laptop solution for bookshelf speakers

[nkgupta80]

Hi, I had recently ordered a 2.1 system (bookshelves and a sub) for my dorm. I was wondering what would be the best way to connect these to a laptop with a budget of $100-200. thanks

[GZsound]

Buy an inexpensive reciever capable of surround sound. There are a ton of them out there for dirt cheap..

[Audiodude]

Hi, I had recently ordered a 2.1 system (bookshelves and a sub) for my dorm. I was wondering what would be the best way to connect these to a laptop with a budget of $100-200. thanks

What kind of 2.1 system? Are you just talking about two powered speakers and a sub? Or do you have a receiver / CD / DVD etc. system?

Assuming you've just got some powered computer speakers, your laptop probably has an audio line output, and the speakers probably have some sort of bass management built in. You just need the appropriate cable(s). If you don't have a line out, or if you are looking to get better quality on the output than the line out gives you, there are a bunch of USB audio interfaces out there, starting in the sub-$100 range, and going up into the thousands. In the $100-200 range, I'd recommend the M-Audio Audiophile USB (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudiophUSB/).

If you've got a receiver already, you'll need to get a cable as I mentioned for the speakers, but you'll need to go into one of the stereo line inputs of the receiver. Depending on your receiver's inputs, and your computer's outputs, you might be able to use a digital S/PDif connection for this instead of regular analog cables.

If you have passive speakers, then you'll need a receiver / amp to drive them. Or an amp and crossover if you'd rather go the "pro audio" route, but if this is just for a dorm room I probably wouldn't bother.