Won a cheap-ass 5.1 system

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SrGuapo

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Nov 27, 2004
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OK, at a graduation party, I won a cheap-ass ($40) 5.1 home theater system. Since I cannot return it (I tried) I figued I might as well hook it up. It comes with an adapter for pc, but It will only handle the front 2 channels. Is there a way for me to get a converter that will plug into all 5 channels (and bass)? If not, it isn't that big of a deal, but if there is, it would kinda be cool.

Basically, my mobo outputs the simple mini stereo jacks and the sub inputs the larger ones from DVD players and such. The converter only plugs into one mini jack. Is there a way to combine the channels into the larger connectors?

Anyway, I will be at BestBuy tomorrow and I was wondering if anything could be had for a fairly low price...

PS - the main reason I'm going to bestbuy is to pick up an FM transmitter for my mp3 player. The only brand I have seen is belkin. What is the cheapest one I could get for fairly good quality? I only need it to broadcast 10 ft (3m) or so, so I don't need anything to powerful. The crappy cassete converter has horrible quality...
 
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imported_rod

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Apr 13, 2005
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So the 5.1 system has an amp and 5speakers + 1sub, and presumably a CD/DVD drive. And at the back it only has 2 channel input? Is that what you're saying?


Originally posted by: SrGuapo
PS - the main reason I'm going to bestbuy is to pick up an FM transmitter for my mp3 player. The only brand I have seen is belkin. What is the cheapest one I could get for fairly good quality? I only need it to broadcast 10 ft (3m) or so, so I don't need anything to powerful. The crappy cassete converter has horrible quality...
Click to expand...
Is that for your car?

RoD
 
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SrGuapo

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Nov 27, 2004
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Originally posted by: rod
So the 5.1 system has an amp and 5speakers + 1sub, and presumably a CD/DVD drive. And at the back it only has 2 channel input? Is that what you're saying?
RoD
Click to expand...

No, I only have the speakers. No receiver or anything. There are only the large red and white ports on the back (don't know what they are called - there are some for TV, DVD, and game consoles). I believe these ports can carry more than 2 channels (like the mini jacks - same as headphones).

The 5 speakers attach through the sub, where the audio come through form the TV, DVD, etc.

All I have are 5 speakers and 1 sub.
 
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SrGuapo

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Nov 27, 2004
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Originally posted by: rod
Ah ok, so the sub has a built in amp i guess... Do you plud it into a power-point?
RoD
Click to expand...

Yeah... pretty cheap...

What do you mean by pluging it in? Just into a wall outlet? Yes I did and into my PC. The included converter only plugs into one channel though, so I can only have two channels max...

Originally posted by: rod
Do the sockets look like this:
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.store...5a62740c0a87f9c0762/Product/View/P1454
And if they do, how many are there?

RoD
Click to expand...

Yep, those are them. There are 3 sets of red and white plugs.

My mobo (onboard AC'97) outputs the mini stereo plugs though (identical to headphone jacks). I assume PC speakers would connect through those, but these asre designed more for a home theater and a DVD player. Thanks for the help so far.
 
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imported_rod

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Apr 13, 2005
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OK
As far as I know, each of those sockets are for a single channel. So it makes sense that you have six sockets for six speakers (each one of those sockets is for a certain speaker). Are they labeled at all?

RoD
 
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SrGuapo

Golden Member
Nov 27, 2004
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Originally posted by: rod
OK
As far as I know, each of those sockets are for a single channel. So it makes sense that you have six sockets for six speakers (each one of those sockets is for a certain speaker). Are they labeled at all?

RoD
Click to expand...

Each socket carries two channels. Green is for front right and left, orange is sub and center, etc. Right now, I can connect it to any of the ports individually and use those speakers, but not all at the same time (since there is only one plug). I was wondering if there was a connector that could take all 6 inputs (F - L &R, R - L & R, center and sub) and change them to one pair of red and white connectors...

Sorry, I'm not really big audiophile and probably have no idea what I am talking about, I just figured if they were free, I might as well use them...
 
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imported_rod

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Apr 13, 2005
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Each socket on your PC carries two channels, correct? You have FL&FR, RL&RR and a sub&center.

But your speaker has only two sockets (one red and one white)?
 
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SrGuapo

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Nov 27, 2004
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Originally posted by: rod
Each socket on your PC carries two channels, correct? You have FL&FR, RL&RR and a sub¢er.

But your speaker has only two sockets (one red and one white)?
Click to expand...

Exactly... The sockets on the sub are a different kind (the larger ones that go to a DVD player or playstation). I believe these can carry more than two channels...
 
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imported_rod

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Apr 13, 2005
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If the larger ones are like the link i posted earlier, then they're called RCA sockets. As far as I know, they're on one channel each. So if there are only two, they must just be left and right.

But it seems a bit strange that a system with 6 speakers would only have 2 inputs... Generally, you would have 6 of those RCA sockets, one for each speaker. It doesn't have anything strange like a SPDIF or Optical input, does it?

