How do I hook up my laptop to my 4.1/5.1 speaker system?

[IgoByte]

Well, I'd like to explore another topic tonight...

I'd like to know what possible ways there are to connect external 4.1 or 5.1 [computer] speaker sets to a laptop. I know that Creative Labs makes the Extigy, but quite honestly, it doesn't seem to have great music playback, it's too complex for my needs, and not to mention too expensive.
Now, I don't have the option of using an external stereo receiver or anything, so that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking more in the direction of external sound cards (alternatives to the Extigy) and perhaps some sort of converter (something that would allow me to go from the headphone jack to the two inputs that are necessary for a 4.1 channel speaker system.

Any suggestions? I would certainly appreciate any input you can afford to give.

 

[TheWart]

the only other card that has a breakout box thingy is the Hercules Game Theatre XP, at least that i know.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: TheWart
the only other card that has a breakout box thingy is the Hercules Game Theatre XP, at least that i know.

I don't necessarily need a breakout box. What I need is an external sound card.

 

[TheWart]

that is what a breakout box is. if it isn't then the extigy is the only notebook compatible sc there is.

 

[Pariah]

He's not looking for a breakout box. The GT box is completely useless if it isn't connected to the PCI card which obviously can't be installed into a laptop. I don't think anything exists in the form you are looking for. The only other external sound card I have seen is the M-Audio Sonica which is a USB1.1 24/96 external sound card which looks very nice. It has a 1/8" mini-analog out and TOS-link connector which will pass AC-3 and DTS signals to a receiver, which you said you wouldn't be using, but others may be interested. It is only analog stereo capable.

 

[IgoByte]

A breakout box is what the desktop SB line of cards have (aka LiveDrive on the Platinum/Platinum eX line of the Audigy).
The Extigy is not a breakout box. It's actually a full-blown external sound card. I know for a fact that there are others, but I don't remember which. I'm not sure about the converter I mentioned initially, but it would make sense.

 

[IgoByte]

The only other external sound card I have seen is the M-Audio Sonica which is a USB1.1 24/96 external sound card which looks very nice. It has a 1.8" mini-analog out and TOS-link connector which will pass AC-3 and DTS signals to a receiver, which you said you wouldn't be using. It is only analog stereo capable.

Gotta check that out. Thanks.

 

[tdawg]

You may want to look at the Onkyo SE-U55. It's similar to the extigy, but made by a better audio company. It also looks better than the extigy. (last two statements are just my opinion). Retail price on 'Shop Onkyo' is $249, but they are all over Ebay priced around $90 new, still in original packaging. Go to shoponkyo.com, click on multimedia and then on SE-U55 to read about it. CNet did a review of it here.

Other than this, the only other thing i've seen is the extigy that would meet your needs. It's USB like the extigy, so as long as you have a USB port on your laptop, you can use this. I don't know about that M-Audio device, but it might be the same type of thing.

Just to clear up from previous posts, there is no way to use a Hercules Game Theater XP in a laptop as it needs a pci slot. However, it is a great soundcard in it's own right! (I'm using it now ).

Good Luck,

tdawg

 

[IgoByte]

Thanks, tdawg. That helps too.

 

[Gunbuster]

plug the headphone/line out into the front chan port on your speakers

what do you need 4.1 with your laptop for?

Yamaha also makes an external sound thingy

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
plug the headphone/line out into the front chan port on your speakers

what do you need 4.1 with your laptop for?

Yamaha also makes an external sound thingy

It's not so much that I need it, because the sound is crap anyway, but I have a spare 4.1 speaker set that I'd like to set up for when I work in the basement. That's all. I was looking for a cheap solution and good solution, and I guess front channels will have to do...