Hey guys,

I have a project here I have been wanting to work on for a while. I want to hook up two things to the sound card I have in my computer, it's the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty. First thing is the AKG K701s headphones and the second thing is either a pair of BOSE speakers or a set of 5 satellite speakers from Polk Audio. The problem is...well there's a few, first of all, I don't think my sound card has enough power to drive the Bose 161 bookshelve speakers or the 5 speakers from Polk......and the AKG K701 as well. What do you guys think? And also, if you know any better speakers, either as a pair or a set of 5, it doesn't matter, I want quality, please tell me.

And if that's the case, where can I find an amp that can drive both for me WITH independent volume controllers for the speakers and the headphones. Or should I have a separate amp for the headphones?...I hope my questions are clear.

And also, how should I deal with the connections since the sound card uses a 3.5mm stereo jack and all the speakers use raw RED/BLACK stranded speaker cables?

If I decide to only use my headphones, can my sound card power the K701 fully without needing an amp?


Thanks in advance.

M11A1

Hi M11a1,

Does your sound card have a digital out by any chance? The stereo jack is more of a line level output. In short, it won't drive your speakers without an amplifier. You can't connect the positive/negative leads from the speaker directly to the sound card.

If your soundcard has a digital out, then you'll need a processor to output to the different channels. You'd probably use a home theatre receiver for that.

As for powering the K701, it'll do just fine however there are more benefits to get an amp than just power.

Quote:



Thanks for the reply!

And yes, my soundcard does have a digital output, the optical to be exact. So I just need to get a home theater receiver and plug the optical out from my soundcard to the receiver and carefully distribute the speaker channels accordingly to my setup, right? Okay, sounds simple and perfect for my setup. And if I don't have to, do you know any receviers that are smaller than the usual home theater receiver, since it's for my computer, I don't want it too large...and of course, having an amplifier. And also, maybe one that doesn't have so many sources, since computer will be my only source.

As for the headphones, I do realize the benefits of having an amplifier for it, do you recommend any that are inexpensive and are AC powered.

Thanks a million.

Ok, I think I misread your initial post so here's more info/advice.

If you're going with 2-channel, the easiest way maybe to split the stereo jack into RCA connectors and then get an amp like the Trends Audio TA-10.1 (http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Product/TA-10_desc.htm), it goes for about $150.

If you're going to get the 5 satellite speakers than I would just get a receiver for that for the surround sound. Maybe a Panasonic digital receiver would be ideal, (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SA-X.../dp/B0009E1YPW), (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702).

With the receiver, you'll be able to hook it up to your soundcard. Check that your soundcard outputs Dolby Digital and other surround formats. I'm thinking it most probably does. It would then work well for movies as you'd get the true surround.

As for headphone amps, I really can't be of much help there. I haven't owned any that I have truly liked and I haven't heard any of the inexpensive stuff. I am intrigued by the Headamp Pico however, but that goes for $300/$500 depending on options (to have the extra DAC or not).

Check out this Harman Kardon receiver..

http://www.amazon.com/Kardon-AVR-140...898368&sr=8-33

Anything smaller than that? I don't want it too big.

Probably not a whole lot smaller. Six channels of heavy duty amplification take up some room, if only for the heatsinks.