4.1 speakers on Macbook

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Hi everyone,

I have a late 2008 Macbook (Intel processor). The other day, I bought a new set of 4.1 speakers (Creative M4500). I assumed everything would Just Work, but it doesn't.

I get sound from the bass sub and from the two front speakers, but the two rear speakers are silent. (The speakers plug into the headphone socket on the side of my Macbook.)

I was about to take them back to the shop when I read a note in the manual from Creative about needing a sound card that supports more than two channels of audio.

The System Profiler didn't give me much information about the sound card, so here I am trying to find out what my problem is and how I can fix it.

Is there some setting I can adjust or a cheap connector I can buy to get sound out of all four speakers? Please don't tell me I'd need to buy a better sound card or something expensive like that! (Because I can't really afford it.)

Please note that I don't really know anything about audio and would appreciate a simple explanation assuming no prior knowledge!

Thanks for your time.
 

chscag

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Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
I don't know about a cheap connector or crossover adapter, but everything I've read on your question (back through the archives and Google) suggests that you're going to need an external sound card to fire up all four speakers.

Maybe someone else will have a better suggestion.
 

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