I'm looking for an all-in-one solution that I can:
 
- Connect my XLR cable speakers.
- Connect RCA cable subwoofer.
- Plug my headphones into.
 
A DAC isn't necessary as I have a decent soundcard, just looking for a low-budget option.
 
I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Originally Posted by Graphicism /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
- Connect my XLR cable speakers.
- Connect RCA cable subwoofer.
- Plug my headphones into.

Click to expand...

 
Not all those in a single product I'm afraid.
 

graphicism said:

 
- Connect my XLR cable speakers.
- Plug my headphones into.

Click to expand...

 
Lots of balanced drive headphone amplifiers out there with balanced preamplifier outputs - AudioGD has a few amp only and DAC-HPamp options for starters. There's also Violectric with SE headphone outputs but balanced input and preamp output.
 
There are also entry level audio interfaces but while they have balanced preamp outputs, their headphone amps have too high output impedance for low impedance headphones, while having too low power with relatively high THD at low impedance load ratings (if that's what they quote, it's unlikely that the amp makes more power at 300ohms either). Also, no dedicated subwoofer output. Also these work with USB or Firewire, so the soundcard can't work with it. If it's just for music you might consider ditching the soundcard, but if it's for gaming - ie SBX ProStudio, Dolby Headphone, etc - the only alternative is Razer Surround.
 

graphicism said:

 
- Connect RCA cable subwoofer.
- Plug my headphones into.

Click to expand...

 
Plenty of stereo receivers (ie they have a DAC built in, but most also have analogue inputs) have subwoofer outputs now - anything from the more standard size offering from Yamaha, Onkyo, etc, as well as the NAD 3020D and 7020. The latter NADs with a bit more of headphone audio in mind are probably better with headphones.

protegemaniac said:

   
Not all those in a single product I'm afraid.
 

Click to expand...

 
Sure they do... perhaps I wasn't clear enough with my post.
 
For instance the now discontinued E-MU 0404 has XLR, RCA and headphone all rolled into one... but it's discontinued. Or perhaps even the Matrix Mini-I though I was looking for something a bit cheaper.
 
Right now I use a PS Audio DLIII that does all that, save for the headphone amplifier. I'm basically looking for what I have now with the inclusion of a headphone out.
 
EDIT: Looks like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB would also fit the bill. I'm just out of touch as I haven't shopped for this stuff in a couple years.
EDIT EDIT: Perhaps not... I don't think the Focusrite has balanced XLR.

graphicism said:

  I'm looking for an all-in-one solution that I can:
 
- Connect my XLR cable speakers.
- Connect RCA cable subwoofer.
- Plug my headphones into.
 
A DAC isn't necessary as I have a decent sound card, just looking for a low-budget option.
 
I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Click to expand...

 
Can you list the make and model of the speakers (studio monitors?) and the sub-woofer?

@ProtegeManiac
 
Not sure what I ignored sorry, perhaps it went over my head. I am just simply and lazily looking for an all in one solution to run my speakers and occasional plug headphones in.
 
Here's how I have it all working right now...
 
- Emotiva Airmotiv 4 with an XLR cable in each. [powered]
- Energy Power 10 sub with both L&R RCA cables. [powered]
- Both the XLR and RCA cables connect to my DAC.
- The DAC is connected to my computer via USB.
 
This provides audio to my speakers and sub-woofer, however if I want to listen to my headphones I have to unplug the sub-woofer RCA cables and plug in another set of RCA cables connected to my tube amp.
 
So what I'm looking for is something to replace my DAC that I can connect my speakers and sub-woofer into. On the now rare occasion that I want to listen to headphones it would be great if I could plug them into the 'new unit' without having to plug in a separate amp manually every time.
 
Heck what if it doesn't have a headphone amp and it's just for running my speakers and sub-woofer? I'm just surprised something like this isn't abundant.
 
@PurpleAngel
 
- Emotiva Airmotiv 4
- Energy Power 10
 
Both powered.

Why not just upgrade your sub? Get one that has XLR inputs and outputs for integrating with XLR speakers. Check this out: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605999

Probably sound better than your Energy sub, too.

cel4145 said:

Why not just upgrade your sub? Get one that has XLR inputs and outputs for integrating with XLR speakers. Check this out: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605999

Probably sound better than your Energy sub, too.

Click to expand...

 
+1

cel4145 said:

Why not just upgrade your sub? Get one that has XLR inputs and outputs for integrating with XLR speakers. Check this out: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605999

Probably sound better than your Energy sub, too.

Click to expand...

 
I don't see how that relates to what I'm looking for... Say I do get the sub what do I plug it into? I'm looking for something to plug speakers into.
 
