Dell Speaker System; External soundcard for laptop?

I have acquired a Dell speaker system, and I need help!

It used to be at the folks house, they were going to bin it along with the old dell desktop and tower.

So basically, I need to make it work with my laptop.

System consists of 4 speakers, a central speaker and a sub, which all the speakers tie back to.

3 cables leave the sub, which would have went to the old tower I think.
2.5mm jacks I think, one yellow, one green, one blue. (Will confirm this later)

I can get the central speaker and the sub to work by connecting only the yellow cable into my laptops headphone output, but I have 4 speakers which don't work.

Had a look myself, seems I may need a external usb soundcard? But I really don't know what I am looking for? Or if this is right?

Are you able to help me people of the org?

[SoulKiss]

Yep, external sound card is going to be the only option, you have a front, rear ans sub setup on those speakers - so need 3 connectors.

TBH you would be better off getting shot of those and buying a decent 2:1 system than faffing about.

Or as its a Laptop, get these


http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/...kers.3986.html

They are tiny, run off of USB power (or off their own internal rechargeable batteries) and sound way better than they should for the size of them.

I have a pair of the previous gen ones and used them on my desktop for a while when I moved and couldnt be bothered digging out my proper speakers.

Oh and
Yellow = Centre/Sub
Green = Front L&R
Blue = Rear L&R

So just plug in the Green ones if you want stereo sound.

A USB Soundcard will cost about £40 the Little Speakers above will cost you £30, and I have dealt with the company before and in my experience they are great I bricked my Media Player that I had gotten from them 2 days before that weekend I came up and we went for that ride and they were happy for me to pop in on my way past, they are near Edinburgh, so their guy could reflash it for me, which they did for free on a "turn up when you turn up" basis.

I have found the model I have!

http://www.techfuels.com/application...r-speaker.html

Official link - http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...n&sku=313-2247

It seems pretty good noise wise, even without the 4 other speakers! 100W I think?

Thoughts?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Sally

I have found the model I have!

http://www.techfuels.com/application...r-speaker.html

Official link - http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...n&sku=313-2247

It seems pretty good noise wise, even without the 4 other speakers! 100W I think?

Thoughts?

Not too bad - just not ideal for a Laptop (or at least one without enough jack sockets.

My Thoughts - I'll buy those little speakers and swap you for the Dell ones - you paying the postage as my Desktop could do with an upgrade to 5.1

I think I am getting shafted here... Haha

So say I wanted to try and get these to work with my laptop... Where do I start?
Is there any limitations/shortfalls just because I have a laptop?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Sally

I think I am getting shafted here... Haha

So say I wanted to try and get these to work with my laptop... Where do I start?
Is there any limitations/shortfalls just because I have a laptop?

You spend £45 on a Creative External USB soundcard. Its £60 from Creative, but google cam up with £46 - that may not include shipping

The best I can see pricewise is £39 for those speakers you have on Amazon, so I don't think my offer would be fair - I'll chick in a fiver for postage if it sweetens the deal

Those are Desktop speakers, I'm offering you a Laptop/Portable solution that wont cost you anything but a couple of quids postage

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Those are Desktop speakers, I'm offering you a Laptop/Portable solution that wont cost you anything but a couple of quids postage

If he's going to be ungrateful - I'll have them

Naa I can cope with only one speaker and sub right now! I ain't up for swapping them! The other speakers look pretty small :P

Think al go for that soundcard! That the best option SK?

[L3nny]

You should be able to get 2 speakers and the sub working. I do a similar thing with my laptop.

Just connect the one cable to the front left and front right input on the sub and you have a 2.1 system.

Rear and centre speakers wont work unless you splice the wires together.

To get surround sound you'd need an external soundcard.

I want 5.1 though

Al have a play about with it tonight anyway, cheers lad!