USB sound card to 5.1 setup question

I am trying to hookup a 5.1 sound system with my laptop and an external sound card. I have old Sony 5.1 speakers with the bare wire ends. I am getting hung up on the outputs of USB sound cards. I know I will have to connect the bare ends to a plug but all I see on the cards I'm looking at are front, rear, and sub outs. Not front right, front left, center, rear right, and rear left.

Did I miss out on a new surround sound standard?

Here is the Zalman card I am interested in. This is the setup I would like but I don't understand where the satellite speakers come into play.

Are the "front" speakers all connected to 1 plug and then plugged into the front out? Is it the same with the rear?



I feel like I'm missing the obvious and would appreciate any help

This is the one I was looking at
http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Pr...ad.asp?idx=348

The diagram shows headphones and speakers can be used and I don't get how 5 speakers can work from 2 outputs.

I'm emailing their support right now and if that doesn't work I'll just buy it at Fry's and return it if it doesn't work.

I'll post my results and thanks for the help

What I didn't understand was that one output can control a right and left. I'm using speakers from an older all-in-one DVD receiver. The receiver had an individual out for each speakers intended location. So I thought all surround sound had to function the same way.

So now I figure I would wire the RL and RR to a mini jack and plug it in at the correct output. Same with the fronts, then the sub and center.

That would make it 6 channels and 3 outs due to the 2 channels per jack. (just repeating what you said but I want to make sure I get it)

Also, I am just getting into this stuff. I never thought about stereo headphones or how they worked. Thanks for the comparison in your reply. It really makes sense now.

Zalman support replied and didn't mention an amp because the device has one built in.

click on the link below
#5 on the features says that there is an amp built in.

http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Pr...ad.asp?idx=348

It doesn't show one in the diagram either.

Are you suggesting another amp?

Thanks for the info. I'm learning a lot today. I didn't know about active speakers.

Back to the drawing board...