5.1 Speakers on a Mini?

e3mw · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:09 pm Post subject: 5.1 Speakers on a Mini?

I was just wondering if anyone had any luck getting 5.1 sound to work on a Mini? When I plugged my speakers into the "Headphone" slot the sound quality was pretty bad, sounded underwater, I'm sure this is because the "Headphone" jack is just that: meant for headphones. Is there any adaptor, USB or otherwise that will let me hook my 5.1 speakers into the mini? Thanks!
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WC3_Gamer · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:25 pm Post subject:

All I've heard is people using 2.1 speakers (2 satelites+sub), the JBL Creature 2's are very nice, and theyre on sale this weekend at CompUSA with rebates (normally 100, now 80 after 20$ rebate), my dad and sister just went out to get em for her laptop, when i get my mini I might buy em too.

EDIT: By the way, what model/brand are your speakers?
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blackjaw · Member Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

yeah, im just using 2.1 altec lansing's on my computer...they sound pretty decent...just as good as my PC did on them
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e3mw · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:02 pm Post subject:

Susurrus · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:42 pm Post subject:

Bandit Bill · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject:

Headphone/audio line out

You should get very good sound quality if you use good speakers. I have Cambridge Soundworks. They are a higher end model. Wood Sub etc. They sound excellent.

I haven't tried hooking my mini up to an amp yet.

Don't buy cheap speakers. It's 2005 not 1985.

JBL Creature II 2.1 constantly get good reviews.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/jbl-creature-ii-21-speakers-ipod/

Follow that link and you'll be able to find reviews on other brands as well.

iMav · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject:

Susurrus · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:05 pm Post subject:

Bandit Bill · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:13 pm Post subject:

True S. but for most people the mini's output should be more than acceptable. e3mw was saying his speakers sounded bad and underwater. That's not a result of poor design. It's more than likely that the speakers were not plugged in properly (all the way) or something is defective.

Susurrus · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject:

TheModWiki.org · Member Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 145

Don't expect all the bells and whistles as a full fledged pc.. this is a $500 value mac...its just to get your mac feet wet
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e3mw · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:44 am Post subject:

Bandit Bill · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:37 am Post subject:

I'm glad you got some good sound happening. But now I'm going to have to research 2.1 Audio.

Does 2.1 have a distinct channel to the sub?

I find it hard to believe you should need an adapter to make your speakers work.

People are buying 2.1 set-ups for iPods etc. I would doubt they are using adapters.

Bandit Bill · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:48 am Post subject:

2.1 Audio

Physically, this would be a pair of speakers and a subwoofer. In most cases, you can use a stereo, two-channel signal to drive this setup. When doing this, the receiver or the speaker’s internal crossovers determine what sound goes to the subwoofer. This separation of the channels was not done by the mixing engineer. The only way you can get a discrete subwoofer signal with this setup is with Multichannel Super Audio CD, DTS audio, DVD audio, or Dolby Digital signals downsampled to 2.1 audio. There are a few sources that are written specifically for 2.1 audio, but you will need to have the decoding hardware necessary for at least 5.1 audio to use 2.1 audio. Basically, if you have the equipment to support 2.1 audio with a discrete subwoofer channel, you have the equipment needed for a 5.1 system.

e3mw · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:51 am Post subject:

I think 2.1 works with just the stereo plug, because all you're dealing with as far as 2.1 goes is the Right Speaker, Left Speaker, and Sub. The sub frequency can be decoded from the stereo sound most of the time, it shouldnt need a direct line. (Notice I said most of the time, I have come across 2.1's with both Green (Stereo) and Black (Sub) lines.)

EDIT: Wow, that was from my head and it is pretty much exactly just like that description you just posted, Bandit. Lol Cool

5.1 deals with satellite Right's and Left's alongside the existing Right and Left, also a Center in most cases. Each speaker set needs a direct line because of 5.1 is 'supposed' to be surround, or 3D sound. It's a bit more complicated. Using the 3 way adapter that I found for mine just splits the regular Right and Left signal three ways into each speaker set. It's not true 5.1 surround sound, but with sound coming out of every speaker, how could I argue w/ it? It's all I really need since i'm not really interested in mixing 5.1 tracks in Garageband or iMovie.

As far as getting 5.1's to work without an adapter, or without a 5.1 sound card-- I'm not sure it can be done (this is totally depending on what brand of speaker you are dealing with, though.)
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Me with Woz!
Aftershift Music Project | My Music! Feel free to download!
1.42Ghz Mini | 15" 1.67Ghz Hi-Res PowerBook G4
30GB 5th Gen iPod | 512MB Shuffle


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