Multichannel sound on a Mac

[mrochester]

Hi all

I have an XFi soundcard in my PC and Logitech Z-5500 speakers. In my soundcard settings I enable the XFi CMSS-3D Surround option, which forces stereo sound to play through all speakers.

Now my question is, with the Z-5500 speakers and a Mac, is there a way of achieving the same thing? I understand the Mac needs to be connected to the speakers via an optical digital connection. The Z-5500s have the ability themselves to upmix a stero signal to surround. Will this setting work when connected via an optical digital connection? Is there a setting on the Mac itself that allows this?

Many thanks, this is really important to me, so I'm trying to find a solid answer.

Michael.

 

[iraiguana]

Which mac are you talking about?

 

[AbsenceJam]

Not sure what you're asking. You get S/PDIF or analogue output from the Mac so connect the optical cable and use the upmixing your speakers have; you don't need to do anything to enable digital output.

 

[mrochester]

Not sure what you're asking. You get S/PDIF or analogue output from the Mac so connect the optical cable and use the upmixing your speakers have; you don't need to do anything to enable digital output.

What I think I'm really asking, because I don't fully understand it myself, is, can you manipulate the sound itself on the Mac, or do I have to rely on the speakers to upmix? Right now I use the computer to upmix, not the speakers.