How can I connect 5.1 speakers to Macbook Pro 13 bought Summer 2011

Hi all
I am very new to the mac world. Basically I need to know how I can connect my Macbook Pro 13" to a 5/1 set of speakers.
Do I need something to plug to mini display port?
Thanks

saham wrote:
I conclude that I cannot use any 5.1 Computer Speaker sets that go with my Macbook Pro 13 and get a real Dolby sound,right?
"Computer speakers" Basically no. They mosty are either stereo analog (for music playback) or 5.1 gaming PC speakers that are married to a 5.1 sound card for PC towers.
You would have to have a stereo reciever and 5.1 speakers that can accept:
1: Toslink optical inputs
2: Decode Dolby Surround Sound
3: The media your playing back must have a Dolby sound option.
Most 5.1 computer speaker setups are for gaming PC towers and takes a sound card that does the processing for each channel, has three analog wires
Wire 1: Left and Right front channels
Wire 2: Left and Right rear channels
Wire 3: Subwoofer and center, common ground (returns all the used electrons to complete the loop)
Your Mac has none of these, it's just a stereo analog, 2.0, a left and right channel, common ground (three sections on the plug)
So no you can't use a PC based 5.1 system on a Mac, unless you bridge the first two wires either with adapters or splicing the cables. Then it's not true surround sound, just two stereo channels that fills the room with sound.
With true surround sound, you can hear people creep up behind you, bullets whizz by your face, planes flying past overhead. It's a more immersive experinece.
So unless the "computer 5.1 speakers" has it's own Toslink optical inputs and decodes Dolby (and other) surround sound formats, has a built in amplifier to power speakers, then no. As most 5.1 comptuer speakers are designed for PC 3D gaming, thus inexpensive.
The Mac market for 3D gaming is rather small, tiny in fact. I haven't seen any "computer speaker" setup with the required stuff to playback true suround sound.
Mac's are used for music and video production, that's why they have the better optical ports.
Your just going to have to buy a home theater system to playback Dolby 5.1

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