computer speaker help

[rkline123]

Hi, I just ordered Dell Altec Lansing ADA 995 5.1 speakers. The speakers connect to the laptop with three color coded 3.5mm stereo plugs (red, black white). My laptop (HP Pavillion DV9000)only has two audio out 3.5mm jacks - one Audio-out(headphone) jack and one Audio-out(headphone) S/PDIF jack.

How can I connect the speaker's three plugs into the laptops two jacks?

Is there a converter which connects three 3.5 mm plugs into one plug that I can plug into my laptop?

With only two plugs connected to my computer will all the speakers produce sound or will I be missing channels?

thanks

 

[jinjuku]

This speaker system was typically paired with a Dell desktop. A desktop that had a sound card that had a total of 4 analog out (Front L/R, Center, Rear L/R, Sub).

You will need an external usb sound card with analog outs. I don't know of any available though. Maybe others can help.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You'd need this to make it work right:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102020

 

[rkline123]

You'd need this to make it work right:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102020

The speakers have a black, a yellow, and a lime green 3.5mm plug. Here is the diagram from the speaker manual for plugging in the chords:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/acc/ada995/setup.htm


and here are the inputs on the xfi surround 5.1 External sound card:

http://hifi-ring.com/uploads/posts/creative_sound-blaster_x-fi_surround.jpg

http://www.gamegear.be/images/3135018964_54f233c697.jpg

which color plug would go in each input on the xfi?

 

[rkline123]

and here are the inputs on the xfi surround 5.1 External sound card:

http://hifi-ring.com/uploads/posts/creative_sound-blaster_x-fi_surround.jpg

http://www.gamegear.be/images/3135018964_54f233c697.jpg

which color plug would go in each input on the xfi?

sorry, I meant output

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The speakers have a black, a yellow, and a lime green 3.5mm plug. Here is the diagram from the speaker manual for plugging in the chords:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/acc/ada995/setup.htm


and here are the inputs on the xfi surround 5.1 External sound card:

http://hifi-ring.com/uploads/posts/creative_sound-blaster_x-fi_surround.jpg

http://www.gamegear.be/images/3135018964_54f233c697.jpg

which color plug would go in each input on the xfi?

Yellow to Orange
Black to Black
Green tricky part: Get this cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=5612&seq=1&format=2) connect it to RED/White and other side to lime Green cable

 

[rkline123]

Yellow to Orange
Black to Black
Green tricky part: Get this cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=5612&seq=1&format=2) connect it to RED/White and other side to lime Green cable

could I plug the lime green into the lime green ouput in this photo:

http://www.gamegear.be/images/3135018964_54f233c697.jpg

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

could I plug the lime green into the lime green ouput in this photo:

http://www.gamegear.be/images/3135018964_54f233c697.jpg

You could, but imo you shouldn't.
I don't own the device, however my educated guess tells me - no.

Since the icon next to lime port on x-fi shows headphones, this usually means small amount of amplification is added to drive passive speakers such as headphones. That means, in addition of very likely source of SQ loss - guaranteed different volume level, than rest of the channels.

 

[rkline123]

You could, but imo you shouldn't.
I don't own the device, however my educated guess tells me - no.

Since the icon next to lime port on x-fi shows headphones, this usually means small amount of amplification is added to drive passive speakers such as headphones. That means, in addition of very likely source of SQ loss - guaranteed different volume level, than rest of the channels.

I have a 3.5mm splitter like this: http://www.blueunplugged.com/HiResImage.aspx?theImg=STEREO-Y-SPLIT-prod.jpg
can I plug the yellow cable (center speaker and sub) into the gold sub output on the xfi and plug the black (rear left and right) and lime green (front left and right) into the splitter and plug the splitter into the black xfi output labeled as 'rear'?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I have a 3.5mm splitter like this: http://www.blueunplugged.com/HiResImage.aspx?theImg=STEREO-Y-SPLIT-prod.jpg
can I plug the yellow cable (center speaker and sub) into the gold sub output on the xfi and plug the black (rear left and right) and lime green (front left and right) into the splitter and plug the splitter into the black xfi output labeled as 'rear'?

short answer NO .... HELL NO.