Sound Card for 4 seperate amps

rsema · 10-10-2007, 04:52 AM

Hi I was wondering if there was an external sound card that I could hook up directly to my amps but still have separate left and right channels. This is my setup:
-2 channel amp running my tweets
-2 channel amp running my midrange drivers
-2 channel amp running my midbass drivers
-2 channel amp running my subs

thanks

Uraijit · 10-10-2007, 06:18 AM

Pretty much any sound card will have stereo outputs. It is not necessary to have seperate outputs for each pair of speakers. You need a crossover.

greatwhite · 10-10-2007, 08:44 AM

Why would you want a seperate amp for the tweeters?

RedGTiVR6 · 10-10-2007, 10:25 AM

Guys - please step back from your personal preferences and preconcieved notions and realize that other people have different needs.

Having a seperate amplifier for each pair of speakers is ABSOLUTELY normal, ESPECIALLY when you're going for a higher end solution.

What this guy is obviously wanting is to no have to run a processor but rather to go direct to the amplifiers from a sound card...which leads me to believe he's probably wanting to do all tuning on the PC....which is EXACTLY what some of us who are interested in high end solutions are doing.

Now, to actually answer the OPs question instead of tellig him he's wrong....

There isn't a card out there that has enough RCA outputs. You might consider running something that has 7.1 onboard like the Prodigy 7.1 or if you can find it the x-meredian which has 5v outputs. You will either have to run a 1/8" to RCA Y splitter or you will have to add on your own RCA female ends to the board...which is what I've done on my x-meredian.

I would recomend doing some searching and reading as there are a number of us here on the forums are doing something very similar.

scott_fx · 10-10-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by greatwhite

Why would you want a seperate amp for the tweeters?

Total overkill..........

:-( i have a seperate amp for my tweeters.

to the OP...just copy what red did, she has an excellent worklog.

RedGTiVR6 · 10-10-2007, 10:47 AM

I actually haven't even had a chance to test my card yet since making those changes...so it's not proven to work just yet...but some others in that thread have posted up some results as well.

JC-S60 · 10-10-2007, 11:42 AM

Another alternative, albeit a bit more complicated:

- Use 4 USB DAC's with RCA outputs (Hippohifi has them with 4v out).
- Use Virtual Audio Cable to link them together so they look like one 8-channel soundcard.

Quite expensive but very high quality!

Good luck!
Joachim

durwood · 10-10-2007, 02:40 PM

external as in firewire or USB?

Check the car audio FAQ section for a list, there may be others not on the list, but at least most of the companies are represented.

The 4 USB DAC thing would be awesome as it was discussed some time ago. (Thread also in the car audio FAQ section). I wondered about clock sync, and would all the dacs be synced in time or not? Would that even matter is another question.

rsema · 10-10-2007, 07:20 PM

Ok thanks guys for all your input...Great White, I can see where you would think it is overkill but for an sq guy its totally worth it because I have every speakers, small or not, frequency range boosted separately. Rather than having a full range of frequencies boosted or amplified and then split with a crossover to their appropriate speaker. Sound quality is lost when that is done because crossovers frequencies are not 100% stable.
Anyway sorry to get technical but just letting you know...I guess my main concern is: would using a y-adapter from the stereo outs on the sound card significantly ruin my left and right sound stage? And external as in usb.
thanks again guys and girls.

Dennis5587 · 10-11-2007, 08:21 AM

wouldn't significantly ruin it, but its not ness. the best way obviously.

Just to throw it out there, why do you want to do the processing by the computer? Not that there is anything wrong with it, just not sure if you realize that if you use an external processor you can get a smaller computer that is cheaper and uses less power with a digital output. Run this digital output to a sound processor like the alpine 700, or the behringer dcx 2496, these processors will be able to do crossovers, equalizers, time alignment, and drive the output channels to some very high voltages.

Once again, not saying that anything is wrong with using your computer for it all, i was very very close to doing this. Just making sure you know all of your options.

rsema · 10-11-2007, 08:53 AM

Well I am using my laptop because I am getting a new one...and I really didnt want to spend $600 on an external processor...is there a digital sound card that will produce near the quality that one of these external processor would? Trying to get the best bang for my buck...all of my crossovers are controlled via the amps and are electronic so I was really just interested in dsp and good front sound stage.
thanks

RedGTiVR6 · 10-11-2007, 11:02 AM

Best bang for the buck and easiest to set-up would be to go with the Alpine 701 and an optical out from onboard sound.

rsema · 10-11-2007, 05:20 PM

Any sound card that will do near this quality for cheaper? I dont have 600 right now.

RedGTiVR6 · 10-11-2007, 05:23 PM

You can find a 701 for around $400 if you go second hand.

The Behringer is the only other thing in the same price range.

I cannot rightfully suggest anything else cheaper and feel comfortable doing so. If you want quality, you have to pay for it.

rsema · 10-11-2007, 06:01 PM

I understand...well with my speaker type and amps would the alpine or behringer make a big difference... as opposed to a panasonic cq-vd7500u which i currently have?
thanks

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