Speaker configuration

[Dioneyesos]

Hi, I have a bit of a struggle and can't seem to find it out for myself. I have a total of 5 speakers and a subwoofer, they're not the same in any way but I would like them to run in 5.1 surround. I know this should be possible, I just have one small issue getting it working. In Windows the center en subwoofer channel are one and the same jack. I would need 2 separate jacks to get it working because of how my speakers need to be connected. 

Now for the question, is there a sound card or software utility that will let me configure each jack to a single channel instead of combining center and subwoofer? I have searched but I couldn't find anything that will surely work. I would hate to spend money on something that will not solve my problem.

Thanks in advance!

[mariushm]

Buy stereo to mono adapters or extensions, buy stereo jack to rca etc etc

 

example :

stereo to 2 x rca  : https://www.amazon.de/Stereo-Adapter-Klinkenstecker-Buchsen-Female/dp/B00DT083CA/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=stereo+to+rca&qid=1554202434&s=gateway&sr=8-4

 

 

stereo to 2 x mono : https://www.amazon.de/BestPlug-Verteiler-Splitter-männlich-Kupplung/dp/B00404GLUA/ref=sr_1_20?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=stereo+to+mono&qid=1554202548&s=gateway&sr=8-20

 

 

you can also buy regular stereo jacks and simply solder wires to them, or you could simply buy a stereo to 2 x RCA and cut the RCA jacks to solder or connect the wires from your speakers directly. Or you could buy RCA male jacks (the ones with pin in the center) and connect the speaker wires to the RCA plugs

 

RCA male plugs: https://www.amazon.de/Zanasta®-hochwertige-schraubbar-vergoldete-Kontakte/dp/B071X72Y6G/

 

 

Also usually in the application that comes with your sound card you can select what each jack can do, its role. FOr example on my Realtek card I can double click on the jacks on the right side and then I can select what that jack should be :

 

 

Your application may be different, most likely, but should have some way of forcing a jack to have some role.

 

 

PS. DO note that the sound card of your computer is not powerful enough to drive big speakers by its own... it can only do let's say less than 1w. You actually would need a 5.1 audio amplifier and you'd have to connect the passive speakers to the audio amplifier.

 

[Dioneyesos]

Thanks for your reply. First of all I'm not running any speakers directly off the sound card on the motherboard. My left and right front speakers have a build in amplifier, my center speaker is an JBL Bluetooth speaker and for the rear speakers I'm using an old (1994) Kenwood A58 amp with 2 speakers. So no worries on that. 

I checked the software for configuration but that's where I got stuck because the only options I have are: Front (L/R), Rear (L/R), Side (L/R) and Center/Subwoofer. But could I run one of those adapters from the center/subwoofer channel and use mono cables to connect the sub and the JBL. And won't the JBL try to do the part of the sub because usually that speaker has to do all the speakers including the sub. If I hook everything up in 2.1 and try a subwoofer test the JBL starts moving because it's vibrating so much... That's why I want to have some software or hardware where I can configure exactly which channel should carry which sound signals. Also, yes my Kenwood amp has surround options but it's very old and when I connect the JBL or Front speakers to it they are very loud in comparison to the Kenwood speakers and there is no way of changing individual speaker outputs on that amp. I'm don't really wanna have to buy a new amp as long as this one is working fine with the original speakers I got with it.

[Derkoli]

5 hours ago, Dioneyesos said:

Thanks for your reply. First of all I'm not running any speakers directly off the sound card on the motherboard. My left and right front speakers have a build in amplifier, my center speaker is an JBL Bluetooth speaker and for the rear speakers I'm using an old (1994) Kenwood A58 amp with 2 speakers. So no worries on that. 

