Getting an X-Fi. Need help with Sound System

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 17:42

Hi there.

I ordered an X-Fi Xtreme Music card today, but i'm now a tad confused how to connect it to my sound system (Technics SH-EH780). Atm, i just have a Soundblaster Live! with one audio cable coming from the stereo output to the sound system and connected to the R + L Aux channels -

I just downloaded the X-Fi manual now, since i'm getting the OEM version, and it has some diagrams showing how to connect to different sound systems. This is when i'm confused, it's a pretty decent sound system, it has 1 centre speaker, 1 left rear, 1 right rear, front left and right speakers currently connected to the sound system through these sockets -

The 5.1 diagram in the X-Fi manual says to connect it like this-

I'm just really unsure what to connect where, and what cables i would need. I was just going to connect it like i currently do and use Dolby Pro-Logic, but if i can get better sound by buying some new audio cables i may aswel.

Hope someone can tell me what i can do (if anything).

Thanx

Dr.EM · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:07

You need three 2xphono to 3.5mm minijack cables. Take one from the front card output (green) and connect it to front L and R in the "DVD 6ch INPUT". Another from the rear output (black) to the sorround L and R in the "DVD 6ch INPUT" box. The last from rear/centre (yellow) card output to the centre and subwoofer connectors in the 6ch input box. Unforunately, I don't know which is which here (red to centre or red to sub), so I guess try it and if it sounds wrong, swap it

EDIT; Picture worth thousand words etc..

Cables look like this, minus the gold adapter. They are also used to connect ipods to hi-fi's etc

squiffy · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:14

Are you sure those connectors next to the speaker clamps are inputs and not outputs? You have the 5.1 input on your amp (to the far right) which you should use, however be aware this could be direct path so the amp volume won't control the master. The soundcard will (basically amp acting like a poweramp) It depends on how your amp is wired, some 5.1 inputs are direct, others have 5.1 through the multi-channel pre-amp.

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:17

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure what you mean here -"I don't know which is which here (red to centre or red to sub)" could you explain for an audio noob please

Also, i found THIS on the Creative website. It has 8 RCA connectors though. I guess this is only for 7.1 audio maybe and i only need (have) 6 RCA connectors in the rear of my sound system?

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:24

squiffy said:
Are you sure those connectors next to the speaker clamps are inputs and not outputs? You have the 5.1 input on your amp (to the far right) which you should use, however be aware this could be direct path so the amp volume won't control the master. The soundcard will (basically amp acting like a poweramp) It depends on how your amp is wired, some 5.1 inputs are direct, others have 5.1 through the multi-channel pre-amp.

Wow that's confusing. I've read it 5 times now and it hasn't sunk in yet.

Dr.EM · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:24

Just not sure if creative cards output the centre channel to the red plug on the cable, or to the white one. I expect it will be evident if it is wrong so can be swapped easily, unless someone else here knows for sure.

The creative cable is odd, it has 4 banded 3.5mm plugs. It would probably work if you excluded the plugs you can't utilise, but i'm not certain.

EDIT; What squiffy says is that the volume control on your amp may not work when wired up this way, and you'll only be able to control the level via the soundcard. I reccomend a test. Join the cables currently connected to your aux in to the 6ch in front connectors. You may need to change the amp input from aux. Then see if the volume knob has an effect

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:32

Dr.EM said:
I reccomend a test. Join the cables currently connected to your aux in to the 6ch in front connectors. You may need to change the amp input from aux. Then see if the volume knob has an effect

Ok, i've just tried this now. The volume control on the soundsystem works. The front 2 speakers and the 2 rear speakers are outputting, but the centre speaker isn't.

squiffy · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:38

hmm looks like those RCA connectors next to the speaker terminals are high level? :confused:

But you will need to take the 5.1 outputs from your soundcard to the 5.1 input on your amp, top right of the first picture. Before you switch the amp on plug a pre-amp output into the left & right 5.1 input. Reduce volume on the amp and source. Slowly increase both. Now when you hear something, adjust volume on the amp itself. If it changes that means the master control 5.1 input. That means it's safe to send line-level (100% volume) to the 5.1 input.

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:41

Thanx for the help guys.

Squiffy, when you say "pre-amp output" what do you mean exactly?

squiffy · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:45

RichieUK said:
Thanx for the help guys.

Squiffy, when you say "pre-amp output" what do you mean exactly?

A device that has variable level output. Headphone output for example (although this isn't true line level as it's meant for phones) the level is adjustable.

Dr.EM · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:46

RichieUK said:
Ok, i've just tried this now. The volume control on the soundsystem works. The front 2 speakers and the 2 rear speakers are outputting, but the centre speaker isn't.

I'm not actually sure why the rear speakers are outputting :confused:

. I'm only expecting the fronts to do anything with only the front inputs connected. Mabye you have the amp set in an upmix mode where it outputs to the rewar as well. Good that the volume seems to work though.

Squiffy, yes the rears and centre are apparently connected by phono connectors. I'd just ignore that pic, its just for the speakers.

RichieUK · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:54

Dr.EM said:
I'm not actually sure why the rear speakers are outputting . I'm only expecting the fronts to do anything with only the front inputs connected. Mabye you have the amp set in an upmix mode where it outputs to the rewar as well. Good that the volume seems to work though.

Ive just tested it again, and yeah, the soundsystem has options for 'Virtual Rear Surround' and 'Multi Rear Surround' i suppose that's the upmix mode you said because when i deselect both of them there is no output from the surround speakers at all, only the L+R speakers.

So all in all if i buy the 3 cables Dr.EM suggested it will be ok?

RichieUK · 19 Oct 2006 at 10:13

Thanx to the poeple that helped me.

I got the soundcard yesterday along with 3 3.5m to phono leads. I set everything up but it didn't sound too good, after an hour or so of trying to figure it out i just hooked it back up to the AUX stereo channel and decided to try again when i had more patience.

So this morning i uninstalled/drivecleaned all Creative software from my computer, and reseated the card in the PCi slot. I installed the drivers and software again and went through ALL the options, and now it sounds great. Even MP3s sound much better quality especially with the surround sound. DVDs are the same, sound much, much better.

I guess i just needed to go through all the options and set it up properly instead of expecting it to sound great straight out of the box. It is a bit of a leap though to go from a SoundBlaster Live! value card with stereo sound to a surround sound system with a ton op options and configurations.

But a happy ending anyway.

Thanx for your help guys