now that I have starting to do more continental work I am finding that I am having to spend weekends away in the cab. I’d like to connect my laptop up to the head unit in the cab and utilise the four speakers on it to create a surround sound system. The head unit is a pioneer single slot cd player. Is this possible, and if so what equipment might I be needing.
Regards
Matt
Getting an output from the Laptop would not be a problem. Simply plug into the headphone socket of the Laptop.
However, the output signal would not be strong enough to drive speakers (and could possibly damage the computer). If the signal can be input into the radio, and amplified by that to drive the speakers then that would work, depends very much on the radio. Take it out and see if it has a socket for an ‘external input’ - unlikely but possible.
Another way could be, if you have seen those external CD players where you push a dummy cassette into the audio cassette slot, which then acts as an input for the radio, IF you could find one with a plug at the other end that matches the headphone socket on a Laptop, then that should work.
Otherwise, if your inverter is large enough, a pair of ordinary computer speakers run at 240v.
Try Maplin’s website.
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Found it = DU09K BUY 1: CD Adaptor £12.99 - You would simply need to confirm that the other end was a 3.5mm dia plug. (Which I’m sure it is) - Also, at the same time buy a 3.5mm extention lead, because, if you don’t, you’ll wish you had. 
Blunt has a CD player in the vehicle, not a cassette player, so the adapters won’t work.
You’ll need to find a modulator, which takes the output of the laptop and transmits it to the radio. Note that these don’t have a good reputation for quality.
Also, remember that you won’t get surround sound, only stereo.
You’ve got another option, install another set of speakers in the cab.
You don’t say which model of Pioneer CD head unit you have but most of manufacturers offer an adaptor that plugs into the CD Changer socket and the audio inputs for that which you can use, it makes the head unit think that the feed is from a changer when in fact you can plug anything into it. My colleague uses this sytem with his Alpine unit to play back the sound from his DVD player. You can’t use this system if you have a changer already fitted as it plugs in instead of the changer.
I can’t use that method with my Sony as I have a changer fitted so I bought a small switching unit and a couple of extra cables from Maplins and instead of the changer audio leads connecting directly to the head unit they go to switch 1 on the switch unit. The feed from the DVD player goes to switch 2 and I can plug the laptop into switch 3 if I want to. A lead then goes from the output of the switch unit to the changer audio sockets on the head unit.
To hear the sound from the DVD or laptop I just set the head unit to play a disc in the changer and press the switch for whichever source I need.
Check the head unit forst though because if it is a fairly new one it may have an Aux. input, a lot do these days.