Custom Hi-Fi Systems/Car Subwoofers for PC Speakers

[xBruce88x]

last i saw one used for like $12 at gamestop or something, i'll do a google for your town and edit/post back results, btw check out my edit. BTW you may know them as EB Games

[WOG-BOY]

ok thanks
Sh!t the nes still works :O good job on keeping it working lol
haha nice face on the ps2

[xBruce88x]

i did a search and couldn't find it.. one of those go in the store and see type things... if they have one it'll be used. I saw about 10 EB games locations when i did the store locator for Perth, Aust. I've had the thing for about 4 years so its hard to find new now.

and about the face, i figured i'd make some use of the pollen lol

[WOG-BOY]

ok thanks

[xBruce88x]

no prob, good luck finding one if you go out looking

[SabreWulf69]

I'm getting a soundcard after much extensive research and debate with myself and this is what I come up with the ASUS Xonar Essence STX Soundcard, I am actually having trouble finding anything bad about it lol here if ya can be bothered please read some of the following reviews or opinions from many a respected source audio and computer industry wise -->


http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=766494
http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-x...ce-stx-review/
http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...r_essence_stx/
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2339333,00.asp
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mul...sence-stx.html
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/a...le_soundcard/8
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/rev...ar_essence_stx
http://www.stereophile.com/computera...tx_soundcards/
http://www.avforums.com/forums/sound...pressions.html

Apparently for my purpose (Playback using 2-Channel Audio + Analog out to my new high quality amp and speakers) it hands down beats the like of the Creative cards, themselves and the high end Creative cards by Auzentech, the M-Audio Audiophile 192 Card, ESI Juli@, any onboard by absolute miles, and at least on par if not better than some High-End music production cards from the likes of RME and LYNX.

Just a handful of reviews and opinions but yeah, I'm getting it for $240.72 AUD delivered and insured from PC Case Gear, what do you think?

[SabreWulf69]

Anyone?

[Wile E]

I thought about it, but only Stereo. No possibility to upgrade to a surround setup. I found the Auzentech X-Fi Forte to have nearly the same headphone performance, just as good stereo performance if you choose to upgrade the opamps, less cpu usage, but still offers surround ability.

I think the Forte is currently the best buy on the market in cost to benefit.

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by Wile E

I thought about it, but only Stereo. No possibility to upgrade to a surround setup. I found the Auzentech X-Fi Forte to have nearly the same headphone performance, just as good stereo performance if you choose to upgrade the opamps, less cpu usage, but still offers surround ability.

I think the Forte is currently the best buy on the market in cost to benefit.

i was thinking the Forte too, from the reviews i have seen, but im not sure now.... that asus card does look nice and ur right i cant find anything wrong with it either. only 1 question tho...... as i said b4 i need two front speaker 3.5mm ports. will that do it? my onboard ports can be converted to in or out, front or back with the realtek program but the quality is bad...

@SabreWulf69 nice find anyway shoud be good

[SabreWulf69]

Yeah suits my new going into a high quality analog, 2 channel music setup nicely. Can be used for surround cos I assume it can pass PCM/AC3/DD through the digital output/s (SP/DIF+TOSLINK), although I know it can't passthrough DTS signals which is one of the only downsides and it not supporting the fading EAX 5.0, but for my exact purpose, I don't think for the price I could quite find another card like it, with all those reviews and positive opinions, I can't wait :-)

EDIT: @ WOG-BOY Comes with line out and headphone out with the required adapters to go from both to your desired 2x 3.5mm TRS Connectors :-)

[WOG-BOY]

sounds good. i might just go for the forte looks good enough for me

[SabreWulf69]

Alriiighty :-D New Sound Card should arrive by Thurs will let ya know how it goes, I am over the moon and dying of impatience lol

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by SabreWulf69

Alriiighty :-D New Sound Card should arrive by Thurs will let ya know how it goes, I am over the moon and dying of impatience lol

haha nice photos when it comes?? just like me headphones suposed to come today but.... no call
i guess next thursday... i was so excited too lol ohwell

[SabreWulf69]

Yes photos for sure :-) Will have photos of my custom speakers, amp setup, cords, card, and eventually the whole setup but this time words will indeed speak louder than pictures heehee :-)

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by SabreWulf69

Yes photos for sure :-) Will have photos of my custom speakers, amp setup, cords, card, and eventually the whole setup but this time words will indeed speak louder than pictures heehee :-)

haha ok sounds awsome

[WOG-BOY]

Mum came home today with my new Studio beats by dr dre headphones and man they make any song sound awsome XD the bass is so deep it actualy vibrates ur head, the mids are so balenced and the highs are so clear. everything works so good on this apart from 1 thing, the noise canceling isnt the best but does block out just enough so you can still hear other people if they need ur attention. so i guess thats not bad.

if anyone has any questions pls ask
pictures coming later testing first

[Wile E]

Man, for that much money, I would've bought a pair of Senns or Grados. They would've sounded better.

