How to connect monitors to sound card?

Craterloads · 20 May 2012 at 12:53

Hey, struggling a bit on how to connect my speakers to the sound card as they dont share a common input i think. (sorry complete noob at this)

Sound card and speakers are: -

Asrock Creative Recon3D
Focal CMS 40 Monitors

Here are the inputs:

SMed · 20 May 2012 at 13:01

Looks like you may need some 3.5mm to XLR cables.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=yNy4T7LyA-jS0QWl7NnZBw&ved=0CMEBEPICMAI

Craterloads · 20 May 2012 at 13:05

what about rca?

will i loose sound quality using adapter cables?

SMed · 20 May 2012 at 13:15

Oh yeah, you could use 3.5mm to RCA as well.

Well, XLR would be best to use as it's a balanced audio signal, but only if it were proper XLR to XLR. You don't have that option from your sound card without going digital out to another intermediary device.

Just get a good quality cable and that will be the best you can do. I seriously doubt you could hear any difference at all, if there even was one.

Craterloads · 20 May 2012 at 13:26

ok so can i just use two 3.5mm to RCA adapters. No point buying a full cable as have good quality RCA cables with the speakers?

Ripshod · 20 May 2012 at 14:32

Better buying a single 3.5mm stereo to 2xRCA cable as the 3.5mm (1/8inch) outputs are stereo. Depending how far apart the speakers are you can either split the lead or buy RCA extensions. No real benefit using the XLR as the sound card outputs are inferior (and a lot of messing with adapters/converters).

ukSleek · 20 May 2012 at 22:16

Or get a 3.5mm Stereo Mini Jack to 2x Neutrik XLR Female Audio Lead.

AtaRo · 20 May 2012 at 22:27

ukSleek said:
Or get a 3.5mm Stereo Mini Jack to 2x Neutrik XLR Female Audio Lead.

There is no advantage in going XLR as the source is unbalance anyway its best for the OP to just use 3.5 to RCA.

Thomss · 20 May 2012 at 22:32

weird combo dude!
Get either a HOSA CMR210 which is a dual phone to 3.5mm jack, or a pro audio audio interface which will often have balanced jack outputs and then you can use balanced jack to make XLR.

Nice monitors btw, I sold a few pairs of Focal's last week at my shop.

Craterloads · 21 May 2012 at 15:13

Got them up and running, bit of a cowboy job for the time being. Using a really cheap 3.5mm jack to jack cable, then into a rca to 3.5mm adapter and then into the rca cables!

They do sound awesome, very punchy/crisp but bass is lacking a little. WOndering if id be better with a 2.1 system as will be for gaming and listening to music.