Need someone to help me solve audio plug problems

Karma VII

Estimable
Apr 29, 2014
7
0
4,510
Hey everyone! Im trying to use my 5.1 Surround sound system to work with my TV and Xbox One. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/surround-sound-speaker-z506
The problem is that they only have the green, yellow, and black cables to plug into. I currently use them on my PC because thats all i've been able to use them for. Im looking for some way to make those 3 cables convert into an spdif plug. I hardly know anything technical about audio so if you could help that would be great!
 
Solution
what you are looking for is either a "hdmi 5.1 audio extractor" or "optical 5.1 audio extractor" with either mono rca jacks for all channels or stereo 3.5mm jacks for audio. they might also be called "audio decoder" or other names as well.

some boxes even have both formats (optical in and hdmi in) while some just have one or multiples of the one style. generally the hdmi is passthrough which means the video moves through the box and on to the tv.

something like this http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/48837-hdmi-repeater-audio-clux-11sa-cyp.html or this http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/5-1-2-1-channel-ac3-dts-audio-gear-digital/158115737.html#sc1-4-1|2485306789

generally what you need is something that can take your signal (either hdmi or...
what you are looking for is either a "hdmi 5.1 audio extractor" or "optical 5.1 audio extractor" with either mono rca jacks for all channels or stereo 3.5mm jacks for audio. they might also be called "audio decoder" or other names as well.

some boxes even have both formats (optical in and hdmi in) while some just have one or multiples of the one style. generally the hdmi is passthrough which means the video moves through the box and on to the tv.

something like this http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/48837-hdmi-repeater-audio-clux-11sa-cyp.html or this http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/5-1-2-1-channel-ac3-dts-audio-gear-digital/158115737.html#sc1-4-1|2485306789

generally what you need is something that can take your signal (either hdmi or optical likely) and pull the audio from it (in digital form) and convert it to an analog form in ports you can use. essentially a digital analog converter (with passthrough if using hdmi).

to connect up to that.... if it has 6 rca jacks then all you need are three Y cables. 3.5mm stereo male to two (red+white) male rca cables.

example image
pn-us570.jpg
 
Solution

Karma VII

Estimable
Apr 29, 2014
7
0
4,510


If I want to plug in the 3 cables I listed above where would I plug them in on the converter you listed? And would I need to buy extra cables?
 
you would put a splitter (3.5mm stereo male to 2x 3.5mm stereo female) on each of the three speaker jacks on the subwoofer. the three cables from pc would connect on one side of the splitters while the three cables from the box would connect on the other side. ie, the LF/RF cable from the pc would go on one side of the Y splitter, the LF/RF cable from the box would go on the other side and the single plugged side would go into the green LF/RF connector input on the subwoofer.

of course you also have the option of just switching out the cables on the subwoofer each and every time however i dont think you want to do that.

the first device i listed has a single hdmi input which should work for the XBO however likely is not going to work for the television (sorry i missed the fact that the second device was a tv when i first read through). it will work with another hdmi device though if you use a hdmi splitter on the input (if you had an external tv tuner... explained below). or, you might be able to find one with 2x hdmi inputs... i only gave a quick look to let you know what to look for..

the second device i listed has 2x optical connections which should work for both the XBO and the tv if the tv uses optical output.

if your tv has no audio outputs at all.... then the only way to get sound out of it would be if it supported ARC and if you were using an audio extractor which supports ARC (audio return channel). however, that narrows down your choices even more (as well as increases budget) and you might not be able to find one easily which can do both 5.1 and arc. you might have to get one which splits the signal off into optical and has ARC and connect that to another box which takes optical inputs and turns them analog.

alternatively... if the only reason why you need sound to be output is because you use the tuner inside for cable tv then its possible to buy external tuner boxes which would offer more connectivity.

the devices i listed were just what i could google fastest and easiest. you might be able to find cheaper or better if you expand your search from there now that you know what you are looking for.