in the past post I have already introduced how to buy a 4K HDR TV for a notebook. Which our GG notebook can connect to a 4K monitor and use HDR, as well as play games with a 55-inch Samsung RU8000 TV at 2560x1440 resolution and 120Hz frequency comfortably. Is to have a surround sound system (Surround) to give it a complete set~

Let me first say that this Guide is written for the TV connection. along with the computer's 5.1 speakers with the notebook The 5.1 computer speakers cost about 2,500 - 3,500 baht, but if you really invest in a 5.1 Sound Bar or a 5.1 sound system, the price is tens of thousands of baht. It doesn't have to be difficult like us, hehe, but if you want to know if there is any other way to do it I invite you to read on.

What is a Surround Sound System?

To say that it is a System or a sound system. Because it's not just a speaker. It has many other components. But the way we can easily see first is that we sit among the speakers around. That's us.

for popular surround speakers And we can see the most. It is a 5.1 system. There are 5, but it has to use all 6 speakers, that is, instead of having only left-right sound or 2 channels (Channel) in a 5.1 system, there will be a total of 6 channels.

PS. In order not to be confused between a channel that is a socket (Socket) and a channel that is a channel (Channel) is called a channel, not called a channel.

• Center (C) is placed in the center. in front of the listener Most of the voices will come out of this speaker
• Left, Right (L/R) is a pair of front speakers. It is the normal left and right sound that we are familiar with.
• Left Surround, Right Surround (LS, RS) are rear speakers. This will be the speaker for the sound that should come from the back. And help fill the atmosphere around us, and it is not necessary that rear speakers must always be behind us with speaker design techniques we can make a sound Reflect on the walls, some at the ceiling, and let the sound come behind the audience as well.
• Subwoofer (LFE) is a dedicated speaker for low-end sound. Notice it's bigger than the others, it's .1 in 5.1 audio.

But first, we need to understand that It's not that we have 5.1 speakers, we just play music from YouTube and the sound will automatically come out in all directions. that we will be able to get the surround sound out is that the original must have surround sound Or do you have to use a program to upmix to get stereo sound that is only left and right? put it in other channels to all channels

For the "original" will have surround sound for us to listen to. It must be a movie data file. with audio track data (Audio Track) stored in AC-3 or DTS format, if in 2019 still loading bits, do not want to use Netflix, try to secretly open the web bit Saw that the file name, he would put AC3, DTS, something like this, meaning that in these files there will be an audio track (Audio Track) that is AC-3, DTS as well.

For Netflix, which title is surround sound? It will be written that 5.1 is understood that this story has surround sound.

If you bought a DVD, BluRay disc, the sound track of the movie on these discs is usually AC-3 or DTS, because surround sound is part of the DVD, BluRay standard.

What is AC-3 or DTS?

for these two names It is a method for collecting surround sound data ( codec ) the same way we are familiar with MP3 , AAC , but AC-3/DTS is developed to store multi-channel audio data. to be used to create surround sound in particular which will have a special technique to save more space in audio storage

Of course, we could also store 6 tracks of MP3 simultaneously in a movie file for 6 speakers of 5.1, but if we were to use 6 files of a CD-quality MP3 with 128 kbps (Kbps) data, it would be necessary. Area reaches 128x6=768 kilobits per second (kilo = 1024, bits are the data subunits in a computer where 8 bits are 1 byte and 1MB contains 1024 kilobytes and 1 megabyte contains 1024 kilobytes or 1024x1024=1048576 bytes). While AC-3 data on HD DVD/BluRay discs uses only 448 and 640 kbps, respectively , the brand name for AC-3 is Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus (which is a newer version of the codec called E). -AC-3) that we are familiar with.

DTS is another codec that the developers claim has higher quality than Dolby's surround sound system and was first used in the first Jurassic Park movie in 1993. 1976) Then these two companies competed for new technology. The sound comes out. until now

Plus a little, I don't know if it's still in time. Old cassette players have Dolby B NR (Dolby Type B Noise Reduction), which was Dolby's first technology from the 1970s to 1980s.

I used to use this model when I was in high school. So shy~ Picture from:  https://www.larkclub.com/gallery/2018/34166/

As for DVD, BluRay discs, if a movie originally created with DTS, it usually has a DTS audio track on the disc, while AC-3 is standard on DVD, BluRay originally. And with the age of these two technologies All players currently Should be able to support both of these Codecs already, don't worry at all.

If interested in reading, you can go here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Laboratories and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTS_(sound_system )

What if you want to listen to surround sound?

one possible way And the easiest is to use a Spatial Audio system that relies on hearing comprehension. to create a simulated surround sound by using headphones. If you want to know how try plugging in headphones then open this clip But have to shut down the Virtual 7.1 system in the machine first if it is open

Windows has a built-in Spatial Audio system. Windows Sonic for Headphones can be selected by right-clicking on the speaker icon and selecting Speaker Setup. 

After setting it up, try opening Netflix or a file with surround sound for comparison. How to make Spatial Audio is the "Virtual Surround" system that is often seen. In headphones that say it's Virtual Surround 7.1, that's it.

