Help with in-line reducer?

shuggyboy · 07-26-2006, 08:22 AM

I have built my system, But I find that the siginal coming from the soundcard (sblive 5.1) is too strong / high , I have 2 pots on my 4 channel amp, i have to turn them all the way down for the signal to be acceptable. the amp does not have high/low input settings like some other amps, it is just a basic model.

Does anyone know if there is some kind of "in-line" attatchment i can connect to the audio leads before they connect to the amp to reduce the signal. - i was thinking of a resistor, but i think this may degrade the signal quality?

P.s. I have already tried software settings in volume control and sblive setting, but the siginal is still too high for the amp.

I also have 2 ground loop isolators in line. to eliminate the buzz.

Thanks

scott_fx · 07-26-2006, 11:33 AM

something is wrong here...let me think about it. Those sb live cards probably put out around 1volt. every amp now adays can handle at least 4.

are you using kxproject drivers?

frugmonkey · 07-26-2006, 11:49 AM

for starters i would recommend gettin rid of the ground loop isolators, they're just covering up the problem. work through all your grouding points etc, theres an excellent post about it at the top of the forum, i'm no expert but i don't see why using a resistor to drop the output voltage would do any harm to the signals integrity. resistors cost pennies, so its no huge loss if it doesn't work!

p.s. i once had a ford, and it was the worst thing on the planet for finding a good gronding point!

scott_fx · 07-26-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shuggyboy

P.s. I have already tried software settings in volume control and sblive setting, but the siginal is still too high for the amp.

have you tried to turn down your master and/or your wav volume?

shuggyboy · 07-26-2006, 01:11 PM

I have tried adjusting the master and wave etc ... I dont know if its the amp im using, Dont get me wrong, It does work,,, but i have to turn the pots right down to near enough the lowest setting or else the siginal gets distorted and is far too loud,, I mean faaaar too loud..

can you get a siginal reducing in line thingamy? I have looked and cant seem to find one..?

Im re-fitting the system into a new car,,, I had a look through the forums regarding whining noises and grounding issues,,, so when I re-wire it, I will do it with good solid grounds, and also ground the amp and chassis of the pc,,, and see if I can do away with the ground loop isolators.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks

scott_fx · 07-26-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shuggyboy

I have tried adjusting the master and wave etc ... I dont know if its the amp im using, Dont get me wrong, It does work,,, but i have to turn the pots right down to near enough the lowest setting or else the siginal gets distorted and is far too loud,, I mean faaaar too loud..

can you get a siginal reducing in line thingamy? I have looked and cant seem to find one..?

Im re-fitting the system into a new car,,, I had a look through the forums regarding whining noises and grounding issues,,, so when I re-wire it, I will do it with good solid grounds, and also ground the amp and chassis of the pc,,, and see if I can do away with the ground loop isolators.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks

what is the problem with turning your gains down? it sounds like that is working and as long as everything is set up properly, having your gain all the way down is a good thing. but i dont think that everything is working properly.

i personally would try a different card or hook it up to the onboard sound first. try to isolate the problem.

if you're in socal you can stop by my house. i have a couple soundcards laying around that we can test out... edit: I just realized your steering wheel is on the right...probably not near socal after all

shuggyboy · 07-27-2006, 05:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

if you're in socal you can stop by my house. i have a couple soundcards laying around that we can test out... edit: I just realized your steering wheel is on the right...probably not near socal after all

lol, I dont think you would be local, Unless you stay Near Glasgow, Scotland.

Thanks anyway,

I Wired up the system last night, But I have not completely finished yet, I have tried both, the on-board sound and the soundblaster live, both are the same, I am starting to think it may be down to the cheep *** amp I bought from ebay! It looked the biz, as it was so small it fits in behind my dashboard nicely http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BANDIT-500W-WA...QQcmdZViewItem

I will try a few other things and keep you posted.

Cheers

scott_fx · 07-27-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shuggyboy

lol, I dont think you would be local, Unless you stay Near Glasgow, Scotland.

Thanks anyway,

I Wired up the system last night, But I have not completely finished yet, I have tried both, the on-board sound and the soundblaster live, both are the same, I am starting to think it may be down to the cheep *** amp I bought from ebay! It looked the biz, as it was so small it fits in behind my dashboard nicely http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BANDIT-500W-WA...QQcmdZViewItem

I will try a few other things and keep you posted.

Cheers

do you have a home a/v reciever? or even a tv with rca inputs? try hooking up the computer to one of those devices. see if you are having the same problem. this will tell us if the problem is the amp or the computer.

jazzbob · 07-29-2006, 11:13 AM

If you bought a cheaper amp off of ebay (any amp that states its max power instead of rated power!) there is a good chance that it is the root of your problem. I have an SBlive card and i think that the signal is a bit on the weak side when driving my amp, certainly not the other way around!

Like Scott_fx said, try to isolate your problem using trusted equipment. But looking at that ebay page its quite likely to be the amp.

scott_fx · 07-29-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jazzbob

If you bought a cheaper amp off of ebay (any amp that states its max power instead of rated power!) there is a good chance that it is the root of your problem. I have an SBlive card and i think that the signal is a bit on the weak side when driving my amp, certainly not the other way around!

Like Scott_fx said, try to isolate your problem using trusted equipment. But looking at that ebay page its quite likely to be the amp.

jazzbob...if you haven't installed the kxproject drivers for that card yet...GO DO IT NOW! it will make a ton of difference on how good that card sounds

kevinlekiller · 07-29-2006, 09:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shuggyboy

I have built my system, But I find that the siginal coming from the soundcard (sblive 5.1) is too strong / high , I have 2 pots on my 4 channel amp, i have to turn them all the way down for the signal to be acceptable. the amp does not have high/low input settings like some other amps, it is just a basic model.

Does anyone know if there is some kind of "in-line" attatchment i can connect to the audio leads before they connect to the amp to reduce the signal. - i was thinking of a resistor, but i think this may degrade the signal quality?

P.s. I have already tried software settings in volume control and sblive setting, but the siginal is still too high for the amp.

I also have 2 ground loop isolators in line. to eliminate the buzz.

Thanks

In your volume control in windows or whatever O.S. you are using , have you tried turning down the volume ?.

Or get a potentiometer ( variable resistor ) , wire it between the soundcard and the amplifier.

You can get pots at most electronics store , or guitar;music shops.

Ramb0_Command0 · 07-30-2006, 02:08 PM

What you need is a line converter, or a high to low converter. you can get them at crutchfield.com, just search for "line converter". Its about $20. I had the same problem when i hooked up my SB Live 5.1 to my Pioneer amp. I had the volume at about 2% and it was about as loud as I would ever want to listen to it.

scott_fx · 07-31-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ramb0_Command0

What you need is a line converter, or a high to low converter. you can get them at crutchfield.com, just search for "line converter". Its about $20. I had the same problem when i hooked up my SB Live 5.1 to my Pioneer amp. I had the volume at about 2% and it was about as loud as I would ever want to listen to it.

the soundcard is putting out a low level output though. there is something else wrong

jazzbob · 07-31-2006, 05:28 AM

I'm in total agreement with scott_fx there is something else causing the problem. (BTW I am running KXproject drivers, I just meant that the signal is lower than I have experienced from other sources).

You don't really want to be playing around with line converters as this will taint your overall sound. A sblive 5.1 card straight to amp should be ample in producing quality sound at a fairly high level. I stand by my first post in thinking that your problem lies with buying a cheap amp.

Ramb0_Command0 · 07-31-2006, 08:42 AM

Yea you dont need the line converter if you have speaker level inputs, but since it is a cheap amp off ebay it probably doesnt.

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