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Help with speaker setup

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doublejj0305

n00b
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
48
I currently have a Xonar DX2 soundcard and wanting to hook up a pair of Ascend CBM-170 SE BOOKSHELF MONITORS http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

I also want to hook up a sub to make it a 2.1 setup.

So what do I need to do to make this all happen. The sub is self powered (has it's own amp with coaxal out) But how do I power the speakers using the DX2.

Thanks for the input
 
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doublejj0305 said:
I currently have an Asus Xonar DX2 and a logitech 5.1 surround sound. I'm wanting to upgrade my speaker setup. This is setup at my desk. Is 5.1 still the way to go or is a good 2.1 setup better?

If I do go with an upgraded 5.1 or 2.1 setup I'm guessing I would need an external amp since the DX2 would do all the processing... correct? Do you guys have any suggestions on speakers and amps? The logitech system makes it pretty easy since the amp is located in the sub and speakers plug into it. I'm not sure how I would incorporate an external amp.
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The question is if you need 5.1 or not. If you can get by with just a 2.1 or even 2.0 setup that would be much easier. Check out the AV40's for speakers or just search this forum. There are lots of threads with tons of suggestions in them for 2.1 or 2.0 and even 5.1 setups.
 
EndersShadow said:
The question is if you need 5.1 or not. If you can get by with just a 2.1 or even 2.0 setup that would be much easier. Check out the AV40's for speakers or just search this forum. There are lots of threads with tons of suggestions in them for 2.1 or 2.0 and even 5.1 setups.
Click to expand...

Just edited my first post, forgot I have some bookshelf speakers sitting around. Thanks for the respons though!!!!
 
The sound card cannot be used to power the speakers. You will need an external amp or receiver to run them.
 
Daishiknyte said:
The sound card cannot be used to power the speakers. You will need an external amp or receiver to run them.
Click to expand...

got ya, It seems like receivers are least expensive but would a receiver bypass the DX2 sound card? Is there any cheap ~200 2 channel amps out there?

Thanks!
 
craigslist for a receiver. Cheap+amplifier=disappointment.
Try ebay, the normal places suggested in tons of threads here in the forum.
Try the search function it works sometimes. Try terms like amplifier or receiver. Your questions are not new, they have lots of coverage. Not to be a d*ck.
 
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Craigslist is not a bad place to shop around. Always ask to test what you are buying.

Receivers have a choice of bypassing the DX2 or using it based on the connectors you use. SPDIF will bypass while RCA will rely on the DX2 for the sound processing.
 
doublejj0305 said:
got ya, It seems like receivers are least expensive but would a receiver bypass the DX2 sound card? Is there any cheap ~200 2 channel amps out there?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Use analog cables to connect your sound card to your receiver. The internal DAC on a Xonar should beat out most, if not all, DACs on cheap receivers.

Stereo amps usually don't even have SPDIF so you are locked into analog cables, which is the right choice anyways. :cool:
 
Well I pulled the trigger on a Denon 1508 receiver for a decent price. When you say use analog cables to connect sound card to you receiver are they special cables meaning 3.5mm (I believe this is what they are) to RCA? With my theater setup It's just an easy coax, optical or HDMI Since I'm wanting to take advantage of the DX2 is there a specail cable or am I missing something obvious.

Thanks for the input!!!
 
Never mind about the previous questions. I just looked through my packaging an dfound the 3.5 > RCA connectors. So hooking it up via analog give full control to the Xonar to do its thing correct?
 
So let me get this straight... the denon receiver is doing nothing to decode the sound the D2X is doing all the work. I don't think this receiver comes with audissey so I really so no disadvantage to running it this way.Is there any certain setting I want to use on the receiver?
 
The receiver will be doing nothing other than taking in the signal from the sound card, boosting it, and sending it off to the speakers. Using the RCA inputs, it should be leaving everything alone.
 
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