Connecting external audio speakers

Question

I have Inspirion 15. I connect my external speaker system (Altec Lansing - 5 speakers) and I get prompt to identify what I am connecting. External speaker is easy enough but now asks Small, Medium or Large. Actually, I'm connecting a large base speaker, and four small shelf speakers - it's a set made for computers. Which to chose? Also, when the source (Spotify for example) stops, I get blasted with loud buzz. I can clear the buzz by disconnected the plug/jack and reconnecting. Any ideas?

Jim Coates · Accepted Answer

It works.

Sreve, when you wrote in your initial post that it has 5 speakers, I thought you meant it was a 4.1 or 5.1 surround system, which would not work correctly with your laptop. I looked up the model 221 system and see that it is a 3 speaker (2.1) system, which of course will work, as you say.

I’m asking about which setting – small, medium, large

I would use the setting that produced the best result to my ear. About the buzz, I believe Saltgrass had that problem with a laptop.

An owner of an Inspiron 7368 model wrote that he could not resolve the noise issue, so got a usb audio jack. The usb jack bypasses the laptop's Realtek audio hardware and driver, and resolved the issue. A workaround, though, not a fix.

Jim Coates · Answer

Hello. If the speaker system has 3 plugs, it won't work right with with your laptop.

What is the model of the speakers?

What is the model of the Inspiron 15 -- Dell has made dozens of models under that generic label.

steve2359 · Answer

Inspiron 7579, running Windows 10 Home. The Altec Lansing Amplified speaker system is model 221 – has only one audio micro plug which fits fine into the audio jack on the laptop. It works. I’m asking about which setting – small, medium, large and the buzz when source goes away.

Steve

Saltgrass · Answer

The setting you use will determine such things a volume. But the system might be considered as an equivalent to a large system. If it start that setting causes you to change volume or other settings, try the medium one.

I saw the Buzz also after the media stopped. Updating or getting a later driver may help with the situation. I have not confirmed, but it appears the speaker connection becomes untethered with no output. Opening and leaving open the recording devices dialog from the speaker icon may stop that from happening.

steve2359 · Answer

thanks - I had confused the speaker system with another one I have.   I'll try a usb connector

steve2359 · Answer

one other think, Dell sold me a DA200 USB-C adapter for VGA, Ethernet, USB 3.0 and HDMI but it is not compatible with my laptop 7579.  Is there a forum here where I could post it for sale?  Anyone interested?  unused.  Dell will not take it back

Jim Coates · Answer

Sorry but there isn't a for-sale section on this forum. There is a what do I buy section if you want to post a warning about it being the wrong product.

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Connecting external audio speakers

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