is mentioning I have no clue..

Edit: Now that I think about it there is a setting in the configuration to turn on the Dolby Digital decoder so it most likely does have the true 5.1 surround there.
 
MacUser2525 said:
Either will work as you can get a cable that has the 800 on one end to the 400 on the other that is required by the FireWave. I would add that mine outputs 5.1 from the media that has it without problems now whether that is "true 5.1" as the other poster is mentioning I have no clue..
Click to expand...
I'm sure there is testing software where it makes the sound go spinning around you or something, right?

But either way I want to get the "true 5.1" or I may as well just hook it up without the Firewave.
 
Buschmaster said:
I'm sure there is testing software where it makes the sound go spinning around you or something, right?
Click to expand...

Exactly you can test the speakers in the Audio/Midi Setup with mine I needed to change around the front speaker outputs as they were reversed.
 
MacUser2525 said:
Exactly you can test the speakers in the Audio/Midi Setup with mine I needed to change around the front speaker outputs as they were reversed.
Click to expand...
So the Firewave supports 5.1 but the speakers I referenced earlier don't?

Hm. I suppose I'll keep looking for speakers and see how cheaply I can get away with 5.1 audio.;)
 
Buschmaster said:
So the Firewave supports 5.1 but the speakers I referenced earlier don't?

Hm. I suppose I'll keep looking for speakers and see how cheaply I can get away with 5.1 audio.
Click to expand...

The speakers you linked too support 5.1 and unless you like to spend a pile of money for high end ones which I gather you don't want to do should be good enough for your needs.
 
I'll likely be getting those speakers and a firewave this summer then. It should be awesome when watching things like Star Wars or playing games.:)
 
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