setting up edifier m60. 'signal path' question

[mattyfez]

Heloo, just want to check something as I'm not entirely sure...

Setting up some edifier m60 active desktop speakers,on a pc but they come with a choice of inputs - USBc from the PC, to USBc on the speakers, or your normal 3.5mm input from the motherboards onboard audio.

Does using USBc bypass the motherboards audio and just use the DAC on the speakers?

Motherboard is MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI (MS-7C95) with : Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 Codec

Its a pain in the butt to rewire behind my desk each time, and I dont have a spare USBc on the back of the PC, only the ususal collection of type A of various specs so I'd have to use a type A to type C adaptor.

I guess what I'm asking is Should I just not bother and use the standard 3.5mm stereo out on the mobo?

 

[mid_gen]

Using usb-c will bypass your motherboards audio yes, it’ll be using the DAC in the speakers. I don’t know much about those speakers but their DAC is likely to be better than your motherboard so I’d probably go that route personally.

 

[mattyfez]

Thanks yeah I was thinking that... I presume using a USB a to c adapter is neither here nor there.

I can't find any decent info on the speakers amp hardware other than it's a Texas instruments something or other.. I've not been able to find a model number or anything.

 

[Rroff]

Thanks yeah I was thinking that... I presume using a USB a to c adapter is neither here nor there.

I can't find any decent info on the speakers amp hardware other than it's a Texas instruments something or other.. I've not been able to find a model number or anything.

Common chip used on consumer USB audio is the PCM2900 series which is a step behind half-decent motherboard audio but not bad.

 

[mattyfez]

Common chip used on consumer USB audio is the PCM2900 series which is a step behind half-decent motherboard audio but not bad.

Interesting, so just using 3.5mm from mobop might be better - does that tehn bypass the dac on the speakers internal amp then?

I pulled the back off but I'm non the wiser really.

 

[mattyfez]

Well got them plumbed in, seem decent so far - the bass is impressive considering the size of them but it really is overcooked and the mids sound really scooped...

Slight annoyance there's no tone knobs but there's an EQ on the smartphone app.. there's 5 or 6 preset EQs too, but they all seem to suffer from scooped mids and is doesn't show the EQ settings for the presets - so I'm going to have to set my own EQ up on the app when I'm more inclined to spend some time on it.

 

[hornetstinger]

Well got them plumbed in, seem decent so far - the bass is impressive considering the size of them but it really is overcooked and the mids sound really scooped...

Slight annoyance there's no tone knobs but there's an EQ on the smartphone app.. there's 5 or 6 preset EQs too, but they all seem to suffer from scooped mids and is doesn't show the EQ settings for the presets - so I'm going to have to set my own EQ up on the app when I'm more inclined to spend some time on it.

Good idea to find some tests for your speakers, then starting point of PEQ. Although each room is different. Better would be if you got UMIK1 measure speakers then apply PEQ yourself.

I've done that with Wiim Ultra is measurement/correction device and UMIK1, created speaker presets for the two different pairs of stereo speakers I use.

Don't use EQ presets, they're crap.

 

[hornetstinger]

Using RCA cables doesn't bypass the amp in the speakers it just bypasses the DAC. However your speaker may actually convert analogue inputs to digital regardless, so using analogue could be worse as more conversions going on.

If it has digital DSP then it would have to convert analogue to digital, for example a MINIDSP HD has to do that, and so does my av pre amp.

 

[mattyfez]

Epic fail... I forgot I was using some random internet radio site when initially testing.

It helps when using a better quality source hajaj
I'll see myself out.