Creative Inspire 4.1 speaker set - Worth trying to make a plan?

[Cassady]

Hi all,

I don't know enough about any of this, so figured I would pop up something here, for some thoughts...

Opened up a box over the weekend, and found this.

Hand-me-down from my boet. I remember when these were still in use, they had (imo) really good sound, for their size.

I still have the old PC somewhere, with Soundcard drive/card etc. installed, that it used to run off.

With this being said, given where I'm at, I don't really have the space/time/inclination to resurrect the old system.

My question:

Given that I don't think there's much of a market for these anymore - can I get creative [ha-ha] and try and connect it to what I have currently (2012 MBP/ATV2 - maybe use the BT hifi adapter somehow?)??

I guess, in short -- is this only go to work with a PC sound card etc., or are there ways and means - which would make it worthwhile to search, and investigate further?

Popped up some pics to show the various lines in/out...

Would really appreciate some guidance, as to what might be possible!

 

[Cassady]

So that's a 'No' then?

 

[garyc]

Don't remember these all that well, but I get the impression that there is a lot more in your photos that just the Inspire 4.1 speakers. You can most likely take any analogue output from a computer and plug it in to the back of that sub. One thing that does not stand out in the photos is the PSU brick for the speakers - make sure that you have that.

 

[AfricanTech]

I'm sure you can connect that to pretty much anything and use it as a speaker set - does not have to be the creative sound card

or am I missing something?

 

[Cassady]

I'm sure you can connect that to pretty much anything and use it as a speaker set - does not have to be the creative sound card

or am I missing something?

That's what I was hoping for -- I just don't know what connections would be required. I'm pretty clueless on what the various INputs could be...

That "Optical" IN on the front of the control unit... Could it be used, via some sort of a converter, to get the Red/White OUT of the Bluetooth converter, connected?

 

[Rudimental]

That's what I was hoping for -- I just don't know what connections would be required. I'm pretty clueless on what the various INputs could be...

That "Optical" IN on the front of the control unit... Could it be used, via some sort of a converter, to get the Red/White OUT of the Bluetooth converter, connected?

No. The bluetooth converter will only give you an analog stereo signal by the look of it. You'll need to use that RCA to male 3.5mm cable the other way around, i.e. plug the red/white into the bluetooth converter and then plug the black 3.5mm jack into the 'line in' on the back of the control unit.

If your Apple TV has an optical out, then you'd plug that into the optical in, so that you can get multi-channel audio. The only issue I would worry about is whether that control unit will convert 5.1 digital audio to 4.1, so you might have to fiddle with that stuff.

 

[Cassady]

No. The bluetooth converter will only give you an analog stereo signal by the look of it. You'll need to use that RCA to male 3.5mm cable the other way around, i.e. plug the red/white into the bluetooth converter and then plug the black 3.5mm jack into the 'line in' on the back of the control unit.

If your Apple TV has an optical out, then you'd plug that into the optical in, so that you can get multi-channel audio. The only issue I would worry about is whether that control unit will convert 5.1 digital audio to 4.1, so you might have to fiddle with that stuff.

Appreciate the help - and for making your explanation simple enough for even me to understand!

This is off the Apple website: "Using an optical digital-audio cable (also called S/PDIF or TOSLINK), connect Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) to a home theater receiver with an optical digital-audio port."

So presumably a TOSLINK(?) cable would allow for a connection between the ATV and the Creative box - but there might be an issue with the conversion from 5.1 to 4.1 (as in - it might not happen)?

If the latter - would it still function (as in - make a noise ), albeit in a limited fashion - or would it not be able to play at all?

 

[Cassady]

Ah. Think the Optical option has just gone down the tube...

Found another pic, that I failed to upload earlier. See it's an Optical OUT jack. So no point in running the Toslink from the ATV INTO it, surely?



So then it would have to be the initial suggestion - which might not see all speakers being utilised. Still - worth a try!

 

[Rudimental]

Appreciate the help - and for making your explanation simple enough for even me to understand!

This is off the Apple website: "Using an optical digital-audio cable (also called S/PDIF or TOSLINK), connect Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) to a home theater receiver with an optical digital-audio port."

So presumably a TOSLINK(?) cable would allow for a connection between the ATV and the Creative box - but there might be an issue with the conversion from 5.1 to 4.1 (as in - it might not happen)?

If the latter - would it still function (as in - make a noise ), albeit in a limited fashion - or would it not be able to play at all?

I looked up what you have been calling the 'control unit' and that is something completely separate to the speakers. It is in fact a USB sound card, and it almost certainly won't work unless plugged into a PC (might work on a Mac, not sure). Also, that on the front, which has a cable in the way in your picture, is an optical OUT, not an optical IN. Meaning you won't be able to use your Apple TV's optical out.

