Now days 5.1 receivers are pretty commonplace and you get get them for
under $200. Here's one from B&H for $190 with free shipping:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/763037-REG/Denon_AVR_1312_AVR_1312_5_1_Channel_AV_Surround.html
For me I already had the receiver so that made it a bit easier. As far
as hooking up two pairs of speakers, the audio output is 'line' level
which means it's not going to be powerful enough to run passive
speakers. You'll have to have an amp and speakers. Most stereo receivers
(not 5.1) have hookups for two pairs of speakers and an A/B switch to
enable or disable either or both pairs. So you could run the output of
your mini to the receiver and then hook up both pairs of speakers to that.
Hope this helps.
CB
On 4/20/12 11:59 PM, Pam Mathers wrote:
Hi. Thanks for the suggestion. I have checked in to the prices of these
things and a system like that is a bit out of my price range right now. Is
there a way I could just get two extra speakers and plug them in to the back of
my computer and listen to those and the ones that I have hooked up to the
stereo at the same time. Thanks.
On Apr 19, 2012, at 1:01 PM, Chris Blouch wrote:
Right, the analog output of your mac is just left/right or a blended version of the 5.1
surround if you're playing a DVD. To get the six separate sound channels out you have to
use the digital output of your Mac and run that to the digital input of a home theater
receiver. The digital output is actually the same jack but you have to use an optical
cable instead of a headphone jack cable. The Mac will sense which kind of cable is
plugged in and turn on the optical transmitter in the headphone jack when you plug in the
right cable. The end of the cable is called a "Mini TOSLink" or somesuch. On
the receiver there will be an optical input that is kind of square. Its the usual one
that's been used to connect standalone DVD players to receivers for many years. Once
you've got that up and have your receiver set to take input from that optical digital
connection it should give you six channel output. Most receivers will have six sets of
'bannana plugs' to hook up six separate speakers although some will just give you five
and another plug to hook up a standalone subwoofer. There are some newer ones now that
also do wireless connections to powered rear speakers so there isn't so much wire running
around.
Anyway, hope that helps you get your Mac all hooked up for sound.
CB
On 4/19/12 6:46 AM, Scott Howell wrote:
That would not be true surround sound. You have to have audio hardware to send the sound
to separate channels to create the "surround sound" effect.
On Apr 19, 2012, at 12:57 AM, Pam Mathers wrote:
Hi. Right now I have an audio cable hooked up to the headphone jack of the
computer and the other end hooked in to the exilary output in my stereo so that
the sound comes through the stereo speaker. The stereo only has two speakers
so if I wanted more of a surround sound, would I beable to buy two extra
speakers and hook them in to the back of the computer and hear those at the
same time I'm hearing the stereo ones. Thanks.
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