I checked the software for configuration but that's where I got stuck because the only options I have are: Front (L/R), Rear (L/R), Side (L/R) and Center/Subwoofer. But could I run one of those adapters from the center/subwoofer channel and use mono cables to connect the sub and the JBL. And won't the JBL try to do the part of the sub because usually that speaker has to do all the speakers including the sub. If I hook everything up in 2.1 and try a subwoofer test the JBL starts moving because it's vibrating so much... That's why I want to have some software or hardware where I can configure exactly which channel should carry which sound signals. Also, yes my Kenwood amp has surround options but it's very old and when I connect the JBL or Front speakers to it they are very loud in comparison to the Kenwood speakers and there is no way of changing individual speaker outputs on that amp. I'm don't really wanna have to buy a new amp as long as this one is working fine with the original speakers I got with it.

Using the adapters would work, as windows will only send the mids and highs to the centre, (as the sub takes care of bass.)

[Dioneyesos]

11 hours ago, Derkoli said:

Using the adapters would work, as windows will only send the mids and highs to the centre, (as the sub takes care of bass.)

Allright, thanks a lot. I will try this as soon as I have time!

[Dioneyesos]

16 hours ago, Derkoli said:

Using the adapters would work, as windows will only send the mids and highs to the centre, (as the sub takes care of bass.)

I was thinking about it and I kinda ran in to an dilemma. I can connect my amp and rear speakers with a 3.5 jack to rca no problem, that's how it works now. I can connect the subwoofer either to the amp but I don't know how it will handel it compared to using a mono 3.5 jack to rca adapter in a jack splitter so I can also connect the center speaker to it. Center speaker won't be a problem because it has 3.5 jack input so I can just take one of the cables I already have and connect with that.

Now the thing I'm having trouble figuring out is this. To connect my front speakers I can either use 6.3 jack or xlr. I would say the 6.3 jack is the easiest out of the two. The speakers have 2 inputs total, so a left and right I guess. Only got them delivered yesterday and I haven't had time to play around with them. Correct me if I'm wrong but to get that working I need to split the 3.5 jack to two 6.3 mono's. Would it be easier to go to rca first (adapters are really cheap) and from the two rca to two 6.3 jacks? And would it matter if it's a cable with the correct plugs or if it's a jack cable that I plug in to two jack to rca adapters? Or should I do something completely different? If so, please let me know

 

 

[Derkoli]

5 hours ago, Dioneyesos said:

I was thinking about it and I kinda ran in to an dilemma. I can connect my amp and rear speakers with a 3.5 jack to rca no problem, that's how it works now. I can connect the subwoofer either to the amp but I don't know how it will handel it compared to using a mono 3.5 jack to rca adapter in a jack splitter so I can also connect the center speaker to it. Center speaker won't be a problem because it has 3.5 jack input so I can just take one of the cables I already have and connect with that.

Now the thing I'm having trouble figuring out is this. To connect my front speakers I can either use 6.3 jack or xlr. I would say the 6.3 jack is the easiest out of the two. The speakers have 2 inputs total, so a left and right I guess. Only got them delivered yesterday and I haven't had time to play around with them. Correct me if I'm wrong but to get that working I need to split the 3.5 jack to two 6.3 mono's. Would it be easier to go to rca first (adapters are really cheap) and from the two rca to two 6.3 jacks? And would it matter if it's a cable with the correct plugs or if it's a jack cable that I plug in to two jack to rca adapters? Or should I do something completely different? If so, please let me know

 

 

Its fine too connect two adapters in series, whatever is cheaper i would do. and most likely if its two 6mm's in, its probably L and R, studio gear generally has two mono jacks for lots of things.

[Dioneyesos]

Okay Thanks a lot. I'm probably going to order this tomorrow so I can try it this weekend. 

[Dioneyesos]

On 4/3/2019 at 5:32 PM, Derkoli said:

Its fine too connect two adapters in series, whatever is cheaper i would do. and most likely if its two 6mm's in, its probably L and R, studio gear generally has two mono jacks for lots of things.

I got the cables and tried it out. I'm not really all that happy with the result though.

My main speakers get a lot of noise while there shouldn't be any. If I plug them in to a phone the noise goes away but not when I plug it in to the computer, it only changes then. So I was thinking that that's computer noise, probably fixed with a sound card (usb or pci-e?). But I'm not sure so would it?  

and the the sub isn't getting any signal if I use a splitter to the center speaker. Not that I think it's the splitter because if I just plug in the subwoofer and not the center speaker (so without the splitter) it doesn't get subwoofer audio, it gets center speaker audio which it can't reproduce because it only goes to like 80Hz... Could this also be fixed with a sound card? 

