Please help with my new monitors!

[dmc777]

Howdy. I just purchased a pair of Wharfedale 8.2 active monitors but they didn't come with any cables. I'll be running them on my laptop which is a hp pavilion and I'm only seeing 1 input for monitors which is only 1 hole. The monitors have an input 1 balanced which says 1xphono speakon type/jack combo, and input 2 which says "unbalanced" under the input but 1X xlr-1/4 jack combo "balanced" under the specifications. What the hell? So I guess my first question is

1. What cables do I need to purchase
2. Why only 1 input on my laptop
3. Is this even gonna work
4. Why does input 2 say unbalanced on the back of the speaker but balanced under the specifications in my manual.
5. What is even the difference between balanced and unbalanced?

sorry for so many newb questions but I thought I actually new something about speakers but it seems I'm lost again. 300 bucks for a pair of speakers and I can't even use them yet. Please any help would be appreciated. Thanks alot. don

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

....5. What is even the difference between balanced and unbalanced....

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan02/articles/faq0102.asp

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

....3. Is this even gonna work?....

Yes, it will work.

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

....2. Why only 1 input on my laptop...

Because it is a stereo OUTPUT (1/8 inch [35mm] female stereo input).

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

.....1. What cables do I need to purchase....

The cheapest and simplist way to do this is to get...

One (1) 1/8" stereo male to Left & Right male RCA cable

and

Two (2) mono female RCA to mono male 1/4" adapters

Connect the 1/8" end to the laptop, then attach the 1/4" adapters to the RCA end of the cable. The 1/4" plugs will go into your monitors.

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

....4. Why does input 2 say unbalanced on the back of the speaker but balanced under the specifications in my manual.....

Because you have balanced AND unbalanced inputs on your monitors.

 

[dmc777]

Thank You! I was thinking that maybe a Y connector would get the job done but I didn't want to get ahead of myself and screw something up. Thanks alot for your help.

 

[dmc777]

I just realized I have a 5 foot y connector with 1- 1/8 stereo male input with 2 -1/4 male connectors. Couldn't i use this?

 

[AlexW]

Probably yes. Try it and see if it works.

 

[Carter]

I just realized I have a 5 foot y connector with 1- 1/8 stereo male input with 2 -1/4 male connectors. Couldn't i use this?

Yeah that will work