Port setup on the AE-5

tintin82

tintin82

tintin82

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Joined
27 Aug 2009
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712
Hi Folks,

Currently I am using on board audio ALC1150 and have both my SP 2500 speakers and headphones connected through the rear green line out port (using a splitter). Doing this as apparently its not advisable to use the front headphone port on my case.

I am looking at the new Soundblaster AE5. Would I carry on with this set up or is there separate ports for headphones and speakers. I had a look at the pics and there appears to be, however I can find little info on where to plug the SP2500 cable into, would it be the headphone socket as my current setup?

Unsure of if the AE5 would be a big difference to my current on board although the reviews look impressive.
 
Using a splitter is not ideal as it alters impedance. You can reassign ports with Realtek audio; you don't have to use green for both stereo speakers and headphones. Just plug speakers or headphones into one of the unused ports and select the desired option when the pop up box appears asking what you just connected.

Having said that, a sound card might be of some benefit. Most new sound cards have a separate headphone socket as well as speakers. Not overly familiar with the AE5, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't.

Depending on what headphones you have and whether you need a good headphone amp, there's probably no need to consider the AE5. Not really sure why Creative released it, other than as some kind of disco light show in a PC case slash sound card. Sound blaster Z will do the job for considerably less if you go for the OEM version.
 
Thanks for all this info, just what I was looking for.

So I ditched the splitter and have it set up as you suggested through another port, however the volume is not as powerful as through the main Line out (not to worry, its loud enough).

I went and got the AE 5 and will report back how I get on. I am hoping there is a quick way to switch between the outputs as that Z switcher looks ace.

Downloaded and played with Rightmark Analyser, my current on board sound results below.

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB+0.30, +0.13 Very good
Noise level, dB (A)-99.2 Excellent
Dynamic range, dB (A)100.0 Excellent
THD, %0.011 Good
THD + Noise, dB (A)-76.4 Average
IMD + Noise, %0.016 Very good
Stereo crosstalk, dB-95.2 Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, %0.013 Very good
General performance Very good
 
Not impressed with the AE 5 unfortunately. Maybe its just my ears just not tuned right, or my SP2500's are not up to it, be the difference is hardly noticeable. I spent a few hrs switching back and forth from my on board sound to the AE5. Maybe the very slightest of more sharpness present, or maybe that is the placebo effect, but certainly not enough to be happy for spending £130 on it.
 
Well, unless implementation is too cheap/flawed there simply shouldn't be much of real hearable differences between better Realteks and separate sound cards.
Difference is in other features, and useful for gaming binaural-simulation.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html

Though obviously headphones/speakers can also make hearing differences harder.


Marsman said:
Not really sure why Creative released it, other than as some kind of disco light show in a PC case slash sound card.
Click to expand...
Likely exactly because of that fashion.
Both with lights and that fashionable Sabre DAC.
Though headphone output might be the strongerst one available from sound cards.
 
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