Crossover help

**Slaughterhouse** · 09-24-2004, 05:36 PM

Hey i'm trying to figure out if there's any software out there that i can use to act as a LP, HP type cutoff on teh frequencies being sent out through my rca's. I plan on using and Audigy Card and i know it's good and comes with a lot of software. Just not sure that good. I also would like opinions on how people compare using a headunit vs. a computer to control all the features for the speakers. Like if the system actually sounds better or worse using the computer vs. a headunit? I originally thought headunit would be better but lately with all this software i've realized the audigy card comes with to tune and make your soundstage come out i think the computer might actually be better. thanks all if you can help me out.

**ppgt94** · 09-24-2004, 08:41 PM

I defnitely would suggest a hardware crossover. First off because I don't know of any software that acts as a crossover. If there was one you'd need sperate channels for tweeters and mids. If you have four speakers sets of speakers (like in my car) four tweeters and four mid-woofers that's 8 channels. Also if for some reason the software failed or wasn't loaded you could damage some speakers (I know from experience) by sending them the full frequency spectrum.

Now to answer your second question; A sound card can not power speakers. Most headunits have a amp built in that actually drives the speakers. So if you can not use or decide to ditch your headunit you're going to need something to drive the speakers. So that is where an external amp comes into play. As far as sound quality goes a cheap amplifer will sound better than if you'd use a cheap/moderately priced HU to power your speakers. Trying to smush all the sound processing electronics, cd player, etc that a soundcard/computer can do into a HU leaves little space for a amplifers which is why even those with very high-end HUs tend to use seperate amplifiers.

**Slaughterhouse** · 09-24-2004, 09:15 PM

Oh yea, don't get me wrong. I'm still in the process of putting it all in b/c i'm installing it myself but it's a very top-level system. I a set of comps, an upstage tweeter set to bring the soundstage up higher for those. I have a pair of midrange midbass speakers to bring out the midbass. Two 12's in the back and small rear speakers off the h/u(which now that i think about it would have no power source). Amps for everything. I know all about amps and such. My question was how does the sound of your system compare with the same system with the computer instead of the h/u. With all this software available i'm beginning to think you can make your ssytem sound even better than the best headunit but still unsure. Like i know good headunit preouts have 6.5 volts, i have no idea how the soundcard acts. Are these 2 uncomparable or is there some way of knowing which would make your system sound better?
p.s. want to run an audigy 2 soundcard. thanks

**ppgt94** · 09-24-2004, 10:07 PM

Creative (makers of Audigy) is popular, but popular doens't always mean good. Don't get me wrong they make good cards but if you're going for very high-end. Check out this comparison benchmark: http://www.pcavtech.com/soundcards/compare/ It's a little older but most Creative cards fall just above "acceptable". I currently use a TB Santa Cruz in my Carpc and it sounds great. The only issue is a small amount of electrical noise. That could be do to a number or things and probably mostly due to my semi-sloppy power wiring. I'll be redoing it when I feel up to it, but I'm sure it will sound good.

**Slaughterhouse** · 09-24-2004, 11:02 PM

o tru. I havent' bought the card so i'm open to anything suggestions on what's the best. from what i remember, SC is usually less expensive too. Thanks for the help, i think you covered everything question except the big one. If the noise issue could be solved which would provide better sound quality for your system, the headunit or a PC? I know the PC can have some great software to use and stuff but not sure how that compares to using the headunit and using it's features. I'm concerned about losing sound quality when having to convert to RCA from the soundcard? Please if you, or any other sound expert can try and shed some light of how different soundcards and software are different and in what way from a standard headunit that would be greatly appreciated. I really want to a make a carpc work but not on sacrafice of my sound system. I'm one of those guys who will only play cd's b/c mp3 are too compressed so the sound quality isn't as good, you loose a lot of the song. thanks all

**ppgt94** · 09-24-2004, 11:27 PM

You will lose no quality using a 3.5mm -> RCA adapter or cable. I use a 1m sheilded gold-plated cable from Radioshack. One end has the stereo 3.5mm (1/8") plug and RCA on the other.

When I mentioned I have some noise keep in mind I mean very little. I have to have my ear almost against a tweeter to hear it. I still have some kinks in the system to iron out. Like I said I still have to redo some wiring. There are a couple things you can do to cut down noise, though. Use sheilded wires anywhere you can and ground EVERYTHING. Maybe even find a way to isolate your sound card by wrapping some sheilding or something around it. I'm not an electronics or audio expert so hopefully someone else can give you ideas on how to minimize noise.

Check out the detailed specs on the sound cards you're looking at. From casually glancing at the specs on that benchmark page they seem impressive compared to most headunits.