Digital sound output from XPS L702X

or am I perhaps using the wrong kind of plug?

Hello. Your XPS L702X Setup Guide says "NOTE: You must use a S/PDIF (mini-TOSLINK) adapter to connect a S/PDIF cable. The
S/PDIF (mini-TOSLINK) adapter does not ship with your computer and must be purchased separately." Maybe you need one of those. It is to connect a full-size TOSLINK plug to the mini-TOSLINK socket in the laptop.

Also you want to have "Digital Output " enabled on the Playback tab of the sound properties, but I imagine the cable has to be connected first.

Thanks for the reply. I did read that in the setup guide, but this describes an adapter for an optical cable doesn't it? The digital output cable from my Cambridge Soundworks subwoofer terminates in a 3.5mm jackplug,

According to the info from Cambridge it's a '1 x 1/8" miniplug' - this would appear to fit the port on the laptop but does not give me any sound?

This same plug works fine when plugged into the digital output from the soundcard in my PC however.

I did read that in the setup guide, but this describes an adapter for an optical cable doesn't it?

Yes, the S/PDIF port on the computer is optical. It is a combination port. A standard 1/8" miniplug can fit into it for analog output, or the slightly longer TOSLINK miniplug can fit into it for optical digital. Do your speakers have a TOSLINK input port?

"According to the info from Cambridge it's a '1 x 1/8" miniplug' "

Those are usually analog.  As far as I know S/PDIF is transmitted only over TOSLINK optical or coaxial copper cable terminating in RCA type plugs, but I could be wrong about that..

There is no TOSLINK port on the speakers. The connection does appear to be coax terminating in an RCA plug, the RCA plug then has an adapter to fit it into the PC soundcard, so I guess this is not compatible with the latptop then.

Thanks for your help.

You're welcome.

What is the model of the speakers. I went to the Cambridge Sound website and looked at their 2.1 speakers systems but they didn't have digital inputs. The RCA jack I saw was just for a standard analog audio cable.

If the speakers do have a digital input port, you can get an adapter to convert the digital output of the laptop from optical to coax digital.

I've had the speakers a while and I don't think they make this model now, they are Soundworks THX 250D

hi!

im having a similar  problem, instead i have the TOSLINK adaptor, fitted it in the SPDiF socket, connected it to my z-5500 hub, and there is no sound. 
 The digital output is showing its not connected, even though everything is in its right place.

any suggestions? 

think i found a solution - i reinstalled the realtec drivers to 64bit_Vista_Win7_Win8_R269, once i plugged the TOSLINK adapter it asked me what has connected - picked the SPDiF socket and it works beautifully. Full 5.1 Z-5500 power.

cheers