5.1 Surround Speakers to either Xbox One or Monitor

OriginalHarryTH

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Feb 18, 2015
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4,510
Hi, my name is Harry (I'm pretty new to the site)
And i have a question for you all!
I'm having a little issue with connecting my speakers to my monitor or my xbox one and 360. I usually pretty decent with Tech, however audio is my major weakpoint, as i know next to nothing about other than what 5.1 and 7.1 means.
So i would appreciate any help with this from anyone. ***If other forums ask this question i apologise, like i said, i'm awful with audio and imagined it would be easier asking it for myself, so just a heads up, i'm not making my own forum because im lazy and ignorant lol***

Devices involved with my Issue:
Creative A520 5.1 Speaker set
Asus VS247H Monitor
Xbox One
Xbox 360
(I will post pictures at the end of what the ports these devices have the cable i need to connect to them)

A little background here, basically i used to use my speakers connected to my gaming PC when i first got it but eventually got a headset and only used my speakers for watching films, but after i while i just unplugged my speakers all together. 2-3 years later (now), i decided to unplug my consoles from my TV on the wall, and now have my xbox one, 360 and PC all at my desk and play them through my monitor. However, because my Monitor cant play sound like my TV, i had to dig my speakers out so i could get sound while playing my consoles, without wearing my uncomfortable headsets for my consoles. (My headset for my PC is the only comfortable one i own)

Thats the background, now my issue is, unlike with my PC, i cannot connect my speakers to my Monitor or either consoles. The cables i need to plug into my devices are the set of cables that come bunched together. (The cable that has a Black, Orange and Green end to them)
Neither my Monitor nor my Xbox's have ports that i can connect the speakers into unlike my PC had. I assume i need an adapter to plug my speakers in. (My monitor does have a headphone jack, so maybe i could do something with that)
And even though i have 5.1 surround sound speakers, i actually do not care about getting surround sound from them. I'm fine just using my Left, Right and Central speakers. Normal speaker sound is actually what i want.

Pictures of the ports i need to somehow connect my speakers to-

Back of my Asus Monitor: http://im.tech2.in.com/gallery/2011/dec/asus_vs247_rear_connectors_1280x720_141058052311.jpg

Back of my Xbox One: http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEyLzAzLzUyL1hCb3hfT25lX0NvLjM1NTU0LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/58dd42f8/e59/XBox_One_Console-17.jpg

Back of my 360: http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/27287/1674329-xbox_360_slim_firmware.jpg

My Creative A520 speaker: set:http://d287ku8w5owj51.cloudfront.net/images/products/large/pdt_19916.png.ashx?width=450&height=350

The cables from the speaker set which i need to plug in/adapt: (The 3 cables on the left of the pic)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/imageholder/audio4scott.jpg

And here is a YT of someone (poorly) setting up the speakers, not the best video but it might help you guys see what im working with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmExNYVubQY (He is connecting to a PC, i want to connect it to my both my xbox's or my monitor, which will save me from plugging it into my other xbox everytime i want to go on another console)

****Now, i hope i have explained my issue and what i need help with, i feel like i wrote way too much but better safe than sorry eh?. Any help will be greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance.****
 
Solution


Your speaker system has 3 x 3,5" stereo jacks: lime (Front), black (Rear) and orange (Center/SW). Use the lime jack to connect to the monitor, thus enabling 2.1 output from the speaker system (when use only front inputs, the system also substracts audio signals under 200Hz from the L +R inputs and drives the subwoofer, so you will have L + R + SW as the active speakers). With this adapter...

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710
Hello,

It's too bad XBox don't have analog audio outputs, it would be much easier...

Try this: connect the X360 to the Xbox One (HDMI IN), then connect the XBox One (HDMI OUT) to the monitor (HDMI IN); you must have both One and 360 powered on to use the Xbox 360.
Connect the monitor's audio headset output to the PC audio LINE IN (the blue jack); from the software mixer, set the desired audio level for the Xbox.
Use the 5.1 output from the PC to drive the speakers:
Xbox 360 --HDMI--> Xbox One --HDMI--> Monitor --(3,5"jack-to-jack cable)--> PC (Line In) --> Pc (5.1 output) --> A520.

It will not be a real surround sound when gaming with the consoles, only when gaming/music/movies from the PC.
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
0
4,510


I'll give it a shot, but would there be any other way of getting it to work? I'm not really a fan of the idea of having both consoles on at once, and if i understood your solution correctly, my PC aswell. I'm very stingey when it comes to saving electric.
But thanks for the asnwer anyway, i'll look into it.
 

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710


I know it's a little bit complicated, but that you can do with a little or no investment at all (if you have all the cables)...

Think of a receiver as a future upgrade; this can be a starting point:
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-RT2911-1000-Watt-Theater-System/dp/B008658FRG/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424290843&sr=1-4&keywords=5.1+receiver (3HDMI inputs).

