Computer/sound card question
 

Hey everyone, got a computer/sound card issue and always kind of had this issue....

My comp is about 3 yrs old and has a decent sound card from my knowledge in it (Creative Sound Blaster Live Value). One problem is has is the sound card can distort easily...for speakers I run it into the AUX of my Pioneer Home system and noticed the volume has to be higher than normal on the unit when listening to the AUX from the computer. With the volume cranked all the way on the computer's part the sound card distorts with the bass more than half and the sound is just not rich enough for my liking.

I tried several players such as WMP, Winamp and now Realplayer and some help some dont.

What would help in getting a more richer sound and volume?

SB Live Value is the Brown PCB PCI card correct?

Have you tested the output with a CD using the Digital line to the SB Live or are you running an MP3 player. Are you certain your mp3's are of a good bitrate? If you play a CD through Winamp reading the CD data through the drive as opposed to the digital feed by the IDE connector may affect audio performance as I have noticed with the other SB cards I have used in the past.

Does this problem occur if you plug it into the Front or Rear speaker channels?

Bitrate of all my songs are 192 and above.

The type of line im using from the computer to the Pioneer's AUX is one end going into the computer has the same type of jack as a headphone then splits into R/L channels for the AUX.

Is there a special cable I can use to make better louder sound or?

So you're using a 1/8" stereo to RCA (Red and white) cable?

Which jack is the 1/8" stereo plug put into? It should be the green socket. Green is the front speakers, Black is the rear, Red (mic) etc.

Did you check the advanced options in the volume control panel to make sure the bass boost or other features aren't turned on?

yup its that RCA cable I use and I have to confirm again if its in the green socket but Im pretty sure it is and I recall changing the plug to different sockets but didnt make any different sound.

Advanced options has bass more than half and treble all the way.

Volume is set to half as if I put it all the way it hits distortion on the sound card.

I bought a "HiFi Link" for my computer at http://www.xitel.com/

I actually bought it through microcenter, but they sell it on the site too.

I have had very good luck with this, it works flawlessly and is a snap to install and will work on anything with a USB port. They say that the output is better for a home system than most of the very expensive high quality sound cards.

AHHH that looks like what I need!

How does it sound now vs without it and do I have to buy it off this site?

Confirm it's the green socket. Have you tried lowering all of the output levels from the computer and then adjusting the amplifier volume? In my experience the output from the computer has to be abnormally low to cut the distortion down it's still not perfect but it sounds plenty good for most ears.

If that still doesn't work you can definitely try the USB converter but that thing still converts the signal to analog through the RCA cables. I guess unless you have a D to D setup there's always going to be that loss factor.

Look into a new sound card. Your standard sound card will have problems with distotion. I made the switch from a cheapo integrated sound card, and all I can say is that i makes one hell of a difference. On my media center PC, I make the yamaha reciever the decoder. The output on the computer is set to a permenant level, and I have yet to have a problem with distortion. If you do get a new sound card, look for one with optical/coaxial outs, and one that can use an external decoder. Your problems with distortion will go away. The external USB thingy is just an external sound card.

Try to switch to itunes, as it has a farily nice EQ, and it has alot of programmabl settings to tweak.

With this "Hi-Fi LINK" it says it connects to the computers USB? How does a soundcard have a USB connection im confused here. Wouldnt it connect into the green socket which is the output for the soundcard?

That is an external dcoder. The computer feeds it raw information through the USB cable. HIFI box just decodes the information and makes it analog. That little box is the same thing as the SB sound card, but just externally. You will be back at square one. I didn't check out the specs, but if it has an optical port or some sort of undecoded output your in business. You will have an all digital connection that has a pretty much lossless connection.


However, I am just going to stick with my sound blaster audigy. It is the same thing as your hifi link box, but this is an internal card (space saving), and you have a more bang for your buck factor. Mine was like 79$ on sale.

Oh so this would even do anything since I have a sound card correct? How does this even sell? Every computer these days has a basic sound card (which is decent enough) and plays music.

It will improve you sound quality (richer music) over a basic sound card. Plus an aftermarket sound card has features like dolby digital, dts, and in my case THX. They give you features your onboard sound doesn't (like optical ins/outs, upgraded EQ's and some other stuffs). The more you pay for a card, the more the features.

Basically it looks like this:
Cheap onboard sound maybe dolby digital, probibally 2 channel sound.
Upgraded sound card. Full out 5.1-7.1 sound Dolby Digital decoder, THX, DTS.

I have two versions of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound cards. One in my notebook and the other in my carputer. They provide reasonable sound for the price and include optical out + lots of nifty features. I have yet to fine tune the audio system for the carputer but after tweeking the notebook settings I have grown to love the card.

Ok been out of high end audio for quite a while (quite).

The Aux input is expecting a non amplified signal, the output from your computer is the output from the amplified section.

I remember issue's with certain turntables (How many of you remember them, ok most of us MBers are at least past teenie) that actually had an amplified cartridge and had to be feed into amps special.