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    5.1 surround sound

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Boby b, May 16, 2011.

  1. Boby b

    Boby b Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys how to you get the 5.1 enabled? Ive gone to "sound" and configured to 5.1, but when i test, it just has the left and right speakers working... didnt think anything of it until i tried to watch a film, where i was only getting the background music from the film from the left and right speakers. i think there was a thread about this before but cant find it now.

    Any help would be great, thanks.
     
    Boby b, May 16, 2011
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  2. MikeeDinh

    MikeeDinh Notebook Evangelist

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    i think that setting is for an external system.
     
    MikeeDinh, May 16, 2011
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  3. Boby b

    Boby b Notebook Enthusiast

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    nope its a internal system its in the specs.
     
    Boby b, May 16, 2011
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  4. c1ro

    c1ro Notebook Consultant

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    the spec means 5.1 connectivity, not 6 speakers installed inside the laptop
     
    c1ro, May 16, 2011
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  5. MikeeDinh

    MikeeDinh Notebook Evangelist

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    im pretty sure the internal is 2.1 the two speakers and the small sub
     
    MikeeDinh, May 16, 2011
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  6. Boby b

    Boby b Notebook Enthusiast

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    my bad sorry guys! serves me right for seeing 5.1 and just assuming. hmm how do i get the sub going then?
     
    Boby b, May 16, 2011
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  7. Boby b

    Boby b Notebook Enthusiast

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    Found the other thread.... just refer to the mini sub forum...
     
    Boby b, May 16, 2011
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  8. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    namaiki, May 16, 2011
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  9. chris3145

    chris3145 Notebook Consultant

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    A laptop couldn't have built-in surround sound unless some part of the laptop were behind you...
     
    chris3145, May 16, 2011
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  10. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Surround sound, and 5.1 sound aren't the same thing. ;)

    Surround sound is what is sounds like - sound that surrounds you. For this, obviously, you need at least one speaker behind you for this to make sense.

    For 5.1 however, you just need six different sources. A few MSI gaming laptops advertise 5.1 sound. And they do have five speakers and a sub, but obviously it doesn't help.
     
    Serephucus, May 16, 2011
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  11. chris3145

    chris3145 Notebook Consultant

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    I know that they are different, but there's little reason to do 5.1 if it's not surround. A laptop with built in 5.1 sounds like a waste of money.
     
    chris3145, May 16, 2011
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  12. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    But it sounds impressive when a n00b reads it in the specs list. 3GB 555M? You should know by now Dell - and most other companies - do do things that make sense, they do what will make them the most money.
     
    Serephucus, May 17, 2011
    #12