Gateway GM5076E - No audio

[Gary Walker]

Gateway GM5076E, just purchased 8/18/06.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7740082&type=product&id=1140392808620

After complete setup and migration, it seems I have no
audio. Initially, I simply plugged up the speakers from
the previous system(really, better speakers than came
with the GW), but no sound.

However, I then tried the speakers via the headphone
jack, and I'm receiving audio, but faint of course.

So, I'm thinking maybe I need to use the GW speakers,
but I get the same results. It seems like to back panel
speaker jack is bad.

The older speakers are AC/miniplug driven, and the new
GW speakers are USB/miniplug driven.

I'm really just looking for opinions. I fired off a message
to GW TS, but I doubt this is fixable without exploration.

I'm leaning on simply returning the unit to the local box
store for an exchange. Comments?


Thanks,

Gary

 

[JS]

Your older speakers may be Analog and the new system may only support
Digital speakers.
The output from the headphone jack is typically analog also.

JS

 

[Gary Walker]

But, both speaker sets track the same failure, with the
same result. Also, what is a digital speaker?


Gary

 

[JS]

Digital speakers have a Digital to Analog converter as part of their input
as the cable from your PC carries a digitized signal. The digital signal is
then converted to analog and the signal is amplified, sent internally to the
physical speaker in the enclosure, which in most cases is part woofer unit.
Analog speakers have no converter since the signal is already analog when
sent from the PC's sound card to the speaker(s).

JS

 

[Gary Walker]

Maybe.... I was about to call you a quack for talking
digital speakers. Because, there's no way your runnin'
1's & 0's into a magnet to shiver a speaker cone.

But, why wouldn't any/all this circuitry for D/A trans-
lation, be part of any digital reproduction device?
Personally, I've either never seen any type of digital
speaker, or didn't know I'd seen it.

Just exactly where might someone encounter a digital
speaker as you describe? Were they something that
was developed in the early digital explosion, and soon
faded. Or, do you think they're still built today.

Anyway, that's certainly not related to my original prob-
lem.

Gary

 

[JS]

The physical speaker (Coil, Magnet, Cone) isn't digital, it the transmission
of sound from your PC to the speaker that digital.
Digital is less susceptible to noise (especially 60 cycle hum).
Digital is more common today than in the past.

Digital Speakers:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=9486
More Info: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/268
and: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/sound-card1.htm

JS