Digital Audio Out Port (early 08 MBP)--Will it work with 5.1?

[Artagnan]

Hey everyone,

I have a 17" early 2008 MBP (the last non-unibody one) and am in the market for a new pair of speakers. I have zeroed in on these as a good set: Logitech Z-5500 Speakers. It has an optical-in port (Image here) and I am wondering if the digital audio out port (aka the headphone jack) will be sufficient (as an S/PDIF) to provide me with the full benefits of this speaker system--5.1 surround sound.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Hydroxs]

Yes just get a optical to 3.5mm cable and you will be fine.

 

[alphaod]

Yes it should work fine.

 

[Tomorrow]

Hey everyone,

I have a 17" early 2008 MBP (the last non-unibody one) and am in the market for a new pair of speakers. I have zeroed in on these as a good set: Logitech Z-5500 Speakers. It has an optical-in port (Image here) and I am wondering if the digital audio out port (aka the headphone jack) will be sufficient (as an S/PDIF) to provide me with the full benefits of this speaker system--5.1 surround sound.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

I'm running the exact same setup with my iMac and the same speakers, and yes, it works great. The speakers are awesome - with the digital signal there's no popping or background hiss, even at higher volume.

One caveat - in order to get 5.1 you have to be using an application that supports 5.1, like Front Row. It's not enough to have a file with 5.1 playing through an app that doesn't, like iTunes. That will still be 2.0.

 

[areusche]

Download Perian. It will definitely help with 5.1 channel decoding.
http://perian.org/