Thread: Sound card idea? Connect two amps to a single CPU 3.5mm jack.

I am using this sound card for my laptop and I have no issues with transfer rate. If your not experiencing any right now, I would suggest this move could degrade your audio quality as you are now adding another 3.5mm audio cable to move the sound. Personally, I have had occasional issues with 3.5mm jack connections adding noise. If it were me, I would disable the internal sound card and just use X-fi with basic drivers if you need the outputs this card offers. Avoid installing the soundblaster "bloatware" if at all possible.

Thank you for the response, I currently do not have this card, but this is just a mental set up I have in my head for right now cause I plan to buy a sound card soon, I like the fact that this card has the RCA outputs that I can use for the fronts, Sadly its a 3.5mm for the sub, but hey, if it sounds good im happy. I was just reading around and heard of some people having transfer rate issues with USB. Are there issues with the soundblaster software that I should be aware of? I will be operating the unit off of Windows XP. If I do end up getting this and using the USB I will be using this as the primary sound card for the PC.

EDIT: Also I will not be using rears, hense I technically wont be doing 5.1..Will this card be alright with just fronts and a sub? Are the configuration setting fairly user friendly when setting up the audio set-up?

If you're using ASIO drivers you can happily run 8 channels in and 8 channels out at 24bit 96kHz over USB, so providing you have installed the drivers properly there should be no problem with just 2 channels at 44.1 or 48 kHz or whatever you are running at.

Personally I would not bother with using another sound card at all, does your sub amp have L and R outputs? You could just feed the PC audio out straight into that if it did, providing you don't mind controlling the volume with your computer.

speaking in terms of a non-high-end install:

i should warn you-- i have that card in my "desperate use only" bin, and really don't like it at all. it has a turn-on pop....


i don't think that card works that way.

i also don't believe it is easy to setup the dedicated sub output. at least not without the bloatware, or extra programs.


also-- you mention that you like the rca connections--this is only a connection type, and does not define how the sound will be. just use a 3.5mm to rca adapter on the other parts, and it will sound fine.

in most cases, the transfer rate of audio is going to be fine over usb. at least, i have not had any problems...


have you heard the sound quality of the onboard audio? in most cases, it is good enough for most people.

Originally Posted by thebluehouse

Personally I would not bother with using another sound card at all, does your sub amp have L and R outputs? You could just feed the PC audio out straight into that if it did, providing you don't mind controlling the volume with your computer.

this is pretty much the recommended method-- it is easiest, and least complicated--and then just use the onboard crossovers to control the sound qualities.

i prefer my cl-rlc volume control knobs for volume/bass--they are much faster then the windows control..

Ah I see, I wouldnt mind using just my onboard if i can, but I dont know how to set it up since my onboard only has one 3.5mm output jack, and ill be using separate amps for my sub and separate amp for my fronts. Yes both amps have L and R RCA Outputs. Thing is, how do I wire it up so that i can run my speakers and sub off of one jack with two amps? Cause if i could skip the external sound card I do not mind doing that. I do not mind controlling it through windows, Ill probably actually buy an external volume controller eventually.

Is a crossover like this my best bet?

http://www.google.com/products/catal...5555945796684#

Then I can run one line in from the CPU and split out the high to the front speakers, then the out output to the subs?

What motherboard are you using that only has one output jack? Just curious, I havent seen any recent ones that didnt allow you to convert your mic-in/line-in to outputs in some time.

nicelymph: i did get your pm, but because of the other knowledgable members here, and we're all talking about same thing, i would prefer to answer it here so they can tell you when i'm wrong, or give some different possibly simpler solutions..


before i go into a exact answer, could you post your motherboard model number, and the model numbers of the amps that your connecting to?

No idea on the motherboard model, IDK what number is what..Here are some pictures. There is a Audio Out on the rear, Headphone Out on the front, Mic In on the front.

Here are my two amps being used.

Lanzar HTG237 1000 Watt 2-Channel Mosfet Amplifier
2 x 125W RMS @ 4 OHMS - Bass Boost Circuit - Low Pass Filter Controls - S/N Ratio: >90dB - Subwoofer Remote Level Control
2 x 500W Max @ 4 OHMS - Bridgeable at 4 Ohms - High Pass Filter Controls - Channel Separation: >65dB - Fuse: 25A x 1
1 x 1000W Max @ 4 OHMS Bridged - 2 Ohm Stereo Stable - Power and Protection LED Indicators -
2 x 225W RMS @ 2 OHMS - Gold RCA Inputs - Soft Turn-on/Turn-off - HPF Freq. Response: 80KHz
Electronic Crossover Network - Line Outs for Left and Right Channel - THD: <0.01%. -
Freq. Response: 10Hz~45KHz - Dimensions: 9.84''(L) x 2.24''(H) x 8.81''(W)
LPF Freq. Response: 50Hz-250Hz

Alpine MRV-T407
MAX Power (at 14.4V,EIAJ)
Bridged 4 ohms : 400W x 1
Per channel into 4 ohms : 140W x 2

RMS Power (at 12V,20Hz-20kHz)
Bridged 4 ohms : 150W x 1 (0.3% THD)
Per channel into 2 ohms : 75W x 2 (0.3% THD)
Per channel into 4 ohms : 40W x 2 (0.08% THD)

RMS Power (at 14.4V,20Hz-20kHz)
Bridged 4 ohms : 200W x 1 (0.3% THD)
Per channel into 2 ohms : 100W x 2 (0.3% THD)
Per channel into 4 ohms : 60W x 2 (0.08% THD)


Front Speakers - http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...Size/TS-A1674R
Pioneer TS A1674R

Subs - http://www.kicker.com/comp
Kicker C10 10"

Board Specs.
Intel Atom D510 CPU @ 1.66GHZ
2GB RAM
Realtek HD sound driver/software

Some Pictures of board.
http://img38.imageshack.us/slideshow...=imag0429t.jpg