is this possible?

[atb_intel]

first post!

alright so im not rly into home theaters much but i do like very bassy music from my computer/games

right now i have a logitech z2300 which has an 8'' subwoofer plugged into my computer which is in my bedroom (regualr room size). I think the system is great, but i want more bass, i want my house to shake more

i was wondering if i bought one of the Dayton 12'' economy subs if i could just plug it directly into my computer via a y splitter and rca to 3.5mm converter and have both my z2300 and the dayton plugged in at the same time for more bass. i figure the low freq filter on the dayton plate amp will keep it from playing all the freqs that are coming from the comp the same way the z2300 sends higher freqs to the sattellites and lower freqs to the sub

and for people that say that a 150$ sub will sound bad etc etc im very very satisfied with my z2300 which costs 100$ for a 2.1 system, so im sure the dayton will be even better than that for my non picky accoustic ear

so basically this is what i have in mind, i drew it out so that im sure u guys understand what i have in mind

-------------------NVM, too new to post images------------

im gona be honest ihave like no idea how amps and such work and like i know that the dayton has something called a plate amp on it but i duno much other than that so yeah just tell me if this will work and if it wont tell me why and direct me to an amp that i would need to buy or whatnot

thanks for all the help in advance guys, you have a great forum here!

 

[Haoleb]

Sound quality wise, with what you have now, and what it sounds like your needs are, sound quality shouldnt be a problem because im sure anything you buy will do what you want. The only problem you'll likely run into with hooking it up as you propose is that a computer soundcard does not output a high enough voltage to drive the sub to its full power. So there is a possiblity you would need something called a preamp in between the computer and the sub. There are soundcards that have the necessary output level but from what i have seen they are all high end models that cost a bit.

 

[atb_intel]

i thought that the sub plugged into the wall as well though, and this is where it got its power from

that's how my z2300 works for the sub and sattellites, but i guess im missing something (i really dont know what im talking about rofl)

so could you tell me what preamp would be suitable for the sub quality range im looking at?

thanks for the quick reply and all the help!

 

[Haoleb]

Yes, it plugs into the wall to get its power for the amplifier but the input signal you will be feeding it (the output from the computer) will likely not be strong enough. The standard level for that type of signal is about 2v and the output from the computer will probably be about 1/8th of that. If you were going through the trouble of getting a preamp it would almost make more sense to pick up a used stereo reciever or integrated amplifier, a cheap set of speakers and your sub.

 

[WmAx]

If you have a voltage DMM meter, hook up a cable to the soundcard output and play a sine wave, say at 60-100Hz and turn up the computer volume and see what AC voltage value you register.

Here is a simple freeware function generator that you can use to produce user defined sine waves: http://www.marchandelec.com/ftp/fg_lite.exe

-Chris

 

[atb_intel]

a voltage ddm meter is that thing that you use to see if there is a current in an outlet or if a battery still has some voltage to it right?

if so i have one of those, but where exactly would i put the two nodes?

 

[WmAx]

a voltage ddm meter is that thing that you use to see if there is a current in an outlet or if a battery still has some voltage to it right?

if so i have one of those, but where exactly would i put the two nodes?

Yes, it is a meter and it registers AC volts. The DMM type is digital readout. There are also old analog style units with a needle indicator that points to the values.

You could cut an old headphone cable to a scrap pair of headphones and contact the nodes to the outer shield brade and one of the inner live wires. Or use a male to male stereo extension cable that fits the jack and measure the other end of the jack. Or if you have one of those mini jack to RCA stereo adapter Y cables - this will work also. Just measure one of the RCA plug ends - one node to inner conductor and one node to outer shield.

If you can get at least 1 volt AC output, then it should be enough for the Dayton subwoofer, I would think.

-Chris

 

[Alex2507]

Here is a simple freeware function generator that you can use to produce user defined sine waves: http://www.marchandelec.com/ftp/fg_lite.exe

-Chris

That is a very cool toy. I'm not sure what I would do with it but I definitely like it. Thanks.

 

[Alex2507]

I figured out that I could use it to level match my computer speakers and use it to
set the cheesy EQ on my Realtek thingy that came with my computer.

I also figured out that I want new computer speakers real bad.

I've got some sort of sound card coming that Adam reccommended
(right before offering to sell me navel lint).
More on this later.

I'm blubbering because of the new toy I just shot my morning with.
Back to the topic at hand. Thanks again.

 

[atb_intel]

im gona go with the rca cable method

what should the rigth and left amplitude be set to?

 

[atb_intel]

ok sorry to double post but i cant find the edit button

so i ran the test at 0db for left/right amplitude and the volts for AC read just above 0V, but i have no idea how much it is because my analog voltometer starts at -20 volts when nothing is going on and the next tickmark above zero is 8V and the 0 and 8 are pretty close

im guessing its around .5V-1V, but that is a very very rough guess

and after doing some research it looks like 2V is the max for a sound card, and that while onboard does not produce that sound any sound card put into a 12V pci slot will

so yeah i think im gona get the sub, and hope for the best
if its not getting enough power ill buy a new sound card (ive been meaning to get one anyway, just trying to put it off for a bit)

and if for some reason that still messes up ill just set the sub up downstairs with our cheapo home theater system that sounds kickass for the average human being

thanks for all the help guys!