Sound card output problem

spoonraker · 11-09-2006, 02:23 PM

I thought this would be the easy part, but when I tested it out I coulnd't get it to work. I'm trying to hook my computer's soundcard to output directly to the speakers (through amps)

I have one monoblock amp for my sub and one 4-channel amp for my speakers. The amps are hooked up and wired correctly, I have tested them all by hooking my ipod to the front speakers, rear speakers, and sub via a 1/8'' to RCA cable, and they all worked perfectly.

However when I went to plug my soundcard into my car only the front speakers worked. The back speakers would make noise when I did the channel test in the Audigy soundcard setup thing, but the were very quiet compared to the front speakers, and when I actually went to play music they did not function. I never got the sub to make a sound.

I have 3 cables that split a single 1/8'' audio jack into a red and white RCA. I simply put the one for the front speakers into the green 1/8'' jack, and the rear speakers in the one below that, and the sub in the one below that.

Any ideas why this wouldn't work and why my rear speakers are so much quieter than my front ones? (the rear speakers were quieter even when I hooked them straight to my ipod)

11-09-2006, 04:57 PM

Check the speaker configuration mode in the Control Panel. The Audigy speaker testing does not work well for Sub for some odd reason, but the SUB out really does work when playing games and whatnot.

Also, even if you enable CMSS2 to mirror audio to all speakers I wouldn't be surprised if the rears are not as good. I had the same issue with my Audigy 2. Once I modded the soundcard with higher quality op amps the result was more balanced. The rears sounded just as loud and clear as the fronts.

spoonraker · 11-09-2006, 07:17 PM

The rear speakers weren't as loud as the front even when I wasnt goign through the soundcard. I plugged my iPod straight into the amp on both the front and rear VGAs and the rear was nowhere near as loud for some reason.

And like I said in my original post, I tried playing music, the rear and sub didn't work and the rear only worked when I did the channel test

11-09-2006, 08:20 PM

Did you try switching the front/rear connections around? If the fronts become weaker, then something's not right with your AMP or the settings.

Also make sure you're matching up the speakers well. If you get totally different speakers for the front and rear, it might have an adverse effect.

spoonraker · 11-10-2006, 01:35 AM

This is the card I have, soundblaster Audigy SE

http://www.creative.com/products/pro...&product=14257

The blue input is mic/digital output so I figure the other three places to plug stuff in are front, rear, and center/sub.

If that's not right then how do I wire it for 4.1?

I'm using three of these cables http://store.mp3car.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=35 one into the green, black, and orange then to the amps.

Also I have not tried plugging the rear speakers into the front input on the amp and the fronts on the rear input, I'll try that tomorrow.

spoonraker · 11-10-2006, 01:55 AM

I found this pic on creative's website which is exactly how I had it hooked up...

spoonraker · 11-10-2006, 05:33 AM

I think I know why the rear speakers are so quiet, and I really feel stupid. I'm not 100% sure yet since currently it's pitch black and frigid cold outside, but I'm 99% sure that when I hooked up my new 4-channel amp I didn't set the gains. So yeah...I probably just have to turn up the rear volume on the amp, lol, I'm an idiot.

Now I just need to solve my woofer problem and I'll be set, should have the project done within a week and hopefully you guys will like it when I post it in the show-off section. I can't believe I made it this far without having to ask any questions and screw up on probably the easiest part of the whole thing with such a stupid error. Oh well...

11-10-2006, 10:45 AM

Did you test the mono block to make sure the sub is working? Play a movie, and you should be getting the sub signal. If not, then the audio connector to RCA might be missing the 3rd connection that's for the sub. Creative sells these cables to correctly get access to all of the channels since some use a 4-ring jack.

I'm going for the same approach, but with my modded Audigy 2. I'm actually going to rip out the connectors and wire them to an 8-jack RCA panel.

I'm not sure if you tried this yet. Let's say you set the speaker config to 4.1, and then set the DVD audio decoder (like PowerDVD) to 5.1. The center channel gets downmixed to the front channels. Pretty neato since you won't lose the discrete sub signal. I had issues setting it to 4ch decoding because the sub signal would be lost when watching a movie.

Let me know how "loud" it is when connecting your card directly to the amps.

spoonraker · 11-10-2006, 02:33 PM

I have tested the sub with my iPod. The ipod doesn't have different channels though, it's just stereo. I just plugged the headphone jack from the iPod into the RCA inputs on the mono amp. It sounded weird since you could only hear the bass, but the sub was definately working.

I think I'm gonna go play with it some more and see what I discover.

11-10-2006, 04:16 PM

Ok, so chances are the stereo mini-jack to RCA might be missing a "ring" for the sub output. Those two might be center and side left, but don't quote me on that eheh.

b4437 · 11-17-2006, 02:25 AM

bump,i am having the same problem.

Jahntassa · 11-17-2006, 10:04 AM

According to the pic posted above, you would need a special cable, it looks like. Most RCA cables are Tip, Ring, Sleeve. If they really have three outputs on that one 1/8" jack, chances are you need a cable with four conductors, tip, ring, ring, sleeve. I don't know for sure, but just from what i'm seeing, that may be the problem.

Edit: Looks like i'm correct.

http://www.creative.com/products/pro...&product=14309

You need these cables to get those outputs working the way you want with that card.

walky_talky20 · 11-19-2006, 11:52 PM

Jahntassa,
The picture you posted is of the 7.1 cables for the soundblaster audigy cards. Those cables are unecessary for 4.1 or 5.1 operation. Line out 2 (Black) and Line out 3 (Orange) are indeed Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve connections. However, when using a normal (i.e. RadioShack) Tip, Ring, Sleeve cable and 5.1 mode (in the software settings), the Jacks function as normal 5.1 jacks - no special cables needed. The picture below shows the pinouts and required cabling for the various modes (5.1, 6.1, 7.1) for analog multichannel output on Audigy cards. This diagram is taken from the Audigy User Manual.

@ Spoonraker
For connection to your mono subwoofer amplifier, be sure you are using "Subwoofer" RCA connector, not the "Center" RCA connector. If you are using a generic "Mini Stereo to RCA" cable, you will want to use the Right Channel RCA connector (Red color) for the subwoofer signal. The unused White (or maybe Black) RCA connector will be the Center channel signal. Also, be sure the soundblaster settings are for 5.1, not 6.1 or 7.1.

Please Note: I am not an expert and can only make recommendations based on the diagrams from the Sound Card User Manual.

Peace.

Gladier · 11-20-2006, 01:08 AM

isnt connecting the sound card directly to the amp without a preamp supposed to cause interference?

silverdrgn · 12-09-2006, 08:05 AM

^^what he said. (kinda)

I am attempting a similar setup. I went ahead and got the 7.1 cables listed above by Jahntassa. I have the Sound Blaster Fatal1ty FPS. the output on the jacks is only 2 Vrms (its in the specs) and if your cableing is too long you may have some problems with signal getting to the amp. The amps usually take anywhere from 2 - 8(n more) volts on the inputs and maybe they are not receiving enough juice from the card (your signal will loose most of its umph). you may want to consider a pre amp. Egay has some good ones for your app. I got two of em. They are the Planet Audio pld 6 they are 6 channel preamps(or line drivers) they pump out 8volts rms and ensure your amp will get clean clear signal, Just a thought im no expert and I still don't have all my parts to do my install. Just waiting on the ram.