Sound output on MBP & best external speakers

[askywalker]

2 audio questions:

1) What do you recommend for external speakers? I'd like something that sounds nice (mostly music & personal video editing), is fairly small (needs to fit on my desk), and around $100 to $200. I heard the Z-10's are pretty good?

2) I am nervous about my sound output on my new MBP (15" 2.4). I have a Cambridge Soundworks setup that I used with my Dell, but for some reason plugging my new MBP doesn't work. Same goes for a pair of boston acoustic speakers. On my windows desktop I need to choose the 'digital audio output only' in the sound setup to get the Boston Acoustics to work - so I tried looking for a similar option on the Mac. The cable looks like it should work - fits in the headphone jack right? No sound... Anything I can try? Is there some kind of breakout cable I should try?

Thanks!

 

[Megatron]

1) For a simple 2.1 system, I really like the Klipsch Promedia 2.1. You should be able to find them for $100-150.

2) Do you have a simple pair of headphones? Try using that and see if you get any audio output from the MBP headphone jack first.

 

[askywalker]

1) For a simple 2.1 system, I really like the Klipsch Promedia 2.1. You should be able to find them for $100-150.

I will check them out - thanks

2) Do you have a simple pair of headphones? Try using that and see if you get any audio output from the MBP headphone jack first.

Headphones work fine. I am assuming it is something to do with the digital audio - since both of my speaker setups are digital. Is your Klipsch setup a digital or analog connection?

 

[hakuryuu]

The digital out on the MBP is optical only for digital audio. Otherwise you can only plug in a standard stereo miniplug(1/8in) for audio.

 

[Megatron]

The Klipsch system is analog. Here's a link to the product information page:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/promedia-2-1.aspx