Speaker and sub set up

[joe2812]

Just got my Logitech S500 Speaker System, nowt special but good enough for uni and on the move, but am having difficulty setting it up.

The system has one sub and five speakers (Front Left/Right, Rear Left/Right and Centre), all wired into the sub as they should be.

But i'm wondering how to connect the system to the laptop?

The Front Right speaker has a pink jack with 'Mic In' written on it, which i've tried in the headphone socket, but nothing.

After reading the directions again there is a bit which refers to a large 'multi-type' cable thing, with three jacks at either end (Orange, Black and Green).

The instructions say:

"7. Connect subwoofer to PC sound card using included audio cables: green to front L/R, black to rear L/R and orange to centre/sub."

The sub has corresponding sockets on the back, green, orange and black, so I suppose it goes in there as per the diagram, but where does the other end(s) go?! And why do I need 3 jacks when I only have one headphone and one mic socket?

One speaker has a pink socket with a mic picture next to do it, aswell as a green socket for headphones, but none of the other speakers have a jack to accept any more cables.

As it stands I have a thick cable with green, orange, and black jacks, plugged into the sub but not going anywhere. A random pink jack which comes out of one of the speakers, and no connection with the laptop at all.

Sorry if this is a ramble, but I am up to my eyeballs with cables or various colours and have tried to make sense as best I can! :}

[maxell]

Have a look in control panel and see if you have an icon sound effect manager, if you have double click and look for speaker config you should be able to set the computer soundcard outputs up from there

[Saab Dastard]

Joe,

I hate to be the harbinger of bad tidings, but I very much suspect that you CANNOT link this speaker set to a laptop.

You need the sockets on a PC soundcard to plug the speakers into.

Laptops simply don't have the interface.

See if you can swap them for These (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/AT/EN,CRID=2173,CONTENTID=10908)

[DBTL]

Yo! Here's the setup and gizmo you need:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=10036

The leads on the left (red/white) in the pic are one end of any standard issue adapter cords, the other end of which is a 3.5 mm plug that will go into your old 2 ch (portable or whatever) sound system's output (marked with a green ring, or "Speaker/line out"). Note: this is no 5.1 nohow, just a "misuse" of it as a generic sound amp.
Should work the same with any 5.1 system.

[joe2812]

Have tried each jack in turn in the headphones slot and guess what? Each one does a different set (front, rear, centre & sub).

So yes, I need 3 sockets and I cannot find a suitable splitter.

Looks like they're going back then. :(

[DBTL]

Have tried each jack in turn in the headphones slot and guess what? Each one does a different set (front, rear, centre & sub).

So yes, I need 3 sockets and I cannot find a suitable splitter.

Looks like they're going back then. :(

There's still a possibility. Get a USB-version of a 5.1 sound card, such as:
http://www.usb-ware.com/sound-blaster-audigy-2-nx.htm

[FunkyMunky]

Get a USB-version of a 5.1 sound card,

Or perhaps try a PCMCIA version :) Looks a bit less bulky and more compact when you consider that it slots into the laptop rather than sitting next to it.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/22/review_creative_audigy_2_zs/


Unfortunately this wont work in a new Expresscard slot.

And why do I need 3 jacks when I only have one headphone and one mic socket?

As you've discovered above, the 3 jacks allow the individual speakers to be controlled independently, mainly for positional audio in the likes of games and movies where you can hear objects/character going "around" you. Most music is only 2-channels anyway, but still sounds quite good "upmixed" to the full 5.1

[A V 8]

There's still a possibility. Get a USB-version of a 5.1 sound card, such as:
http://www.usb-ware.com/sound-blaster-audigy-2-nx.htm

I use one of these with 7.1 speakers on my laptop. What an excellent piece of kit. You get very useful software with it - thoroughly recommended. Only bad thing is the price. I bought mine a year ago and it cost around £70.

Rgds,

AV8

[joe2812]

Tried looking for one o' those Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX thingies and am now in the process of trying to snipe some off eBay :E

I take it you just stick it in a USB port on the laptop and then put the 3 jacks from the speakers in those 3 holes in the side?

Who would have thought whating to annoy my flatmates with loud music would be so complicated! :{

Thanks for your continued input, appreciate it.

[potkettleblack]

I find ebuyer to be reasonably priced and if you haven't come across their site yet I have included a couple of links for both the pcmcia card and USB options. The customer reviews are always useful with links to updated drivers and ways to overcome common setup problems etc.

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/cat/Sound-Cards/subcategory/External-Sound-Cards

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/90815

[joe2812]

Thanks PKB. I got the speakers from eBuyer on the cheap, but £70 for the card puts an end to my tight-fisted approach to shopping!

The idea of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX seems ok, i'm not worried about it being external. They don't seem to be too expensive on eBay so hopefully i'll manage to get one off there.

Anyone who has used the Audigy and wants to give a quick bit of feedback?

Cheers all.

[Cornish Jack]

Re the Audigy suggestion ..
Trust do an alternative usb version at about half the price. I used one for a while and it did the business OK.
I have got an Audigy internal card on the desktop and it's alright but not noticeably worth the extra dosh.