(As for headphones that are True 7.1, there are several speakers inside the headphones for each channel. I want to try to listen to this one as well how it's different from Virtual :D but I still can't make up my mind to buy it. because I know that I will only take it to try.)

But for us who used to be crazy about buying Creative 5.1 speakers to connect to the notebook before. (Bought a dent box from Jinan when the shop was in Fortune, only about 1,400 baht, heh heh heh) I felt that this Virtual Surround is completely different from the real surround speakers because of the sound. With the sound coming from behind, it's more noticeable than those with Spatial Audio, we just feel like we're sitting in a wider room. But the sound from behind really Still didn't feel like coming from behind anyway.

for the easiest way To connect 5.1 speakers is to connect 5.1 speakers through the analog channel of the computer.  For most PCs, it already has. And for LEVEL51 notebooks like our legendary XP model. Can connect directly to 5.1 speakers immediately (the XP version is temporarily missing from the web because we are waiting for agents to reserve it. Very close~) As for the XL model, ROSHARN can be connected to 7.1 speakers because there are 4 headphone jacks at once.

As for if our device has only two headphone channels Or just one channel, let's gradually chase each step at a time to see if there are any methods.

Let me tell you that I myself have tried all methods!!!

The first method) Buy a Sound Card USB.

It's a very fist-pumping way. But it will reduce the headache down as much as possible. and its advantage is We will be able to play games with surround sound with Windows will see that we have surround speakers. And 3D Audio-enabled games can use 5.1 or 7.1 speakers to create real-time surround sound from the game, and don't have to worry about AC-3, DTS, whatever, because if the notebook can play that file. Codec complete, sound is immediately surround because our notebook will be decoded or translated audio data into 6 or 8 channel audio signal already. before sending to the sound card to send out the speakers again

But the problem is that we won't be able to connect the TV or the game machine to our 5.1 speakers at all >.< For connecting to the TV So this option doesn't work.

strength:

• You can also play games with surround sound!
• Don't worry, Format if the device can open the file to play. You can definitely get surround sound.

weakness

• Branded USB sound cards are expensive. As for those that are cheap, sometimes they can't be bought and used. (It is recommended to buy from Lazada, so it can be returned easily)
• If not open the notebook It won't be able to use the speakers at all, so if you have an XBOX, PS4 connected to a TV or just use Smart TV and will use this set of speakers, it can't be done. Except for the cable from the TV back to this USB card and turn on the notebook as well. But if you do this, the sound from the Smart TV will only be Stereo , because even if you use the S/PDIF In of the USB sound card, it can't translate DTS/AC-3 data. come out
• A USB cable must be plugged in in addition to the HDMI cable.

The conclusion is

If the main use of the notebook Connected to a non-Smart TV monitor or TV, this option is the best. and the easiest We also used this method in the beginning. And then started to have Android Box coming in....Wii game machine came in, XBOX360 came in.....Oh, it's been 10 years already >.<

Second method) Use HDMI audio extraction.

Is it weird this way? Because the HDMI cable will have video and audio data at the same time. Well, from a Windows point of view, an HDMI TV or computer monitor is considered a sound card from which Windows can transmit sound. The transmitted audio is LPCM , which is uncompressed audio data. There's no technique at all. It's approximate that Windows produces an endless amount of WAV audio files. and send it to the TV all the time The TV also plays WAV files for us to listen to along with displaying images.

As for playing movies from Netflix, Netflix will be able to verify that. A device connected via HDMI can support any codec, and if the device supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus (AC-3, E-AC-3), it will use passthrough or bitstreaming techniques to transmit the audio from. Original via HDMI cable directly without translating AC-3 audio data to LPCM 6 or 8 channel at our notebook first (no decode) and TV reads this AC-3 data. Then process and Downmix from surround sound to Stereo sound before releasing Stereo sound from the TV's speakers again.

with this principle So we can use a device called HDMI Audio Extractor to extract the audio data and translate (Decode) it into 6-channel audio and output it through the 6 speakers connected to it. The AC-3 audio data is still transmitted to the TV as usual. This means that the sound will come from both the 5.1 speakers and the TV speakers. makes us choose to mute the sound at the V if using a set of speakers On days when I'm lazy to turn on the speaker You can still use the speakers from the TV. (This is why the TV have that option How will the sound come out?)

This box can be purchased from Lazada. I've pasted the link as follows.

But this box Usually an RCA head (a big head channel It's not the area where it shines, so it has to be paired with an RCA -> 3.5mm female cable to connect to a 5.1 set of speakers of your computer. Which can be a 3.5 mm cable, 3 wires, there will be an additional cable cost about 50 baht per line and must use all three lines together

strength:

• Cheap price, using a budget of about 1,200 - 1,500 baht, in addition to the speaker cost.
• add convenience Plug in a single cable to get both pictures and surround sound.
• PS4, XBOX, BluRay players will also be able to use the surround sound system together by connecting the HDMI Switcher.

weakness

• Still can't play games from the laptop. And get a surround sound because Windows can see it as a stereo speaker because the box will Duplicate the EDID of the monitor or TV connected to it again. (Which is often said to have 2 Channel audio) and then add the format that it supports to decode it.
• An HDMI Switcher must be used for switching before plugging into the HDMI Audio Extractor, making it impossible to select Input from the TV remote.
• Sound quality may not be very good

The conclusion is

If the TV is not a Smart TV or connected to a normal monitor This option would be the most suitable. Because we will not have sound from the TV already, we switch our own Source from before the TV. and then separate the sound itself from before the TV This was the next option we were using as well....until Smart TVs appeared last month.

