[Hi all, newbie here but been around a LONG time ;) HW/SW/FW engineer for decades..]

[UPDATE: I'm looking at USB->surround external boxes. Are ANY good???]

I just wasted too many round 'tuits learning ASIO4all etc... and failing to accomplish my goal. Maybe not a complete loss: learned a few things and discovered this amazing community along the way :-D

Below is my goal. Am I crazy or is there a simple solution I just don't know how to implement?

Old platform: desktop PC with plenty of audio in/out ports and Realtek HD Audio controller that made it easy to plug in 5.1 or 7.1 line level (to powered) surround speakers.
New platform: nice HP Zbook laptop, dock, and big (Innocn - wow!) screen with enough 3.5mm audio jacks between them all, but no single device has multiple jacks.

Goal: surround sound output on the laptop when docked. Cheap (I run a very nonprofit ;) )

Seems it ought to be possible to create a virtual output device that combines 3 or 4 jacks into a 5.1 / 7.1 virtual speaker... but I've found no examples, or even people attempting this.

Is there a solution, or do I need to purchase some hardware? If hardware, is there a good affordable solution?

UPDATE: I've started looking at external sound boxes. There are so so many. And most generate a variety of complaints. Are any just... plain good quality and work? LOL. Seems a USB3->Surround device ought to be straightforward.

Your insights much appreciated,
Papa Pete (that's what my three grand-girls have called me since age 1 ;) )

 

Last edited: Mar 4, 2025 at 2:36 AM