Connected Laptop to my TV, but anyway to get 5.1?

SimonSayers · 03-04-2007, 12:29 PM

I worked out how to get My parents laptop 'input' onto our 42" monitor /tv in the front room. Using a blue cable, VGA I believe it's called.

I knew it wouldn't pick up audio as such, but I assume there is a way to get other audio sources and not rely on only using the laptop's crappy speakers.

I have 5.1 in the front room also, Would I need extra cables to do this, or can I salvage what I already have in the back of the 5.1 main speaker/thing and put it in the laptop's jack.

Anyone else use another monitor/TV often and knows about this kinda thing?

El_Vikingo · 03-04-2007, 01:49 PM

how many sound jacks ddoes your laptop have?!

MrD · 03-04-2007, 01:54 PM

if you only have 2 channel onboard sound you have two options here

1) 3.5mm jack from microphone socket to twin phono in the back of your hifi for 2ch sound (preferably thru headphones)

2) buy a virtual 5.1 decoder box that uses the same output or maybe even a usb output and provides a stream of audio and connectors that will go to a 5.1 system you buy seperately

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...tid=11&subcat= something like that

personally my 2ch hifi is next to my pc and I wire to that and plug headphones into my stereo when i game (to avoid freaking out my neighbours) and also have svhs and additional audio lead to my big tv for slinging divx films onto my tv where they look better.

.:iGi:. Greg · 03-04-2007, 02:00 PM

Having crappy 2 channel onboard sound doesn't relate to getting sound out to watch on an external source.

The key is to check if you have something called a spdif connection. It should be a single jack similar to a speaker socket or headphone socket. In fact the speaker socket may even be the same one. Check your lappy specs to find out.

If you do have the spdif connection, just take a cable from that to the digital coaxial connection (if you have one) on your amp. A few settings to sort out on the lappy and you should hopefully get full 5.1 output.

I used to do this to get the best DVD picture via vga cable from my PC to my projector in the days prior to my HD-DVD player and the sound went straight to my amp in full 5.1 via a single 3.5mm to phono cable

03-04-2007, 12:29 PM	#1
SimonSayers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 31	Connected Laptop to my TV, but anyway to get 5.1? I worked out how to get My parents laptop 'input' onto our 42" monitor /tv in the front room. Using a blue cable, VGA I believe it's called. I knew it wouldn't pick up audio as such, but I assume there is a way to get other audio sources and not rely on only using the laptop's crappy speakers. I have 5.1 in the front room also, Would I need extra cables to do this, or can I salvage what I already have in the back of the 5.1 main speaker/thing and put it in the laptop's jack. Anyone else use another monitor/TV often and knows about this kinda thing?
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03-04-2007, 01:49 PM	#2
El_Vikingo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Inside the "Search Function". Posts: 4,842	how many sound jacks ddoes your laptop have?!
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03-04-2007, 01:54 PM	#3
MrD Join Date: May 2006 Zimbabwe Location: York Posts: 3,359	if you only have 2 channel onboard sound you have two options here 1) 3.5mm jack from microphone socket to twin phono in the back of your hifi for 2ch sound (preferably thru headphones) 2) buy a virtual 5.1 decoder box that uses the same output or maybe even a usb output and provides a stream of audio and connectors that will go to a 5.1 system you buy seperately http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...tid=11&subcat= something like that personally my 2ch hifi is next to my pc and I wire to that and plug headphones into my stereo when i game (to avoid freaking out my neighbours) and also have svhs and additional audio lead to my big tv for slinging divx films onto my tv where they look better.
	To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [R-MOD]Mongolian Dude: AH man, sarcasm is so hard to get across the web, even if we are both british To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. [R-DEV]Jaymz: That has to be...the most epic response to a welcome thread I have ever seen. [R-CON]Mr.D ladies and gentlemen!

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03-04-2007, 02:00 PM	#4
.:iGi:. Greg Join Date: Apr 2006 United Kingdom Location: UK Posts: 507	Having crappy 2 channel onboard sound doesn't relate to getting sound out to watch on an external source. The key is to check if you have something called a spdif connection. It should be a single jack similar to a speaker socket or headphone socket. In fact the speaker socket may even be the same one. Check your lappy specs to find out. If you do have the spdif connection, just take a cable from that to the digital coaxial connection (if you have one) on your amp. A few settings to sort out on the lappy and you should hopefully get full 5.1 output. I used to do this to get the best DVD picture via vga cable from my PC to my projector in the days prior to my HD-DVD player and the sound went straight to my amp in full 5.1 via a single 3.5mm to phono cable

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