General sound/mixer settings help

ronjon228 · 02-13-2008, 06:43 PM

Well all, long time lurker, with very few posts. I would like to say that this site has helped me IMMENSELY building my CarPC and for that I am very great full. Thank you mp3car.com!

Now on to the question. I recently found the Kx drivers (OMG LOVE THEM) for my SB Live OEM card. After setting up time alignment and getting all my outputs sorted out I am absolutely certain that I can get better sound quality out of my CarPC. Right now it sounds good, but I would like to make it sound even better. Therefore, I will give you my basic setup and see if I can do anything to make the sound quality better with simple tweaks/settings on the mixer and/or amps.

Setup:
SB Live OEM
4-channel Visonik HC amp (2-channels front components, 2 to sub slaved from line out)
2-channel Lightning Audio amp running rear fill
Front fill = Infinity Reference 5-1/4" components
Rear fill = 5-1/4" Monsoon drivers
Subs = 2 x 12" Pioneer 4ohm DVC 500watt RMS (running 250 a piece to them now)

My wiring is done this way. The front output from the sound card (swapped via Kx mixer to Line out 2) is run to my 4-channel amp front input. Then my line out of the 4-channel goes to the rear in (slaved). The front of the 4-channel amp pushes my front fill, the rear pushes the subwoofers. The rear output of the sound card is run to the 2-channel amp and that pushes my rear fill.

On my amplifiers I have this setup:
4-channel rear
X-over = low pass
LPF ~ 90Hz
Subsonic filter on @ ~ 20Hz
Gain ~ 50%
+db = zero

4-channel front
X-over = full
Gain ~ 50%

2-channel
X-over = full
Gain = 50%

Computer mixer settings:
Master Volume = controlled by RR
Wave Volume = 25%
All other outputs zeroed
All inputs zeroed
4-channel output via Kx Mixer (front and rear clone)
Not using bass redirection or any x-over settings (full range sound output)
All EQ's zeroed

I get no feedback, no anomalies, nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it works flawlessly at the moment. However, I can't decide what yields the best SQL. Should I have my sound levels turned up HIGHER on the PC and the gains lower on the amp? Or should I have the gains on the amps higher and the PC volume levels lower? I've tried both ways and to me, it sounds better with the PC volume levels lower and the gains ~ 50%. That's the setup I am running now. Also, is there any settings I can change in the Kx mixer to give me better SQL? It seems right now that my SQL at low to mid-high ranges of volume is VERY good. However, I like my volume level very high. Therefore it seems that it's fine almost up until the level I listen at, but not quite there yet. Any help on settings or PC volume vs. amp gain would be great. Thanks in advance all.

Mods: If this isn't in the right section, please move it. I didn't know exactly were to put it.

ronjon228 · 02-14-2008, 08:25 PM

Anyone?

If anyone can direct me were to put this (what section) that would be helpful. Certainly there has to be a place it fits and I can get a couple of opinions.

Dougw133 · 03-02-2008, 08:48 AM

I would also be interested in an opinion on this since I am running a close setup with the KX's... Also I am having a problem with Volume control in RR, seems like KX stole it..

ronjon228 · 03-02-2008, 11:14 PM

Actually I figured out a solution to this Doug. Just get Kx drivers version 3538. Still has all the DSP plug-ins that 3539 does but doesn't screw around with the windows volume mixer. Works flawlessly with FreeIce and RR as well.

Here's a link:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...r/1049148732/1

Un-install all the 3539 version stuff, then install these, and enjoy!

Woofnstuff · 03-02-2008, 11:39 PM

i found the best was 3538j for what i was doing. im still using it because it still works

http://members.home.nl/nahutec/kxtutor/kxtutor.html
is the basic guide for editing the dsp

http://www.driverheaven.net/kx-proje...support-forum/

Dougw133 · 03-03-2008, 12:22 AM

Great, thanks, I will try that tomorrow and let you know..Thanks Again

Dougw133 · 03-03-2008, 12:52 PM

Worked like a charm!!! Thanks a lot!

ronjon228 · 03-03-2008, 05:15 PM

No prob Doug, glad to hear you got it going. I had to figure it out because I was using Kx and CdRSkull's new front end (FreeIce) and had NO volume control. Kx just allows way too much flexibility to me, so it was Kx or bust.