Running Headphones Through Speaker's Port

[genpatton7]

I just bought an Asus Xonar Essence XTX to replace my Xonar DX and I'd like to get the best SQ possible from it. Right now I'm running my AH-D2000's through my Logitech Z4 speaker headphone port so that I can switch between headphones and speakers. Do you think running the headphones through the speakers causes a significant SQ decrease? Thanks in advance.

 

[genpatton7]

I probably should clarify, the Z4 speakers have a volume remote with a headphone and line-in port on them. I have the speakers hooked directly into my sound card and my headphones connected to the headphone port on the speaker's remote. I'm wondering if that bridge would degrade the SQ from the Xonar Essence XTX considerably.

 

[crossbone]

Yes, it will have an impact on SQ, because you bypass the Head-Phone Amp of the Essence. Use the port directly on the card, or your front case connector for headphones, connected to your essence inside the case.

 

[ROBSCIX]

Connect directly to the card.

 

[Logistics]

If you have on-board sound then perhaps you could enable it as well and use it to line-out to your speakers, using the Xonar only for headphones.

 

[crazyjeeper]

I just switch between the headphone port and line out on my card in the driver software depending on if I want speakers or phones.

 

[genpatton7]

Thanks for the responses!

Quote:

I just switch between the headphone port and line out on my card in the driver software depending on if I want speakers or phones.

I think that's a great idea, can't believe it didn't occur to me. I'll have to sacrifice some cord length, but I think the sound quality is worth it. I would use the front panel, but my Antec 300 case has some serious distortion from its FP audio.

 

[genpatton7]

Alright, instead wasting space and posting another thread, I thought I'd ask here. Since I'm hooking my headphones directly into my audio card, I would like to use a 1/4 male-female extension wire to bridge the two and extend my cord length. My question is more-or-less the same as my original, will this effect the SQ from the Essence STX? Do you think this cable would do the job without too much of a loss in SQ? If you have any cheaper options for extensions I'd be very happy to hear about them. Thanks!

 

[Duggeh]

What a complete nonsense. The speakers will almost certainly have a more powerful amp for the headphone out than the one built into a soundcard. Mine certainly do and they're a heap of cheap.

Better idea yet. Why don't you try both solutions and use the one you prefer. If you don't hear a difference. Which is highly possible, go for the convenience of using the headphone socket on the volume dial.

 

[Bredin]

I use a Y cable to my computer. Where one end goes to my speakers and the other goes to my keyboard(as extension chord), and then to my headphones. Works pretty good. Just remeber to unplug the headphones if you want to use the speakers, or turn off the speakers if you want to use the headphones.

 

[RicHSAD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif What a complete nonsense. The speakers will almost certainly have a more powerful amp for the headphone out than the one built into a soundcard. Mine certainly do and they're a heap of cheap.

I hope you are kidding. You definitely want to use the Headphone out of that Xonar Essence so you can benefit from the amp. Plus you get to use Dolby Headphones when you select the Headphones output in the drivers.

Anyway, that cable seems quite expensive to me for nothing.

Here is where I got my extension cable: 1/4 inch (TRS) Stereo Audio Patchbay Cables

Got the 6ft(TRS3-06) cable for 17$ CAD and it works great. Not sure how much they charge for the shipping to the US, but it shouldn't be much for a cable.

 

[genpatton7]

Thanks RicHSAD, I think I'll go for that cable. Anything easier on the wallet is ok by me.

Quote:

If you have on-board sound then perhaps you could enable it as well and use it to line-out to your speakers, using the Xonar only for headphones.

I actually don't have on-board sound on my Asus mobo, it came with a PCI-E 1x Creative X-Fi card which I never put to use.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicHSAD /img/forum/go_quote.gif I hope you are kidding. You definitely want to use the Headphone out of that Xonar Essence so you can benefit from the amp. Plus you get to use Dolby Headphones when you select the Headphones output in the drivers. Anyway, that cable seems quite expensive to me for nothing. Here is where I got my extension cable: 1/4 inch (TRS) Stereo Audio Patchbay Cables Got the 6ft(TRS3-06) cable for 17$ CAD and it works great. Not sure how much they charge for the shipping to the US, but it shouldn't be much for a cable.

The speakers will have an amp circuit for the headphones from that socket on the volume control. One that I would imagine has more power than any included on a soundcard. Additionally, connection to the speaker connector does not negate the possibility of changing the soundcard mode to Dolby Headphone.

 

[genpatton7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif The speakers will have an amp circuit for the headphones from that socket on the volume control. One that I would imagine has more power than any included on a soundcard. Additionally, connection to the speaker connector does not negate the possibility of changing the soundcard mode to Dolby Headphone.

I received the card a few days ago and connected my speakers through the line-out and found that I don't like the sound quality as much as the headphone out. The headphone port on the speaker controller is much higher volume, but the quality just isn't there. As for Dolby Headphone, I've never been a fan, after using it for awhile on my DX I found I preferred the sound of music without it. Perhaps it's b/c the soundstage of the D2000 doesn't agree with Dolby or that I'm just used to a more natural sound.

 

[Duggeh]

Your ears say one option, thats the one to go with. And indeed, volume is not a signal of sufficient amplification.