Thread: Volume / Definition Issues

Lets start with my setup:

-2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS
-Intel DG45FC Mini-ITX Board utilizing the onboard 5.1 audio outputs (has optical out but i don't have DAC or DSP for it, but would consider it)
-OPUS DCX.6-360 Watt DC-DC Power Supply
-(2) pairs of Infinity Kappa 60.9cs 6-3/4" Component Speakers
-^Powered By: JL Audio Slash v2 Series 300/4v2 Amp (75W x 4 @ 2ohms)
-(2) Rockford Fosgate P3D212 12" Subwoofers in a sealed box (500watts RMS Dual 2-ohm)
-^Powered By: JL Audio HD Series HD750/1 Amp (750W x 1 @ 2ohms)
-All cables from PC to amps are Streetwires ZeroNoise® 7 Series Minijack to RCA Adapter
-Using RideRunner as my frontend
-Using Winamp to play MP3s
-Updated to latest Drivers (IDT* 92xx Audio Driver)

I'm really having two separate problems (or maybe I'm wrong and they both are related

1. My system is setup where the audio cables go straight from the audio ports on the back of the motherboard into the amps. I have front, rear, and sub channels going out separately. There for I have no head unit and all volume and adjustments must be made on the PC. I have RideRunner setup to adjust the volume by way of the master volume slider. Any one who knows RR knows that this is not done within RR it just controls the main volume in windows so I know this isn't a RR issue. The problem i have is that lest say I put the volume up to 25% and set the gains on my amps to a comfortable listening level.... now if i turn the volume down to 1% its still more audible than id like to see for 1%, and if i turn it up it increases but once it get to about 50% its barely increases anymore from there to 100%. With the amount of volume change from 1%-25% you'd expect by the time you got to 75% you'd be deaf.


2. My music plays clean and loud with great clarity, but lacks definition and low end response. I expected with 2 12" Rockford subs and a 750watt amp to have no problem producing some slamming bass in the car. Some songs hit really hard in some spots so i know the equipment is capable of doing some damage but as a whole my music collection just doesn't produce the low end definition i want. I have the gain almost all the way up on the sub amp to the point that it seems to be getting distortion and not as tight and clear as id like, but it still isn't hitting as hard as id like. I've had cheaper lower power systems before in other cars that played all my music with no problems and i spent the money on my higher end equipment and ended up with less bass response.


Possible Solutions?

With the screen in the dash I have no room for a head unit. I was going to mount a modified Griffin Power Mate on the dash somewhere to have a physical volume control but since the PC volume doesn't seem to be working for me I have no desire to add that. With the physical volume control idea in mind I was thinking about something along the line of a Line Driver or Sound Processor to boost the voltage of the signal to the amps and provide it with a stronger signal and if I go with s DSP then I'd also have the benefit of a more shaped sound as well. I've looked around for a few of these, but do not seem to have come across any that have an external volume control preferably in the form of a dash mountable knob that you can maybe drill a hole and stick it through.
Does this seem like a viable solution or am I way off with this? Also are there any recommendations of this sort of thing with that type of volume control?
I would also consider going with a DSP with DAC and using the optical output on my board but again I don't have room for a head unit or external controls in the dash other than a simple volume knob.

For the sound definition problem. Maybe it has to do with my issues above? Maybe the MP3s I have were ripped poorly and loss that low end definition. I know MP3s in general are lossy. I haven't seen a physical music CD laying around my house in a long time so I can't compare with that. I'm thinking about going to the store and buying 1 or 2 CDs of music that I have on my PC already and rip them into FLAC format and compare the difference in sound, clarity and definition.

Any ideas, suggestions, product recommendations, comments or criticism would be highly appreciated on this. Thanks in advance.