Further that Energy 10 is amazing in my office. I had a decent SVS sub in here and it sounded God awful (vibration galore), wonderful in the much larger living-room however.

graphicism said:

   
I don't see how that relates to what I'm looking for... Say I do get the sub what do I plug it into? I'm looking for something to plug speakers into.
 
Further that Energy 10 is amazing in my office. I had a decent SVS sub in here and it sounded God awful (vibration galore), wonderful in the much larger living-room however.

Click to expand...

 
Your Energy 10 sub was not designed to work with directly studio monitors (self powered speakers).
That why it's suggested to just sell off the Energy 10 and get a sub-woofer designed to work with studio monitors.
 
You could get a used low cost A/V receiver (off Craigslist), that comes with a dedicated sub-woofer output and pre-outputs, for the studio monitors.

graphicism said:

I don't see how that relates to what I'm looking for... Say I do get the sub what do I plug it into? I'm looking for something to plug speakers into.

Further that Energy 10 is amazing in my office. I had a decent SVS sub in here and it sounded God awful (vibration galore), wonderful in the much larger living-room however.

Click to expand...

Look at the picture of the back of that subwoofer. So you plug the subwoofer to your computer, and your speakers into the sub.

graphicism said:

  @ProtegeManiac
 
Not sure what I ignored sorry, perhaps it went over my head. I am just simply and lazily looking for an all in one solution to run my speakers and occasional plug headphones in.
 
Here's how I have it all working right now...
 
- Emotiva Airmotiv 4 with an XLR cable in each. [powered]
- Energy Power 10 sub with both L&R RCA cables. [powered]
- Both the XLR and RCA cables connect to my DAC.
- The DAC is connected to my computer via USB.
 
This provides audio to my speakers and sub-woofer, however if I want to listen to my headphones I have to unplug the sub-woofer RCA cables and plug in another set of RCA cables connected to my tube amp.
 
So what I'm looking for is something to replace my DAC that I can connect my speakers and sub-woofer into. On the now rare occasion that I want to listen to headphones it would be great if I could plug them into the 'new unit' without having to plug in a separate amp manually every time.
 
Heck what if it doesn't have a headphone amp and it's just for running my speakers and sub-woofer? I'm just surprised something like this isn't abundant.

Click to expand...

 
The thing is that you're trying to get too many things done out of a single device. Most that have a DAC and dedicated subwoofer output are receivers that power passive speakers. Even then, you don't always need a dedicated subwoofer output if you were using passive speakers - some HT/audiophile subs take the signal from an amplifier's output stage (ie the speaker cable), runs it through an L-Pad, sending the same signal back out to the speakers while sending essentially a copy of it into the subwoofer amp. Change the volume, and the sub gets it too. Alternately, some integrated amplifiers have a preamp output, and sometimes a power input (with a bar connecting both in normal operation), so you can use a Y-cable on the preamp output of a NAD 304 for example, then hook up its power amp section to one pair and then a subwoofer to another pair.
 
Apart from what I've already enumerated previously the closest thing to all that is a Meier DACcord. It has a preamp output for your speakers, as well as a DAC line out for your tube amp. One problem: it uses SE RCA, not balanced XLR.
 

graphicism said:

   
I don't see how that relates to what I'm looking for... Say I do get the sub what do I plug it into? I'm looking for something to plug speakers into.

Click to expand...

 
You're missing his point, which was also a point I made previously: your speakers use balanced XLR and you want to send them a balanced signal via XLR, your subwoofer uses RCA. Your subwoofer was meant to be used with a dedicated HT receiver, or an integrated amplifier. This is how it is normally set up:
 
HT receiver >speaker output> FL, RL, C, RR, FR passive speakers
                  >LFE output> Energy subwoofer
 
Modern 2.0 receiver >speaker output> Left and Right passive speakers
                              >subwoofer output> Energy subwoofer
 
Older 2.0 integrated amp/receiver >speaker output> Energy subwoofer >speaker output> Left and Right passive speakers
(Look at the back - it has speaker cable push terminals, one set for input, one for output)
 
By contrast, here's the arse-end of a KRK studio subwoofer.

 
See any difference? For starters, no speaker cable terminals. However, it kind of works the same way as it has RCA In/Out and XLR In/Out. Here's how that gets wired up:
 
Balanced Preamp >balanced preamp output-XLR input> KRK 10 >XLR output-XLRinput> Airmotiv4 
 
Alternately:
SE Preamp >SE preamp output-RCA input> KRK 10 >RCA output-RCA input> KRK Rokit 6