Asus Xonar Essence ST Line out no sound. Corsair SP 2500 2.1 gaming speakers.

If you haven't already done it, make sure to disable all output devices except the Asus Xonar Essence ST in Control Panel.

Funnily, I had similar problems when installing my girlfriend's ST the other day, but they were due to the wrong output being chosen in the Xonar software.

Also, when switching between outputs, the ST sometimes lags. Try physically connecting and disconnecting the speakers until you hear feedback from your speakers. I had to do this when switching back and forth from onboard audio (for her speakers -- I didn't have the adapter from 3.5mm to RCA).

Also, you can try reading the manual, but you may not be able to have connections in the RCA and Headphone Amp ports at the same time. I say this because in their configuration for microphone hookup, they suggest you hook up the headphones to RCA instead of the amp (I'm guessing because the card's power gets taken up by the headphone amp?).

I think you can only use one output at the same time, and the choices are:

"2 speakers" - rear RCA line out connectors (line level, 2 Vrms / 100 Ohm output impedance)

"headphones" - rear 1/4" HP out jack (amplified, max. 7 Vrms / 10 Ohm output impedance)

"FP 2 speakers" - front panel jack, line level (2 Vrms)

"FP headphones" - front panel jack, amplified (up to 7 Vrms, depending on the gain setting)

The card will not automatically detect the connector that is being used.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stv014 

I think you can only use one output at the same time, and the choices are:

 

"2 speakers" - rear RCA line out connectors (line level, 2 Vrms / 100 Ohm output impedance)

"headphones" - rear 1/4" HP out jack (amplified, max. 7 Vrms / 10 Ohm output impedance)

"FP 2 speakers" - front panel jack, line level (2 Vrms)

"FP headphones" - front panel jack, amplified (up to 7 Vrms, depending on the gain setting)

 

The card will not automatically detect the connector that is being used.

 

Well yeah, of course, but I thought the OP said he was changing the output in Xonar's configuration settings.

But yes, it should go without saying that the card will not automatically detect which output is plugged in.

Hrmm...

http://www.overclock.net/t/1069420/asus-xonar-dx-no-front-panel-audio-for-headphones

According to this (which is the opposite problem but sort of related), you may have misconfigured your front panel connection to the card. I'd look at this to be sure. Other than that, I have no idea, but I hope I don't go through this when I bring a 3.5mm ==> RCA adapter to my girlfriend's tomorrow 

I gotta go so I can't stick around to see if anything worked out, but last thing I would do in your shoes is use a regular RCA ==> RCA chord and NOT the adapter included with the Essence ST.

After looking at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtPAJyon6_8, I realize that your Corsair 2500 has RCA in. You should be using this, not the regular line in, and so that may be where your problem is.

I've also reread your OP. You mention going from RCA ==> 3.5mm ==> RCA why? I'm an IT and am only learning about audio, but wouldn't you just go straight from RCA to RCA and skip the adapter?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticklemehballlz 

Do i need to connect a cable from my computer to my Aux input header before my Analogue RCA's work.??

No, but the power connector is indeed important. Also, if there are any other audio devices in the system (e.g. onboard), make sure that the ST is the default output device, or the others are disabled. Check the mixer settings, and make sure that the output is not muted, and the volume is not zero.