Is it possible to get 5.1 out of my T60?

[MikeD]

I am trying to integrate my T60 into my existing sound setup, which uses a logitech X530 setup, that uses 3 mini jacks for the 6 channels of audio. My T60 has only a headphone out option, and the same goes for the mini dock.

Is there such a thing as a USB speaker system that would give me 5.1? Or do I have to get one of these things:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829102174

...Mike

[benplaut]

i think there are cardbus soundcards. not sure on any specifics, though.

[RonS]

The Thinkpad mini dock and advanced dock both have SPDIF outputs, which fully support 5.1.

[MikeD]

Ron, thanks! I didn't even see that S/PDIF connector! If you can, answer me this:

I have a 5.1 sound system that uses 3 mini-jacks. Is it possible to get some kind of device to convert that for use with a S/PDIF or should I just get a set of new speakers?

...Mike

[claudeo]

MikeD, it looks like you don't have a complete sound system. You just have some amplified speakers. If you want to feed them with 5.1 audio, you need a device that will extract that information from the audio signal and put it onto connectors compatible with your speakers. You can connect such a device to a USB port on the computer. For examples, do a google search on "5.1 usb sound card" (without the quotes). For example, something like the Creative Audigy or the Zalman ZM-RSSC, which have separate analog connectors for 5.1 amplified speakers as well as a optical and coax digital outputs.

[MikeD]

Hey Claudeo

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't know much about spdif. I was under the impression that I could go out and get a set of speakers with a coax spdif connection and everything would work, but I'm getting the impression that I need a decoder now as well. Is that right? I don't care if I have to replace the speakers or not to be honest.

...Mike

[own6volvos]

Hey Claudeo

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't know much about spdif. I was under the impression that I could go out and get a set of speakers with a coax spdif connection and everything would work, but I'm getting the impression that I need a decoder now as well. Is that right? I don't care if I have to replace the speakers or not to be honest.

...Mike

If the speakers have a coax spdif connector on them (and they are 5.1 speakers) they should be able to decode the AC3 signal. If it has 3 line-in inputs for center/sub, left/right, etc then those are predecoded analog inputs.

[RonS]

SixVolvos is right.

If you want to use the S/PDIF connector, you have to either

1. Connect the coax S/PDIF connector to a receiver that can decode the digital signal. Any decent Dolby Digital or DTS receiver should work fine. From there, you can hook up whatever speakers you want.

2. There are speakers out there that take S/PDIF input. They have internal decoders and bypass the need for a separate receiver.

3. I've heard of a S/PDIF audio hub that provides a breakout for the digital S/PDIF signal into analog signals. I've never actually seen one, though.

There are also headphones that do this. I have a pair of high-end Sony wireless Dolby Digital 5.1 headphones (DP-IF5100) that take toslink input. To use something like this, you'd have to convert coax S/PDIF to toslink (there are converters available), or find a pair of headphones that take the coax directly.