T42p - Internal vs. external speaker

Message

agarny · #1 Post by **agarny** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 4:37 am

I was wondering whether there is anyway to kind of merge the internal and external speaker settings? Indeed, at work, I use a docking station and external speakers, but at home I use my laptop on its own and therefore make use of the internal speakers.

When using external speakers (through the docking station), I noticed that the internal speaker still works fine, which is a bit of an annoyance, not to mention that the volume of the internal and external speakers are not quite related.

Is there anyway to ensure that when my laptop is docked, then only the external speaker works?

Cheers, Alan.

hotwheels · #2 Post by **hotwheels** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:39 pm

I have a T42 and just received a Mini Dock II and I have the same issue. I am calling tech suppt since I cannot find an answer elsewhere

agarny · #3 Post by **agarny** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 1:44 am

I did call them too here in the UK, but to no avail. Please let me know if you are luckier...

hotwheels · #4 Post by **hotwheels** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:22 am

I have not called yet, but this solution works for the time being:

"

Get a spare stereo mini-phone plug from Radio Shack and when the unit is docked, plug it in.

Not very elegant but it's the only way to turn off the internal speakers that I'm aware of without affecting output to the external speakers.

Regards,

James"

#5 Post by **RonS** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:16 am

I have two other solutions for you:

1. The volume buttons on the Thinkpad only control the Thinkpad speakers. Turn the volume all the way down (but don't press the Mute button) and the external speakers from the Dock will still work just fine.

2. Plug your external speakers into the headphone jack on the Thinkpad, not the Dock. Then, the Thinkpad volume control buttons will control the external speakers and the internal speakers will be disabled.

hotwheels · #6 Post by **hotwheels** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:00 pm

I plugged the external speakers into the headphone jack on the T42 and that seems to work just fine. I am now looking for some alternative speaker solutions so I get a little better sound. I might get the Klipsch Promedia 2.0 since they seem to take up little desk real estate but they get decent reviews. I might also just run the output from the headphone jack to my old Advent Model 300 receiver and have that drive some Athena As-B1 speakers (on sale at best buy for $70). What do you think?

#7 Post by **RonS** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:19 pm

I saw these speakers http://tinyurl.com/4s349 at Costco the other day for $120. If I didn't already have a nice pair, I would have picked these up.

If you're tight on desk space, you should look for externally powered speakers that include a subwoofer, which you can place behind your desk or somewhere else out of the way.

awolfe63 · #8 Post by **awolfe63** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:38 pm

hotwheels wrote:I plugged the external speakers into the headphone jack on the T42 and that seems to work just fine. I am now looking for some alternative speaker solutions so I get a little better sound. I might get the Klipsch Promedia 2.0 since they seem to take up little desk real estate but they get decent reviews. I might also just run the output from the headphone jack to my old Advent Model 300 receiver and have that drive some Athena As-B1 speakers (on sale at best buy for $70). What do you think?

I use those Klipsch with my T42 - they are spectacular.

hotwheels · #9 Post by **hotwheels** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:51 pm

I am favoring the Klipsch -- I have not heard them, but they get rave reviews. I spend lots of hours at the keyboard writing and music helps to get the creative juices flowing so, I am going to pick some up tomorrow and see how they work for me. Thanks for the comments on your experience. I am favoring these since I plugged in the Advent and heard some AC hum without anything attached and the T42 is so quiet that I could hear it so.... I am trying the Klipsch.

qux · #10 Post by **qux** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:45 pm

Will the Klipsch sound good with the T42's internal sound or should I not bother unless I get a PCMCIA Audigy?

awolfe63 · #11 Post by **awolfe63** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:33 pm

I'm real happy with them off of the headphone jack.

naro · #12 Post by **naro** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:49 pm

qux wrote:Will the Klipsch sound good with the T42's internal sound or should I not bother unless I get a PCMCIA Audigy?

yup.. it'll sound gd....

pae77 · #13 Post by **pae77** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:26 pm

I've been researching speakers to get for my T42p and am very impressed by what I've read about the Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers which are available in the low $200's although the list price is far higher. They cost quite a bit more than the Klipsch's being discussed here but it really sounds worth an extra $100 or so for what you get.

Disclaimer, haven't actually listened to either the Logitech or the Klipsch.

T42p - Internal vs. external speaker

T42p - Internal vs. external speaker

Who is online