PCI Sound Card With RCA?

**356Speedster** · 08-31-2006, 04:20 AM

OK, I've read this forum & the Digitial-Car forums, I've searched, but I can't find an answer to my problem....... time to ask the experts!

My research into components for my PC is going well and I really only have a few things to choose - one of which is the sound card.

Ideally, all I want is a PCI card which can accept a mic input (3.5mm jack) and gives RCA outputs for front, rear & sub. I am after RCAs because I'll be running a 6 channel amp (in 5ch mode) and want to use proper inputs, not line level inputs, to get the best quality (within reason, these things are all subjective!!).

I also don't want to use any 3.5mm jack (from basic sound card) to RCA adapters, as I've heard that there's a noticable quality drop here too. I've not tried this route myself, just going on the advice of others.

I don't really want a USB device, as powering it on/off via the CarNetix PSU will be an issue. I'll have the CarNetix operating the 2nd output via DLYON to switch off the TFT screen with the car ignition, whilst leaving the PC on for 15mins before entering standby. As the 2nd & 3rd outputs from the CarNetix have the same power down mode (I believe), I can't mix the power down time of the 2 devices (USB sound & TFT), so that takes me back to PCI!!

I've been hunting around the net for a while, but can't find anything I'm totally happy with..... so, experts, any advice? I was thinking of one of these M-Audio Sound card, but it doesn't have a mic-input!!

Any advice guys? What would you recommend? There must be something out there to do the job?!

Thanks & regards,

Mark

**TruCypriot** · 08-31-2006, 04:50 AM

Why does it have to have RCAs?
you can use any type of port provided you got the right adapters ie stereo 3.5mm to dual rca socket adapter. you would need two if your running a 4 speaker setup and a good sound card like a creative sound blaster Audigy/Live! would do it too or nearly any 5.1ch sound card as no doubt you already know this...

**Jarrod** · 08-31-2006, 05:18 AM

TruCypriot: Did you even ready the original post?

Anyways, sorry I can't be of more help, but I too would like to know if such a thing exists. Not because I need one, just to know

**356Speedster** · 08-31-2006, 05:43 AM

As I said, to maintain optimim audio quality, I want RCA to RCA, not 3.5mm converted to RCA. According to posts on this site and others, using the 3.5mm conversion, noise gets into the system and it can sound less than optimum.

As the PC build is going to cost a substantial amount of cash, I don't want it to sound below par.

Any ideas? Anyone? What are people using out there?

If all else fails, I know the M-Audio will give me the outputs and I would have to sacrifice the mic-in (which was going to be used as part of a phone hands-free setup)......

M

**TruCypriot** · 08-31-2006, 05:44 AM

yes i have, i would like to also add from my original post that if you use a good sound card with gold plated adapters it would sound better but using even non gold-plated adapters wouldnt really make much difference unless you are spliting a 3.5mm jack into two wires then you would start getting problems as you are extending the distance the signal has to travel to get to the amp and increasing resistance, maplins sells short plastic adapters. the only other possible solution i can think of is the soundcards that have the front panel connectors but that would mean placing the panel somewhere which means more work and some soundcards only do the panels with rca connectors for audio in only! dont ask which sound cards coz i cant remember...

**v8 scimitar** · 08-31-2006, 06:15 AM

Cant help you on the card but you could use the one you have seen and use a USB mic. They don't get connected to external power so you can run it straight back to the PC. They are allegedly better sound quality too.

Edit.... Just actually had a look at the card you fancy and it uses break out cables via an adapter. I cant honestly see this being any better quality than a 3.5-RCA cable. In fact the 3.5-RCA cable will have less joints in it so should in theory be better quality.

**TruCypriot** · 08-31-2006, 06:18 AM

thats a good one, hmmm might have to do the same....

**356Speedster** · 08-31-2006, 06:19 AM

TruCypriot - SB do a couple of card with those front panel thingies and they still don't have the necessary connections - ggrrrrrrr!! I'm starting to think that I'll have to either:

1. Go for the M-Audio card and come up with an alternative mic connection (possibly 2nd very simple / cheap USB device)
2. Get an SB Live 5.1 card and try the 3.5mm to amp (using high level in or convert to RCA) and see what the sound quality is like for myself

Unless anyone else has any ideas....

M

**TruCypriot** · 08-31-2006, 06:25 AM

id say get the m-audio card and a usb mic, i dunno if they make bluetooth mics, that would be good but saying that bluetooth in my opinion is unsafe and prob the mic would be another device to power... but the usb mic and m-audio card is the better option and i think the cheap one too.