Thread: Sound Blaster Audigy SE

You need a stereo 3.5mm to 2 RCA adapter... a stereo 3.5mm adapter has two black rings on the silver part.

More then likely, either you are using a mono 3.5mm adapter, or if you are using a stereo adapter you may be trying to plug the subwoofer into the center channel output.

Also, keep in mind that subwoofers need to powered. Either through a built-in amplifier (aka "powered subwoofer") or through a seperate amplifier.

Just my guesses...

I run 3 of this kind of cable...

1 to the front channels of a 4-channel amp
Another to the rear channels of the same 4 channel amp
And finally, another from the sub output to a two channel amp specifically set aside fopr the subwoofer.

Am I still doing something wrong here?

Good deal, that's the right kind of adapter.

Your two channel amp.. does it accept mono input or is it stereo only? If it's stereo only, then you will need another adapter to make the one rca plug into two. If it's expecting stereo, then that would be a good reason the volume sounds low -- your not using the full capabilities of the amp.

If that's all said and good (or you can input mono), check the gain controls on the amplifier. You may have to play with them a little to adjust for the low signal level output from most pc sound cards.

You can also make sure that your sound card is set to use 4.1 (or 5.1) in the sound cards control panel. Most likely it is, but it's always something to check. And while your in there, see if there is any settings maybe for the sub output.

have you tried muting the "center channel" in the volume controls? That way it just sends the signal to the sub. At least that's what i thought would happen...

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Originally Posted by NotYou

Good deal, that's the right kind of adapter.

Your two channel amp.. does it accept mono input or is it stereo only? If it's stereo only, then you will need another adapter to make the one rca plug into two. If it's expecting stereo, then that would be a good reason the volume sounds low -- your not using the full capabilities of the amp.

If that's all said and good (or you can input mono), check the gain controls on the amplifier. You may have to play with them a little to adjust for the low signal level output from most pc sound cards.

You can also make sure that your sound card is set to use 4.1 (or 5.1) in the sound cards control panel. Most likely it is, but it's always something to check. And while your in there, see if there is any settings maybe for the sub output.

Thanks for your advice. I tried what you said (making the one RCA into stereo) and I still have low sound from the amp. I have swapped amps to see if it is an amp problem but I dont think so cos I'm getting the same results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Setting a Creative sound card to 4.1 makes it send full range to the 4 and assumes that you have an inline subwoofer. You have to set it to 5.1 to get the LFE channel.

Make sure your Creative software has bass redirection turned on, so it'll send bass to your sub. (For my X-Fi, it's not included in the driver software, you have a use a separate "THX Console" to get it).

Try both RCA jacks to make sure you're not getting the center channel. If you haven't yet, put an RCA splitter on the end of the one that works so it feeds the signal into both inputs on your sub amp.

You might have to adjust the gain on the subwoofer amp, or increase the gain on your subwoofer output. In my X-Fi software there's a "+15 db gain" control for the subwoofer. I don't have to use it in my car, but I do with my home stereo setup.