RoD
 
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Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
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Originally posted by: SrGuapo
Originally posted by: rod
Each socket on your PC carries two channels, correct? You have FL&FR, RL&RR and a sub¢er.

But your speaker has only two sockets (one red and one white)?
Click to expand...

Exactly... The sockets on the sub are a different kind (the larger ones that go to a DVD player or playstation). I believe these can carry more than two channels...
Click to expand...

Damn there's a lot of misinformation going around in here.

Here's what you need to know (assuming you have a multichannel sound card):

The 1/8" minijack connectors on your sound card are stereo connections (two channels). There are three segments to the connector, one for each channel + a common ground.

The connectors on your sub are phono connectors (also called RCA jacks). They are mono, and only have a signal & ground. They carry only one channel.

You can get simple Y splitters, or what I would recommend pick up three sets of 6' (or whatever length is convenient for you) 1/8" to phono cables. It should have a 1/8" mini jack on one end (plug it into your sound card) and two RCA connectors on the other end - One red, one white (or sometimes black). Red is the right channel, white/black is the left.

You most likely have 6 input connectors (Front L/R, Rear L/R, Center/Sub) if what you have is a 5.1 speaker system. They should be labeled.

2nd picture down on this page is what you're looking for. Get them in whatever length you need, but those are the ends you want.

If you don't have a soundcard capable of 5.1 you can pick one up for $25.

Can you take a picture of the back of the sub?

Viper GTS
 
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SrGuapo

Golden Member
Nov 27, 2004
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Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Can you take a picture of the back of the sub?
Click to expand...

Will do in the morning...

I could swear to god each of the RCA jacks (if that is what they are) carries more than one signal. There are three sets of red and white jacks and they are each for a different thing (TV, DVD, game console). Each of those must be carrying all 6 channels since you have to select which source to use. I am so confused...
 
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Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: SrGuapo
Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Can you take a picture of the back of the sub?
Click to expand...

Will do in the morning...

I could swear to god each of the RCA jacks (if that is what they are) carries more than one signal. There are three sets of red and white jacks and they are each for a different thing (TV, DVD, game console). Each of those must be carrying all 6 channels since you have to select which source to use. I am so confused...
Click to expand...

If that's the case then it's not 5.1...

Take a picture. A make/model would be even better.

Viper GTS
 
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SrGuapo

Golden Member
Nov 27, 2004
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The company is "Durabrand". I don't see any model names or anything on the box. I am pretty sure it came from walmart...

 
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imported_rod

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: SrGuapo
Originally posted by: rod
Have you tried using two sets at the same time? Maybe there's an option for that somewhere?

RoD
Click to expand...
What do you mean?
Click to expand...

I mean, is there a way to use all of the inputs at once?
i.e.: use 3x2channels to give you 1x6channels.

RoD
 
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slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
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Originally posted by: SrGuapo
Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Can you take a picture of the back of the sub?
Click to expand...

Will do in the morning...

I could swear to god each of the RCA jacks (if that is what they are) carries more than one signal. There are three sets of red and white jacks and they are each for a different thing (TV, DVD, game console). Each of those must be carrying all 6 channels since you have to select which source to use. I am so confused...
Click to expand...


Each of the RCA connectors can only carry the information for one channel, unless it is a digital conection. What you describe (a red and a white connection) sounds like an analog connection.

Are you sure that your system doesn't have a setting (besides game, tv, dvd) that will use all 6 of the RCA connectors to get the sound? There has to be, otherwise there is no way to even get a 5.1 signal to the amp.
 
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CrispyFried

Golden Member
May 3, 2005
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The red and white jacks are clearly labled left and right for each input. No multi channel there. Just regular rca jacks with a single channel for each jack.

Its unusual to have a video jack.

There must be another connector, maybe an optical. Take more pics, from all angles. There are no other cables?

The adapter is just so you can hook an mp3 player or whatever to it in stereo mode, maybe its converted to 5.1 via dsp (ala fakeing it).

How does it connect to the tuner or dvd used for the home theater system?
 
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imported_rod

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Apr 13, 2005
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Are you sure there aren't any other inputs anywhere?

Maybe it does just 'fake it'. Still, if you were going to make a 5.1 home theatre set-up, wouldn't you give it a full set of inputs...

RoD
 
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RanDum72

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2001
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If it has a built-in DVD player, then it only streams DD/DTS internally. I don't see any digital-in connections (optical or coax). The only inputs there are analog stereo so if you want to hook up your sound card in your PC, make sure you have it configured for stereo out and not 5.1 or 4.1. Your system can still play thru the 5.1 speakers by making sure the system has Dolby Pro-Logic, Pro-logic II or any other sound exapnsion algorithm it has that allows stereo sources to play to all 5 speakers.
 
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SrGuapo

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Nov 27, 2004
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This is an extremely cheap set of speakers, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was faking it...
 
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