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Man, for that much money, I would've bought a pair of Senns or Grados. They would've sounded better.

i had a look at the sennns and all the others but i really liked the look of the Beats. the sound is amazing enough as it is so they even out each other. you are right i could of got better sounding but these look so good and match my computer.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by WOG-BOY

i had a look at the sennns and all the others but i really liked the look of the Beats. the sound is amazing enough as it is so they even out each other. you are right i could of got better sounding but these look so good and match my computer.

Ahh, I see. That's where we differ. I will never sacrifice performance for looks. I'm just the kind of guy that doesn't care about looks in the slightest, all I ever care about is how well something functions. I'm like that with my audio stuff, my computer, and even my cars.

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Ahh, I see. That's where we differ. I will never sacrifice performance for looks. I'm just the kind of guy that doesn't care about looks in the slightest, all I ever care about is how well something functions. I'm like that with my audio stuff, my computer, and even my cars.

haha i used to be like that with my computer.... but things change. with my home audio im sorta like that but the rest has to be even.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by WOG-BOY

haha i used to be like that with my computer.... but things change. with my home audio im sorta like that but the rest has to be even.

Yeah, it's one of those "to each their own" things.

[ste2425]

This is my system Ive got a bit of a vintage thing going on.
My Pioneer SA620. Its got a total of 6 inputs with two outputs for a two track caste deck to record songs. A 15Hz frequency cut, Optional stereo mono modes and the fastest responding sound meter ive seen on any analogue system.


Plus its stupidly loud check out the meter and then how far up the volume nob is. Yea it probably would get blown out of the warter for volume by modern systems but for aduio quality now matter how good a modern system is digital cannot beat analogue.

First the signal goes into my mixer, I do a bit of DJ'ing so having the mixer set up makes it easy to practice mixes at home.

Then she drives these things there rather huge love em to bits, except the tweeter is blown on the one on the right, cannot afford a repair yet.

I did use this instead its a pioneer sa520 but i managed to blow it at a party i felt like crying, im keeping it though coz intend on fixing it when i get round to it.

This is my vinyl player love vinyl im just a bit upset its not from all the same set.

My tape deck is like this but silver without all the button in the middle, still has the volume meter though, sadly its at home and not at uni so i cannot get a proper image of it.

And there you go thats my custom set up for pc speakers

[WOG-BOY]

Originally Posted by ste2425

This is my system Ive got a bit of a vintage thing going on.
My Pioneer SA620. Its got a total of 6 inputs with two outputs for a two track caste deck to record songs. A 15Hz frequency cut, Optional stereo mono modes and the fastest responding sound meter ive seen on any analogue system.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100501/PICT0240.jpg
http://img.techpowerup.org/100501/PICT0243.jpg
Plus its stupidly loud check out the meter and then how far up the volume nob is. Yea it probably would get blown out of the warter for volume by modern systems but for aduio quality now matter how good a modern system is digital cannot beat analogue.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100501/PICT0246.jpg
First the signal goes into my mixer, I do a bit of DJ'ing so having the mixer set up makes it easy to practice mixes at home.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100501/PICT0247.jpg
Then she drives these things there rather huge love em to bits, except the tweeter is blown on the one on the right, cannot afford a repair yet.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100501/PICT0248.jpg
I did use this instead its a pioneer sa520 but i managed to blow it at a party i felt like crying, im keeping it though coz intend on fixing it when i get round to it.
http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/0/4266/pioneer1.jpg
This is my vinyl player love vinyl im just a bit upset its not from all the same set.
http://www.max.grenkowitz.net/res/In...ont50_5265.jpg
My tape deck is like this but silver without all the button in the middle, still has the volume meter though, sadly its at home and not at uni so i cannot get a proper image of it.

And there you go thats my custom set up for pc speakers

wow man love the speakers thoes would put out quiet alot.
haha ur amp is crazy. i thought mine was loud at 1/4...

[ste2425]

Originally Posted by WOG-BOY

wow man love the speakers thoes would put out quiet alot.
haha ur amp is crazy. i thought mine was loud at 1/4...

lol cheers man i do love it, i think it helps having the mixer boost the signal a little but it is supprisingly good quality for its age, that things older then me :P

[SabreWulf69]

Thought I'd bump this thread again with some random audio information -

For maximum sound quality ala accuracy your not supposed to upsample things your supposed to have them outputed in whatever format quality the stuff is that your listenin to, i.e. most if not all mp3's are 16-bit, 44.1KHz so thats what i have my soundcard set to and if i play DTS its overrided anyways by my DAC through the passthrough directly


"If you're playing back 16-bit 44.1kHz sampled content without any processing, and the DAC is ideal, then increasing the sample rate or bitdepth will make no difference to the output quality. If the DAC is non-ideal, then upsampling in software can improved the measured performance. If the DAC is terrible, then ABXing this improvement by listening is possible (especially with torture signals!).

Increasing the bitdepth is only necessary to avoid a measurable decrease in quality if you're going to do any processing, e.g. EQ, ReplayGain, DSP, digital volume control, convolver etc etc. Most maths produces more bits, so it makes some sense to keep as many as possible. Otherwise you have to re-quantise the output of these stages back down to 16-bits, which is rather like dividing two by three, and then rounding to the nearest whole number! This is only ABXable on specific (mostly test) signals, but certainly improves the measured performance."