Need help connecting a subwoofer to ASUS Xonar essence stx sound card.

[ProtoflareX]

Hey guys, this is my first topic, so I had to post it here instead of in computer audio, but hopefully somebody here will be able to help me out. My xonar stx just arrived today, and I've hooked up my two speakers to it, but I can't figure out how to connect my subwoofer. My two speakers occupy the Front L and Front R jacks on the STX, which leaves the "Line in", "Headphones", and "SPDIF Out" jacks remaining. I do not own a receiver and would like to find a way to do this without purchasing one if that is even possible. As a sidenote, the subwoofer is powered and connects to an audio source using a 2x RCA male to 3.5mm stereo male cable. So, does anyone know if it is possible to connect the sub to my STX?

 

[PurpleAngel]

It would be helpful to know the name and model number of the sub-woofer and the speakers.
Normally in your situation you would hook a sub-woofer between the STX's RCA outputs and the inputs on the speakers (studio monitors?).

 

[ProtoflareX]

  It would be helpful to know the name and model number of the sub-woofer and the speakers.
Normally in your situation you would hook a sub-woofer between the STX's RCA outputs and the inputs on the speakers (studio monitors?).

 
My speakers are the following: http://www.rosewill.com/catalog/product/view/id/1555/category/80/#product_tabs_Specifications
 
My subwoofer is this (probably not what you were expecting, but I find it to work well): http://vibeaudio.co.uk/product/optisound-game/#feature-4

 

[ProtoflareX]

My speakers are the Rosewill SP-7260's, I believe their model number is 36-280-009. As for my subwoofer, if you search "vibe game 5 optisound" without the quotes on google and click on the second link, that would be it. I was unable to find its model number.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  My speakers are the Rosewill SP-7260's, I believe their model number is 36-280-009. As for my subwoofer, if you search "vibe game 5 optisound" without the quotes on google and click on the second link, that would be it. I was unable to find its model number.

 
looks simple enough.
Run RCA cables from the STX's (RCA) output jacks to the input jacks (RCA) on the vibe game 5 optisound sub-woofer.
Then run RCA cables from the vibe game 5 optisound output jacks (RCA) to the input jacks (RCA) on the SP-7260.
And use the knob on the back of the vibe game 5 optisound to control how much bass you want.

 

[ProtoflareX]

   
looks simple enough.
Run RCA cables from the STX's (RCA) output jacks to the input jacks (RCA) on the vibe game 5 optisound sub-woofer.
Then run RCA cables from the vibe game 5 optisound output jacks (RCA) to the input jacks (RCA) on the SP-7260.
And use the knob on the back of the vibe game 5 optisound to control how much bass you want.

Your suggestions did actually work, and the subwoofer is now playing, but would you happen to know how the crossover is determined in this setup? The sub seems to be playing very high frequencies and I don't want to risk damaging it.
 
 
Edit: Ignore this post, for some reason I thought the crossover setting in the "FlexBass" section of the STX audio center wasn't working properly because of the unusually loud volume of my sub and the plethora of sounds that I had never heard before coming from it. After toying with the crossover setting a bit, it turns out it is indeed working properly, I just thought it wasn't because the STX seems to have amplified the volume of the subwoofer, while also allowing me to hear sounds I've never heard before in music due to its high quality (hopefully that made at least a bit of sense...). Anyway, you seem to have solved my problem, I thought I was going to have to return it, thank you very much.

 

[ProtoflareX]

Actually I do have one more question if you don't mind. The further I increase the crossover gauge in the "FlexBass" section of the xonar audio center, the quieter my sub becomes. Shouldn't that be the opposite? If I set the crossover to the maximum possible value of 250hz, my subwoofer plays at an extremely low, nearly inaudible volume. However, if I reduce it to the lowest possible value of 50hz, its volume increases significantly. Would you happen to know the reason for this?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Actually I do have one more question if you don't mind. The further I increase the crossover gauge in the "FlexBass" section of the Xonar audio center, the quieter my sub becomes. Shouldn't that be the opposite? If I set the crossover to the maximum possible value of 250hz, my sub-woofer plays at an extremely low, nearly inaudible volume. However, if I reduce it to the lowest possible value of 50hz, its volume increases significantly. Would you happen to know the reason for this?

 
I really have no idea how those FlrxBass settings work.
I own about 6 Xonar cards, but never used that part of the control settings.
 
Might try reading up and asking here.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/421890/the-xonar-essence-stx-q-a-tweaking-impressions-thread

 

[ProtoflareX]

   
I really have no idea how those FlrxBass settings work.
I own about 6 Xonar cards, but never used that part of the control settings.
 
Might try reading up and asking here.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/421890/the-xonar-essence-stx-q-a-tweaking-impressions-thread

I know I said that my last post would be my final question, but I've grown curious about how the wire setup you suggested actually works. Your suggestion was to run RCA cables from the output jacks on the STX to the input jacks on my sub. That means that after "leaving" the STX, the first speaker that the sound signals reach is the sub, right? Does this mean that my sub is attempting to play both the high and low frequencies of a song? Also would you happen to know what determines what frequencies get sent to my main speakers?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I know I said that my last post would be my final question, but I've grown curious about how the wire setup you suggested actually works. Your suggestion was to run RCA cables from the output jacks on the STX to the input jacks on my sub. That means that after "leaving" the STX, the first speaker that the sound signals reach is the sub, right? Does this mean that my sub is attempting to play both the high and low frequencies of a song? Also would you happen to know what determines what frequencies get sent to my main speakers?

I would assume the sub-woofer cut outs the lower part of the audio signal for itself, then sends the mid and higher (treble) audio range up to the studio monitors.
Or it might make a copy of the audio signal for itself and send the full spectrum up to the studio monitors.
I just have no idea how they really do it, guess whatever they use to do is the cheapest way they can get away with it.

 

[ProtoflareX]

  I would assume the sub-woofer cut outs the lower part of the audio signal for itself, then sends the mid and higher (treble) audio range up to the studio monitors.
Or it might make a copy of the audio signal for itself and send the full spectrum up to the studio monitors.
I just have no idea how they really do it, guess whatever they use to do is the cheapest way they can get away with it.

Ah, I see. Thank you once again for your assistance.

 

[cel4145]

Or it might make a copy of the audio signal for itself and send the full spectrum up to the studio monitors.

Typically this with inexpensive subwoofers. Cost more money to build high and low pass filters into the sub to send part of the audio signal to the sub and part to the speakers.