How to connect 2x 3.5mm on laptop to 3x 3.5mm jack on 5.1 speaker?

MySeaGateIsDown

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Jul 9, 2015
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I just bought an Asus ROG GL552JX laptop. Unlike my Dell, which had 3x 3.5 mm jacks (headphone, mic, SPDIF), the ASUS laptop has only 2x 3.5mm jacks (headphone and mic).

How do I connect the speaker system to my laptop?

Do I have to purchase an expensive USB sound card?

Or will a 3.5mm splitter for headphone jack work fine?
 
1) You didn't actually explain what speakers you have (i.e. what output you used before).

2) The headphone jack would connect to a stereo speaker system, and auto-mute the laptop internal speakers (just like the headphones do)

3) Splitter-> Why? You'd get the same audio out twice.

You'd either swap the headphones for desktop speakers constantly, or use desktop speakers you can plug the headphones into instead. (the VOLUME is likely a lot higher to the headphones than the desktop speakers so keep that in mind when switching to the same laptop output)

4) SPDIF-> that's not a 3.5mm jack. It's a digital connection.

5) USB sound?
It really depends on how good your desktop speakers are. As said, AFAIK you only can output stereo via the headphone jack.

A USB DAC or similar is one option if trying to drive a good 4.1/5.1 type setup.
 

MySeaGateIsDown

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Jul 9, 2015
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4,560


1. It is a philips DSP 2800

When I connect the system's 3 3.5mm jacks to the ports, the realtek manager automatically detects all the 6 channels.

So now, with the new ASUS laptop, I'm just confused how to connect.

4. sorry my bad. It was line-out.

Is external USB soundcard the only way?