I think the only way to use this is to plug that sound card into your Macbook Pro via USB and hope it works, or look for Mac drivers. Plug the front/rear on the sub into the front/rear on the back of the USB sound card.

edit: oh and wrt looking for drivers, that is a Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External USB Sound Card

 

[Cassady]

I looked up what you have been calling the 'control unit' and that is something completely separate to the speakers. It is in fact a USB sound card, and it almost certainly won't work unless plugged into a PC (might work on a Mac, not sure). Also, that on the front, which has a cable in the way in your picture, is an optical OUT, not an optical IN. Meaning you won't be able to use your Apple TV's optical out.

I think the only way to use this is to plug that sound card into your Macbook Pro via USB and hope it works, or look for Mac drivers. Plug the front/rear on the sub into the front/rear on the back of the USB sound card.

Aah...

Ja - I know next to nothing about speakers/sound/audio etc.

You've had me go and look at things again - think there might be scope for looking more closely at the back of the bass/sub-woofer(?) amp... See there also appears to be two IN's, which might be worth playing around with, using the bluetooth connector, as you initially suggested. The satellite speakers connected to the back of that amp, if memory serves.

This would see me bypass the USB sound card completely. Which will probably mean it won't work at all!
But hey - don't exactly have anything to lose.

Regarding plugging it in to the Mac - tried it some time back, and no go. Definitely needs proper drives, and last time I checked, there weren't any for Apple. Having said that, since I now have Windows via VM set up, might try and give a go again.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

 

[Rudimental]

You've had me go and look at things again - think there might be scope for looking more closely at the back of the bass/sub-woofer(?) amp... See there also appears to be two IN's, which might be worth playing around with, using the bluetooth connector, as you initially suggested. The satellite speakers connected to the back of that amp, if memory serves.

Yes, this will work (assuming that whatever devices you have will connect to the phillips bluetooth thingy), but you'll be limited to the sub and 2 speakers, because you'll only be able to plug it into the 'front' input. You'll need a cable that will split the 3.5mm cable so that you plug it into both the front and rear inputs, so that you'll get stereo sound over all 4 speakers. These are pretty hard to find, though, since ideally you want one with one female to two male plugs, but almost all of these are one male to two female plugs, so you might have to make a plan.

 

[AfricanTech]

Aah...

Ja - I know next to nothing about speakers/sound/audio etc.

You've had me go and look at things again - think there might be scope for looking more closely at the back of the bass/sub-woofer(?) amp... See there also appears to be two IN's, which might be worth playing around with, using the bluetooth connector, as you initially suggested. The satellite speakers connected to the back of that amp, if memory serves.

This would see me bypass the USB sound card completely. Which will probably mean it won't work at all!
But hey - don't exactly have anything to lose.

Regarding plugging it in to the Mac - tried it some time back, and no go. Definitely needs proper drives, and last time I checked, there weren't any for Apple. Having said that, since I now have Windows via VM set up, might try and give a go again.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

I'm pretty sure that your assumption is incorrect.

The speakers are just speakers - plug them into anything that has an output capability and sound will come out of them - don't know if you will 51. and all that jazz but you will get sound.

 

[Cassady]

Will slap me silly. Did as suggested - went in through the bass with the BT connector, and I'm currently sitting in the kitchen streaming Springsteen's Two Faces off my iPhone... In stereo.

And they sound better than I remember them.

Joy of joys.

Thanks again!

 

[Rudimental]

I just noticed that it looks like the BT connector has two outputs. So, you could try connecting the other one you didn't use to the rear input on the sub, so then you'd be able to use all 4 satellite speakers if you want. It will just mirror the front speakers, so no extra channels, but will be more sound if you want it.

 

[Cassady]

I just noticed that it looks like the BT connector has two outputs. So, you could try connecting the other one you didn't use to the rear input on the sub, so then you'd be able to use all 4 satellite speakers if you want. It will just mirror the front speakers, so no extra channels, but will be more sound if you want it.

You know - I would never have thought of that!

Have a male-to-male 3.5mm laying around, will plug it in, and see if it makes a difference. All 4 satellite speakers, and the bass were working last night - but it probably wasn't stereo(?), come to think of it.

 

[Rudimental]

You know - I would never have thought of that!

Have a male-to-male 3.5mm laying around, will plug it in, and see if it makes a difference. All 4 satellite speakers, and the bass were working last night - but it probably wasn't stereo(?), come to think of it.

That's weird. Normally if you only have audio in the front input then it will only play on the front speakers. The sub might have have a jack sensor and play on all 4 speakers when you only use the front input. In which case everything is fine.