Figured I'd see if this was a stupid question :)
Most motherboards nowadays come with 5 or 6 audio outputs. However, most pc speaker setups have it setup to where all the satellite speakers plug into the woofer and one line from all the speakers actually goes into the pc.
So why are there so many different analog inputs into the audio in the pc?
The reason I ask is that I have a very nice set of logitech speakers (4speakers, 1 woofer) and in this pc, only two of the speakers work because of the way I have to wire it. I would assume I'd use the audio drivers/software to control the channels but I could never use any more than two of the speakers.
I'm gettting ready to build an all new setup and am wondering what sort of (cheap) speakers I should get when the new mobo has 6 ports so I'm not sitting here with sound out of only two channels.
Anyone faced this before?
I'm a little confused as to what you are asking, you started by talking about the outputs then asked about inputs? Did you mean outputs?
I would say there are so many outputs still because a lot of people still use analog speakers. Such as me, 5.1 sound that has a front, rear, and center/subwoofer plugs.
These speakers are a newer version of what I have (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/234) which are still analog and I really like the sound that comes out of them. Good price too!
Though, I should state that I have a Sound Blaster card so that's why I get full 5.1 sound. The only computer I've ever used the mobo built in sound on is my Fiancee's computer and she has a sound issue where she only gets 2 channels of sound even though she has 4.1 analog speakers.
Sorry, I guess the "jacks" on the back of the pc could be a combination of inputs and outputs. (Mic inputs, audio outputs, etc).
I guess my point was that I've been facing what you described for your fiancee in that I only get two channels despite having 4 speakers and a woofer.
Thanks for the feedback though -- I actually added those speakers to my Newegg wishlist last night so they're one of the ones I'm considering.
I guess at this point I don't know if the speakers I have (also logitech's) are fine and it's just poor onboard audio on my mobo, or if the audio is fine and maybe these two channels aren't working on the speakers.
I'll keep playing with it. :)