PC & Xbox 5.1 Speakers?

[AaronS]

My PC is connected to a TV using HDMI
Xbox 360 also connected with HDMI

The TV has a optical sound output

The PC only has 3.5mm outputs

I've been looking around and speakers with 3.5mm and optical inputs seem expensive, and most speakers I have looked at don't even list the inputs.

Home multimedia kits are either dvd or blu-ray but I can use the PC for these so there is no need, also an extra expense.

I use a headset most of the time but for watching movies and playing xbox I want to use speakers, so I could connect some speakers using optical, via the TV, or any other xbox connection that I am not sure about.

I don't mind using adapters or splitters, but I don't want to be going into hundreds when individual speakers seem cheaper.

Best thing would be if I could convert the optical into some 3.5mm outputs so all sound going through the TV could be connected to some standard PC speakers using splitters/a switch or simply switching the connectors over..

Second best thing would be for a adapter to simply connect the xbox to the speakers in the same way as above.

(either of these 2 options would allow me to connect them to my headset aswell as the speakers.)

Third best option would be for someone to surprise me with a cheap speaker set that has an optical input.

As everything is HDMI connected, I could change sound to go via HDMI on the PC, and only connect some speakers to optical, if there are some with optical but not 3.5mm.. not too bothered about super sound quality, just something for a film now and then with a nice 3d sound effect.

Any recommendations?

 

[cmndr_andi]

I would suggest using sound pass-though on the graphics card, pipe the sound to the TV via HDMI and use a set of optical connected speakers. To me this seems the most elegant solution. However, this may get expensive.

Alternatively, does your TV have an audio-out which is analogue (phono L/R or stereo 3.5mm)? If it does, you could connect some decent quality PC speakers like Acoustic Energy Aego M 2.1 to the TV and play the sound from the PC and 360 in high quality.


What is the graphics card on your PC and what speakers are connected to your TV?

 

[chuck990]

Logitech X-540s, Overclockers dont appear to sell them anymore but i bought a set and do not regret it 1 bit, they come with a cable that changes the Phono L/R from my 360 to a 3.5mm (female) which the speakers plug into, they then have a feature which somehow turns this into proper surround sound (dunno how but it is prepper surround sound, guns behind you come out behind you etc) and 3x 3.5mm to plug into the pc (front, rear and bass)

i can find not one fault with them, they were only £60, pack an almighty punch and the clarity from the xbox is immense (the computer is not as good, still good but i may invest in a soundcard soon)

 

[AaronS]

I would suggest using sound pass-though on the graphics card, pipe the sound to the TV via HDMI and use a set of optical connected speakers. To me this seems the most elegant solution. However, this may get expensive.

Alternatively, does your TV have an audio-out which is analogue (phono L/R or stereo 3.5mm)? If it does, you could connect some decent quality PC speakers like Acoustic Energy Aego M 2.1 to the TV and play the sound from the PC and 360 in high quality.


What is the graphics card on your PC and what speakers are connected to your TV?

The Graphics is the ATi 5850 Powercolour, and the soundcard is the Soundlbaster x-fi xtreme 7.1.

The TV is the LG LH3000, currently using the TV built in speakers, don't think it has any other sound output, can check if you would like but this is what are displayed on the specs: Digital Audio Out (Coaxial/ Optical)

Logitech X-540s, Overclockers dont appear to sell them anymore but i bought a set and do not regret it 1 bit, they come with a cable that changes the Phono L/R from my 360 to a 3.5mm (female) which the speakers plug into, they then have a feature which somehow turns this into proper surround sound (dunno how but it is prepper surround sound, guns behind you come out behind you etc) and 3x 3.5mm to plug into the pc (front, rear and bass)

i can find not one fault with them, they were only £60, pack an almighty punch and the clarity from the xbox is immense (the computer is not as good, still good but i may invest in a soundcard soon)

I don't understand how you don't know how it can be surround sound... the converter was separate to the speaker set(as in detached)?

I think a Phono to 3.5mm(female) adapter is what I am looking for

 

[chuck990]

well the phono cable (i thought) only gave out right and left yet the speakers magically turn right and left to front right front left back right back left center ad bass

the converter (a simple cable more than a converter) is seperate yeah

you could just plug everything into the tv (as you seemingly already have?) and plug in the speakers to the tv's headphone output, wont be great by all means but it'll work

 

[AaronS]

well the phono cable (i thought) only gave out right and left yet the speakers magically turn right and left to front right front left back right back left center ad bass

the converter (a simple cable more than a converter) is seperate yeah

you could just plug everything into the tv (as you seemingly already have?) and plug in the speakers to the tv's headphone output, wont be great by all means but it'll work

I could, but that would kind of be the same as it is, except some sound would come from behind me.

I saw the adapter you meant, but apparently it still is only 2.0 surround sound, bass will be picked up by your speakers automatically.

I'm now trying to find a audio decoder rather than an adapter for toslink to 6x phono or 3x 3.5mm, if 6x phono then I can always get 3 simple adapters for 2x phono to 1x 3.5mm(female).

On the other hand, doesn anyone know of a surround sound system with toslink input as all could go through TV... that isn't hundreds?

 

[L0stpr0phet]

On the other hand, doesn anyone know of a surround sound system with toslink input as all could go through TV... that isn't hundreds?

Depends on how much ure willing to spend and if you want new or happy with used. Logitech Z-5400 went for £80 on the well know auction site recently which i think has 3 stereo, 2 optical and 1 coaxial inputs.

That the sort of thing ure after?

 

[cmndr_andi]

There is a stereo headphone out socket on the side of the TV. If you got a nice 2.1 system like the one I linked to it should all work out. However, if you want more speakers than 2.1 then you will need to go down the optical route, which will be more expensive.

 

[AaronS]

There is a stereo headphone out socket on the side of the TV. If you got a nice 2.1 system like the one I linked to it should all work out. However, if you want more speakers than 2.1 then you will need to go down the optical route, which will be more expensive.

Yes that would do nicely, used is ok if the product is still in good condition, anything under £100 seems ok, over that then I might aswell buy 2 separate kits..

Another idea I was thinking is.. do some DVD players have a built in decoder?