I really need your help guys... I know a bit about this but not enough to get this working properly.

I tried connecting the main speakers to my amp but that doesn't do anything, they just don't get any signal and because of that I think the amp only works with surround via CD or something. It also doesn't have more inputs than left and right so I didn't really have any hope for that

If my problem would be fixable with a sound card, would it matter if it's a usb or a pci-e card? Obviously I need to get one that supports 5.1 surround, anything else I should look for?

[Derkoli]

1 hour ago, Dioneyesos said:

I got the cables and tried it out. I'm not really all that happy with the result though.

My main speakers get a lot of noise while there shouldn't be any. If I plug them in to a phone the noise goes away but not when I plug it in to the computer, it only changes then. So I was thinking that that's computer noise, probably fixed with a sound card (usb or pci-e?). But I'm not sure so would it?  

and the the sub isn't getting any signal if I use a splitter to the center speaker. Not that I think it's the splitter because if I just plug in the subwoofer and not the center speaker (so without the splitter) it doesn't get subwoofer audio, it gets center speaker audio which it can't reproduce because it only goes to like 80Hz... Could this also be fixed with a sound card? 

I really need your help guys... I know a bit about this but not enough to get this working properly.

I tried connecting the main speakers to my amp but that doesn't do anything, they just don't get any signal and because of that I think the amp only works with surround via CD or something. It also doesn't have more inputs than left and right so I didn't really have any hope for that

If my problem would be fixable with a sound card, would it matter if it's a usb or a pci-e card? Obviously I need to get one that supports 5.1 surround, anything else I should look for?

I would go for an external sound card, its inside the pc where there is lots of interference. The sound card would help with the noise a great deal, audio gear is VERY sensitive to interference.

[Dioneyesos]

Just now, Derkoli said:

I would go for an external sound card, its inside the pc where there is lots of interference. The sound card would help with the noise a great deal, audio gear is VERY sensitive to interference.

Yea I'm aware. So I should go for something USB or does it not matter if it's USB or PCI-e?

Thanks for you quick respons btw 

[Derkoli]

Just now, Dioneyesos said:

Yea I'm aware. So I should go for something USB or does it not matter if it's USB or PCI-e?

Thanks for you quick respons btw 

a PCI-e one might not fix the issue, so i would go for a USB one. back when i had one, i used this one: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=creative+sound+card&qid=1554494849&s=gateway&sr=8-9

[Dioneyesos]

1 minute ago, Derkoli said:

a PCI-e one might not fix the issue, so i would go for a USB one. back when i had one, i used this one: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=creative+sound+card&qid=1554494849&s=gateway&sr=8-9

And this works with sub/center over one output? because as of right now, it doesn't...

[Derkoli]

Just now, Dioneyesos said:

And this works with sub/center over one output? because as of right now, it doesn't...

You can set lots of different options up. When you get it, ill get my old creative sound card and walk you through it.

[Dioneyesos]

9 minutes ago, Derkoli said:

You can set lots of different options up. When you get it, ill get my old creative sound card and walk you through it.

okay thanks a lot. I'm going to order it right now, should get deliverd tomorrow

[Derkoli]

1 minute ago, Dioneyesos said:

okay thanks a lot. I'm going to order it right now, should get deliverd tomorrow

Awesome. I should be on tomorrow at around 4 ish (uk time) so you could message me, or ill check back here?

[Dioneyesos]

1 minute ago, Derkoli said:

Awesome. I should be on tomorrow at around 4 ish (uk time) so you could message me, or ill check back here?

I'll send you a pm when I get it in. I'm in the Netherlands so time difference shouldn't be much. Thanks a lot man

[Derkoli]

Just now, Dioneyesos said:

I'll send you a pm when I get it in. I'm in the Netherlands so time difference shouldn't be much. Thanks a lot man

Np. happy to help