Another option to extract audio from HDMI : A/V Receiver

Another solution is to buy an A/V Receiver that has HDMI to use. Its principle is the same as the HDMI Audio Extractor.

the device It can extract audio data from HDMI and translate it into sound from the speakers. But it will have more abilities. And it's designed to be a hub for all audio processing. Which these devices will have Optical In (S/PDIF In) for us to connect the sound from the TV back again. This makes it possible to use surround sound from the Smart TV function.

And in this era, A/V Receivers and TVs will support the ARC (Audio Return Channel) standard so that the TV uses an HDMI cable connected to the A/V Receiver to send audio data back to the A/V Receiver as well without having to plug in an Optical cable. one more line

As for why I didn't recommend this method in the first place....it's just the price . If you ask why there are only ONKYO pictures, how do you want it, hehe?

strength:

• It is a device designed specifically to solve this problem. It can do anything about letting the sound out. don't have to struggle a lot he already thought
• can play games from the laptop And get surround sound at all if the A/V Receiver that supports LPCM 6, 8 channels, which most of them will support. It has the same effect as plugging in a USB Sound Card 5.1 / 7.1.
• Supports multiple formats (Dolby, DTS, and sub-formats of the two labels)
• Sound quality is usually better Because the processing circuit is of higher quality and it is a built-in Amp, it's comfortable to connect to any big speaker power.

weakness:

• The price is much higher than using the HDMI Audio Extractor. Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, including speakers, may go into millions.
• Use about 200-300W of additional electricity.

The conclusion is

If you want to connect with computer speakers, 2-3 thousand baht per set, this is the wrong choice!~!!! But if you have a budget and used with good quality speakers that require high output power You don't have to try as hard as us here. Press it, it hurts and it's over. The complete set comes with a speaker. It's about 30,000 - 40,000 baht. That's all~~! or a sound bar that is Dolby Atmos, in addition to the rear There is also a sound above. The price is about 40,000 - 60,000 only. Yak.

Third method) Output Optical Audio from TV

Since TVs nowadays are almost all Smart TVs and the TV will try to act as a Hub of the house, making it have many HDMI Input channels, can connect USB devices, can connect to Bluetooth devices, can do voice commands. The best way is to give it to the TV. He manages everything the way he intended. But what the TV lacks is that it often does n't have a built-in analog speaker connector. (Headphones or RCA) because they also have to sell Receiver or Sound Bar with us anyway.

In order to be able to connect to a Sound Bar, many TVs have Optical Out or S/PDIF Out (this type of cable is called TOSLINK ). This channel, if the TV is properly designed, should passthrough the audio data received from it. All Inputs or from the Netflix App on the TV come out through this cable. The same way we do HDMI Passthrough, which most Sound Bar will use this channel to connect to the TV and if a Sound Bar is surround sound. It would be like a built-in A/V receiver that can translate various surround sound formats (that is, it has a decoder), just like a speaker and an A/V receiver in the same place.

And for TV models with HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC), it can only be used with Sound Bar, A/V Receiver. It can't be used with HDMI Audio Extractor box because they are different standards.

Picture from Samsung RU8000 TV Review - Web RTINGS.com

With this knowledge that we have with this Optical Out channel, we can use an inexpensive decoder to convert surround sound data. It's a 6 or 8 channel audio signal again and can be connected to our affordable 5.1 speaker set. That's all.

For this device, you can also find it from Lazada website as usual. We recommend this Because the set comes with a TOSLINK cable, you don't need to find it. And just buy an RCA->3.5mm adapter cable, it can be used to connect to 5.1 speakers right away.

strength:

• Economical price, pay only about 500-600 baht more.
• Everything is directly connected to the TV. everything will look smooth Press the TV remote to order everything. Use Smart TV. All sound comes out of 5.1 speakers.

weakness

• Still playing games and getting surround sound is not the same. Because the TV says it only has two speakers, Windows can only choose Stereo.
• The sound quality can't be compared to an A/V Receiver for ten thousand baht each.
• There's no built-in amp. You can't connect directly to speakers, so you'll need to connect to speakers that already have an amp, such as your computer's 5.1 speakers.

The conclusion is

If you have multiple devices and your TV is a Smart TV, don't want to spend money on an A/V Receiver and don't take the sound quality seriously. This method is probably the most appropriate.

(and of course Another way to do this is to buy a 5.1 Sound Bar to connect to the TV.)

end

Well, let's hope that the information we've found It will be useful to those who are interested in connecting 5.1 speakers with a notebook.