Help with new(to me) Pro media 5.1 equipment recomendations

[theplummer]

Hello all, 

 

Been a long time since posting.  But I have a question for techies here.

 

I recently upgraded by laptop to a ASUS Zepherus M16, and a Sony Bravia 65" 4K television (no it's not the OLED), and I purchased a Klipsch refurbished ProMedia 2.1 from Klipsch.

 

I'm having a bit of a problem here.  Quite frankly, I can't hear the voice dialogue on movies, unless I turn the volume up so loud that when there are other sounds, like explosions, it blows us out of the room.  I've tried the factory installed speakers in the Sony Bravia (didn't think they'd be any good anyway.  Tried the Klipsch 2.1 (a little better, but still not acceptable), and a friend gave me some cheapo soundbar, with no Sub.  (it's terrible)

 

So, I got on the ole' Facebook Marketplace, and Low and behold, I saw it!  Something I've been wanting for... forever.  Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 for a mere $60.00 and it was local...

 

My thought here is that I can run the center channel a little hot for dialogue and tame the surrounds down... I'm sure it's going to work great... IF I can figure out how to connect the darn thing to my current system.

 

You see, the ProMedia Ultra 5.1 is analogue only.  I need 3 minijacks to plug into the input of the Klipsch sub. L/R, L/R rear, Center/Sub.  but neither my computer nor television has compatible outputs.  I have a single minijack headphones (that I'm using the 2.1 right now.  But I don't think they make a 3 way splitter for that application (and I don't think it would be in 5.1 anyway, just stereo.

 

I have a extra HDMI on both the laptop and the television, but I'd need some kind of DAC to minijack to make that work.  Any economical recommendations?

 

I have USB ports on both television and laptop, so the same would apply.  I think USB bypasses any surround sound processing anyway, and I'd definitely need a stand alone processor there too.  and it could have a optical port too because both TV and laptop have optical outs on them.

 

I do have a  old Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro II USB to stereo minijack or optical... Is it possible to somehow get that to work to make the 5.1 work?

 

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Edited January 16, 2023 by theplummer
missing info.

[theplummer]

Hunting around on Amazon, I think I may have solved my problem, but I'm not sure, so I'd like some confirmation that I'm on the right track.  https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Converter-Channel-Decoder-Optical/dp/B07X94PF4D/ref=sr_1_14?crid=3H5LW402DHID9&keywords=dac+audio+converter+dolby&qid=1673908603&sprefix=dac+audio+converter+dolby%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-14

 

If I get a set of RCA L/R to stereo minijack, I think this will work, because I can use the digital optical to connect to the DAC.

[theplummer]

Update:

 

The digital converter works perfectly.  However, not without some disadvantages.  

 

Namely, no remote control for volume.  Which makes sense.  I'm using a USB 'Turtle Beach' TOSlink optical out of the laptop into the DAC.  Also using a Optical into the DAC.  Therefore, volume must be controlled by the Promedia on the analogue side.  And this unit is older, and designed to be used at a computer desk, well within arms reach for volume adjustment.  Not sure if later models came with a volume remote or not, would be good if there was that option.

 

Other issue (of just inconvenience)  there's a separate button to move from line 1 (laptop) and line 2 (television) that must be manually changed when going from one source to the other.  I was hoping to leave it on line 2 and pass through the television so I wouldn't have to change to line 1 every time I wanted to use the computer.  Although, there may be a adjustment on the television settings to allow for that, since I'm using a HDMI to go from the laptop to the television.  Just haven't figured it out yet.  

 

I'm really liking this setup, as it's very small in size and wall mount kits are inexpensive and readily available on amazon.  Now, I have to make a bracket below the television to hold the center speaker under the television as I have it wall mounted on a swinging bracket and I'd like the speaker to point where the television is pointing.  

 

Anyone got any ideas on a way to connect a volume remote to this particular setup?

[theplummer]

Ironically, 

 

I said earlier that the USB out on my laptop to a Turtle Beach Toslink (optical output) could not control the volume, turns out, once my computer did a restart, the volume buttons now work with the optical output.  (I don't totally understand why that works with a digital out, to a analogue converter, but it does)... 

 

But the Sony Bravia Toslink doesn't have the ability to regulate volume.  

 

I'm currently working on a raspberry pi or Eduwardo workaround to give me a remote volume control... But I'm not a programmer, so this may be a pipe dream for me.

 

But, before I attempt this, I'm going to try to get my television to 'talk to', or send a hdmi signal from it, to my laptop, then my laptop will pass through the signal (via optical out, to the DAC converter) then it should have volume control on the keyboard, but still not on the TV remote.

 

I use a wireless laptop on my coffee table, so this wouldn't be a huge inconvenience, other than I won't be able to adjust the center, rear, or sub outputs without going to the master controller for the Pro Media 5.1.  

 

Obviously there isn't much interest in integrating old tech to new tech, gauging from the lack of interaction on this thread, so I'll probably discontinue any further additions to this thread.