Logitech z-5500 and Imac

[macsander]

HI!

I Have an Imac and want to buy the Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers.
I would like to know how you connect the speakers digital, using an optical cable/port.
I want it optical because the sound is much better this way but how do you connect it without losing speakers. So when I listen music with Itunes I have full 5.1 sound. I know there are optical to 3.5mm jack cables but I have read that you lose the 5.1 this way?

I have an Imac 5g with these ports: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86813

I would be extremely happy if someone could help me out!

Kind regards,
Sander

 

[macdim]

Your iTunes music won't be 5.1 because it is Stereo to begin with. If you play a DVD, it should allow 5.1 sound to be output. You'll need a 3.5mm mono to single RCA cable, and you'll need to plug this RCA cable into the COAX input of the z-5500. This will give you a digital signal to the speakers. For iTunes music to be played through all the speakers, look for a "stereo x 2" or something like that on the speakers themselves.

3.5mm to optical will work the same basic way.

 

[macsander]

Yeah that would be the same as an optical ->3.5mm jack cable, that's just fine but I have read that The middle front speaker won't work when you put the settings to 'stereo X2'
Do I maybe need an external sound card or does it just word with the optical ->3.5mm jack cable, and get Itunes trough all the speakers?

Thanks!

 

[macdim]

You won't get the center channel playing anything in stereo x 2 mode, but I'm fairly sure the z-5500s have a ProLogic Music setting. This setting will sort of change your music into 5.1, but it will be simulated. You may not like it, so I suggest using stereo x 2 if you really want the music to "surround" you. Having the center channel off for music playback isn't that big of an issue, and it'll still work when watching a movie.

 

[fanbrain]

Yeah that would be the same as an optical ->3.5mm jack cable, that's just fine but I have read that The middle front speaker won't work when you put the settings to 'stereo X2'
Do I maybe need an external sound card or does it just word with the optical ->3.5mm jack cable, and get Itunes trough all the speakers?

Thanks!

For music, you won't need the center channel if your speakers are at least 45-60 degrees apart (the base of the inverted triangle starts at the listening position). Move them, then toe them in slightly toward you. This will give you a proper stereo image and the dialog/music will appear to come from between the left and right speakers (running in stereo only mode).

 

[macsander]

OK so a normal optical cable with a plug like this: http://www.allekabels.nl/Optische-Kabels/5/1519/Verloopstekker-Verguld.html

To connect it to the 3.5mm port in my Imac, should work? And the sound will be better than the analogue cables?


Thanks!

 

[hankolerd]

on my old logitech 5.1 system, i think the z-5300(about 2-3 years ago now) there was a switch on the back of the sub to switch between 2.1, 4.1, or 5.1. If I remember right, to get it to play through all five speakers when connected to a single audio output like on the iMac you had to switch it to 2.1. I don't even know if that is at all what you are asking, but hopefully it helps some.