Another one, much better, also twice the price:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424291013&sr=1-20&keywords=5.1+receiver (4 HDMI inputs, 2 optical inputs)
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
0
4,510
""""""""""I know it's a little bit complicated, but that you can do with a little or no investment at all (if you have all the cables)...

Think of a receiver as a future upgrade; this can be a starting point:
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-RT2911-1000-Watt-Theater-System/dp/B008658FRG/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424290843&sr=1-4&keywords=5.1+receiver (3HDMI inputs).

Another one, much better, also twice the price:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424291013&sr=1-20&keywords=5.1+receiver (4 HDMI inputs, 2 optical inputs)[/quotemsg] """"""""""

Is that the only other option then, buying a new speaker system? Are there any cheaper variants that would work?
I'm not really an audiophile, as long as something sounds normal then it dont bother me.
I'm guessing that with my current set-up there isnt an adapter or anything that can make it work?
 

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710


If your PC also have HDMI output, you can use an HDMI switch:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pigtail-HDMI-Switch-1080p/dp/B002LF593A/ref=sr_1_2?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1424301135&sr=1-2&keywords=hdmi+switch (you can buy a cheaper adapter, but you need good video/audio quality).
You will use the monitor's headphones output to drive your audio system; only L + R + Sub speakers will be active (so no Center or Rear signal, unless your speakers don't have some sort of Virtual Surround feature).
With this adapter, you can make the Rear speakers to work too (not in Surround mode though):
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424301337&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+splitter
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
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4,510


And would that require my PC to be turned on while using my xbox one?
I know i don't know alot about tech, just the basic stuff, but i think its safe to assume Xbox's are terrible working with speakers lol.
 

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710


No, you can use only the device you want, just select the input (I forgot to specify, sorry about that).

Actually, the Xbox audio quality is as good as it gets, having digital audio connections (HDMI + SP/DIF). Of course, the same digital-only audio connection prevents you to directly use your speaker system with the Xbox.
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
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4,510


Wow, that's pretty useful then, so with that i get to use my speakers with my monitor/xbox without my PC actually having to be turned on? Ok, gotcha.
Pretty good.
So in summary, buy that HDMI switch (After finding out if my PC has a HDMI out port (I'm guessing if my PC has two ports, 1 is in and 1 is out, but if i only have 1 hdmi port will that be an issue?)) and with that switch i can connect my speakers to my monitor and xbox.
How will it all connect? To me it doesnt look like it will connect to anything. I thought HDMI was purely display.
 

Cristi72

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Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710


It's highly unlikely your PC has a HDMI IN, unless you have some sort of a video capture card. You should have at least one HDMI output and you must set the default audio output to Digital HDMI Audio from control Panel --> Sound --> Playback. A DVI-to-HDMI adapter will work only for video signals, it doesn't transfer audio.
HDMI was specifically designed as an universal audio/video port, so it transfers both audio and video signals.

Connection:
MtqmbsT.png
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
0
4,510


Ok, that comment pretty much has helped me out. 1 last thing i need to ask then i'm certain you've completely helped me out. How do i connect my A520 to my Earphone/headset jack on my monitor?
Forgive me if you already said what i need, i just had a quick skim read and couldnt find a mention of anthing.
 

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
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4,510


I think i've found what i need to connect my speakers to my monitor.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-Way-Stereo-Headphone-adapter/dp/B000TLX0NY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1424361076&sr=8-4&keywords=3+into+1+headphone+jack
I had a quick look on Amazon and found this, this seems like it is what i need. And according to the description and sizes, is compatible with the 3 analog cables from my Speaker set.
Can you confirm this for me?
 

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
0
4,710


Your speaker system has 3 x 3,5" stereo jacks: lime (Front), black (Rear) and orange (Center/SW). Use the lime jack to connect to the monitor, thus enabling 2.1 output from the speaker system (when use only front inputs, the system also substracts audio signals under 200Hz from the L +R inputs and drives the subwoofer, so you will have L + R + SW as the active speakers). With this adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424301337&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+splitter), you will also use the Rear speakers.

EDIT: the 3-way jack adapter you just found will have no benefits: the Center speaker will play the Left signal, and the Subwoofer speaker will play the Right signal, which is much worse; use either the Front speakers (the lime-coloured jack from the A520), or at most the Front + Rear speakers (Lime + Black) with the help of the 2-way jack adapter listed above. On both situations, the subwoofer will work properly.
 
Solution

OriginalHarryTH

Estimable
Feb 18, 2015
8
0
4,510


Hey, thanks so much. Got it all working now.
Sorry for me taking a long time to understand stuff. But thanks again, you've been a diamond! :)
Have a good day!
 

Cristi72

Estimable
Jun 25, 2014
155
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4,710


Don't mention it, glad to help. Have fun!