[SOLVED] Cheapest way to connect 5.1 speakers

[Blitz Blitz]

Hi. I don't know where to ask, but maybe somebody help me. What is the cheapest way to connect 5.1 speakers. My mobo only have 3 connections(red, green, blue). Speakers have 3 connectors(green, black, orange). Thanks.

 

[helpstar]

Which motherboard are you using?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Hi. I don't know where to ask, but maybe somebody help me. What is the cheapest way to connect 5.1 speakers. My mobo only have 3 connections(red, green, blue). Speakers have 3 connectors(green, black, orange). Thanks.

List model names of your motherboard and speaker system.

Do you have digital optical inputs on your speakers? If yes, then use optical toslink cable.
If your motherboard doesn't have digital optical out, then get discrete audio card.
For example - Asus xonar dgx

Xonar DGX | Sound Cards | ASUS Global

ASUS Xonar DGX 5.1 PCI Express gaming audio cards are perfect for headphone lovers - they have a special headphone amp to boost quality and in-game detail, plus 5.1-channel surround with Dolby® Headphone and the GX 2.5 gaming audio engine, easily out-performing onboard audio.

www.asus.com

 

[boju]

If games are part of your 5.1 endeavour, optical afaik won't work in true 5.1 unless games already have the compressed tracks which they rarely do. Easiest simplest way is get a sound card that has the audio jacks for individual channels if your motherboard doesn't offer analogue surround.

If ever want to use optical, go for a sound card that does real-time encoding, Dolby Digital Live.

Xonar DX｜Sound Cards｜ASUS Australia

Xonar AE is a PCIe gaming sound card built with high-quality components to satisfy gamers who demand exceptional sound for the best gaming and multimedia experiences. Xonar AE delivers 7.1-channel, 192kHz/24-bit Hi-Res audio output with a high 110dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and comes with a...

www.asus.com

Xonar D2X | Sound Cards | ASUS Australia

www.asus.com

https://www.asus.com/us/Sound-Cards/Xonar_D2PM/ProductPrint/

https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-zx

 

[Paperdoc]

I have the same issue, and the solution IS built into the mobo. But my manual did not make it totally clear until I hunted a bit.

My old mobo had six rear panel 3.5mm jacks for audio:
Lime Green for front left / right
Orange for front Middle / Subwoofer
Black for Rear left / right
Pink for Mic In
Light Blue for Line In left / right
Grey for Side left / right (on 7.1 speaker system)

All that matched the plugs on my 5.1 speaker system (nothing to go into Grey), and I was good.

My new mobo has THREE rear jacks: Lime Green, Blue and Pink, like yours. I finally found in my mobo manual that what they do depends on what you tell your mobo audio configuration they will feed to.

IF you use them for a simple 2-channel speaker system, they are used as: Lime Green for front left / right, Blue for Line In left / right, Pink for Mic In. BUT I have a 5.1 system like you!

THEN I found out that, to connect for 5.1 speakers, you do this with the three jacks:
Lime Green for Front left / right
Pink for Front Middle / Subwoofer (orange plug from speakers?)
Blue for Rear left / right (Black plug from speakers?)
For plugging in the mic on my headset, there is NO Mic In on the rear, and I have to use the Pink jack on the FRONT of my computer case.

Check the manual for YOUR mobo for this kind of detail. It may NOT be exactly as my new one is.

 

[Paperdoc]

Thanks for Best Answer. I hope you got it working as you wanted.