Looking to buy an iMac but have a question

[barghest]

Bit of a newbie on these forums so I'll apologise if this is covered elsewhere.

I'm looking to buy a 27" new 2012 iMac but am a little curious how to get 5.1 surround sound out of it in OSX and bootcamp (Windows 7) I'll be using either 5.1 headphones or resurrecting my old Marantz receiver and using 5.1 speakers with it.

How do I get them working?

Any recommendations on 5.1 headsets which work with iMacs?

 

[forty2j]

For "true" surround, you'll need headsets that connect via USB or any audio equipment that connects via mini optical.

Something like this would work - http://www.turtlebeach.com/product-detail/ps3-headsets/ear-force-dpx21/49

 

[barghest]

Thanks. So any 5.1 headset with a digital optical connector will work? Does OSX natively support 5.1 or does it depend on the material? With Windows I would normally just install the drivers supplied.

I guess I could use my Marantz SR5300 to connect via the optical port but it's getting on a bit now.

 

[forty2j]

OS X will support up to Dolby 7.1 .. but it doesn't automatically upconvert the material. You need a surround sound source to get surround sound output. But the codecs to handle the surround sound material are part of the OS.

And yes, anything with an optical connection will work. You may need an optical-mini optical adapter for some setups (the iMac port is a mini optical).

 

[barghest]

Thanks. I may just dust-off my Marantz for this.

Out of interest what make is the sound card used in the iMacs?