Subwoofer/bookshelf speakers/PC

Mike89

Gawd
Joined
Jan 27, 2003
Messages
702
Got a DIY question. My old Logitech Z-5500 took a dump on my PC and I want to go in a different direction. Just want a stereo setup with sub. I have a set of Edifier powered book shelf speakers R1280T which sound ok but lack on the bass (bass I used to hear on the Logitech sub, I can't hear anymore, I miss it). I am getting a Dayton Audio 10" sub. How do I hook both these up to my sound card on the PC?
 
You have a sub output on the soundcard, or you can pass the signal through the sub using the appropriate connectors (depends on the sub).
 
I have a center/sub out on my soundcard (Z Blaster). I thought that connector was not active except for 5.1 sound. The Dayton Audio Sub doesn't have pass through unless you use high level speaker inputs (if I'm reading that correctly). I currently have the Edifier speakers hooked up to green stereo out from soundcard via 3.5mm jack with two RCA on other end into right powered side of speakers. Now I have to figure out how to get the sub in there.
 
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Can't say for sure; I know that the output is there, but you'll have to try it. As for the pass-through on the sub, might try finding a sub with a line-level passthrough? I picked up a studio sub specifically because I passthrough balanced line-level to a passive pre-amp (to control volume) and then to my JBL studio monitors, for example.
 
probably the easiest thing to do if you are set on this edifier + dayton Sub setup.. your money your choice..

is to get a 3.5mm splitter and 2x 3.5mm to RCA cables (assuming your pc has 3.5mm output as pc sound cards tend to do.. if you have RCA outputs then get rca splitter cable).

hook one rca to the edifier and other rca cable to sub (adjust crossover as desired)

now that's all fine and good luck... i hope you like the sound, but the sub is what $120~ish (assuming you haven't already bought it?)

plus cables..

I'll just toss this idea out there (depending on desk space ..etc) you can sometimes find very good deals on used home stereo equipment

I have these 10" 3way yamaha NS-344 speakers I got for under $50 for example and I have a 100Watts per channel Kenwood KR-V106R receiver that cost $20.. for $70 I'm going to guess my vintage / used setup will walk all over them edifiers + sub.. not to rip on your gear and the speakers are a bit big not everyone has room for this kinda gear.. (amp is big also)

if space challenged a little class d amp + smaller desktop speakers (used if you can find something good / working) or like ELAC B6 would be awesome..

anyways pics of some of my used gear
Yamaha NS-344's and the Kennwood apear in this pic (also in pic $80 Pioneer SX-3600 , $50 NHT SuperZero's , $20 MK speakers and $40 JBL L1's (these are great speakers that could probably do just fine without a sub ..depending on people's tastes.. they a 2ways but pretty close to full range imho.)
desk_jun18.jpg


oh yeah that huge sony stack to the left cost me $75 =p $15 per component on 1/2 off sale at goodwill.. I was astounded and well more astounded at my good fortune on that one..
 
Well I already have the Edifiers so wanted to try to make the most out of what I had. Spending $120 on a 10" sub seemed like a good way to go. My space and pocket book is limited so I have to try to get a good result on what I have to work with (and spend). I had the pretty much piece of shit Logitech Z-5500 that I listened to for years before it crapped out. I made due with it even though it was pretty mediocre sound with decent bass. When it crapped out, I tried these two Edifiers by themselves and the sound was better than all 5 of the Logitech speakers but without the deep bass. That's what made me go the direction I'm trying now. Logitech's attempt with this at 5.1 failed miserably (to my ears).
 
I know my Xonar has a "flexbass" crossover feature that can create a LFE channel out of stereo input that doesn't normally support. I bet your creative card has something similar, which means you can just plug in any (amped) sub to the LFE channel without having to worry about analog crossover or anything like that.
 
Unless the SBZ card can run audio to the subwoofer in stereo mode, you're in a rough spot with what you have. I have an X-Fi card and I can't make it use the sub output unless it's configured for 5.1/7.1 output, you don't want to do that if you don't have that many speakers connected.

I think the ideal configuration would be stereo out from the sound card into the subwoofer and then to the speakers, but I think you're only going to be able to accomplish that with a series of line-level converters and I'm not sure that's possible. I have an older Dayton 12" sub that has RCA in and out, that would probably work for your setup, doesn't look like they have that on their newer subs.
 
Unless the SBZ card can run audio to the subwoofer in stereo mode, you're in a rough spot with what you have. I have an X-Fi card and I can't make it use the sub output unless it's configured for 5.1/7.1 output, you don't want to do that if you don't have that many speakers connected.

I think the ideal configuration would be stereo out from the sound card into the subwoofer and then to the speakers, but I think you're only going to be able to accomplish that with a series of line-level converters and I'm not sure that's possible. I have an older Dayton 12" sub that has RCA in and out, that would probably work for your setup, doesn't look like they have that on their newer subs.
A simple active crossover is needed if the sub lacks its own. Easily handmade and cheap to buy.
 
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