computer to amp to speakers?

[maxx103]

I was wondering if its ok to connect an ASUS Xonar Essence ST to a emotiva amp (the three channel one but will only be used for stereo) to my speakers?

 

[oppman99]

You can do this. Just be a bit careful. Volume will be controlled through the computer and if it's turned up too high, you risk damaging your speakers. If you do it, I would turn off the windows sounds and adjust the volume levels in the sound mixer. Make sure you start the computer first and turn the volume way down, then slowly raise it to the level you want to listen to.

 

[maxx103]

thanks

thanks for quick response and yah didnt think of that hhmmmm could prob find some little thing that will fix that

 

[craig7]

You can do this. Just be a bit careful. Volume will be controlled through the computer and if it's turned up too high, you risk damaging your speakers. If you do it, I would turn off the windows sounds and adjust the volume levels in the sound mixer. Make sure you start the computer first and turn the volume way down, then slowly raise it to the level you want to listen to.

thats what i do

 

[JerryLove]

If you had one of the UPA models (and it's possible you are talking about an old 3-channel I don't know the details of), I'd recommend setting the gain on the amp down to deal with the possability of a high-volume from the computer.

If it's an XPA-3, I don't think there's a control for that on the amp.

 

[Seth=L]

I was wondering if its ok to connect an ASUS Xonar Essence ST to a emotiva amp (the three channel one but will only be used for stereo) to my speakers?

You do this at a very high risk. 1/8" jacks and cables are very unstable connections and since the Emotiva is always at a fixed high gain level if the cable shorts or the connection has a grounding issue you may cause damage to your speakers or amplifier from excessive current. Have you ever heard someone pull a 1/4" TRS cable from their guitar while the guitar amplifier is still on? Imagine that, only going through your delicate tweeters should you happen to bump your cable, get tugged out of the computer, or the cable shorts. Just my opinion, but this is a recipe for disaster, not to mention the noise problems you will almost certainly have from connecting a computer to a high gain amplifier.

So simply, I'd say no. It's not worth the risk and it will probably annoy you anyway. All it takes is one time too many that you forgot a level control was up and the likelyhood of buzzing/humming being constant is extremely high.

 

[Seth=L]

thats what i do

Your situation is different because you're not only using a significantly smaller amount of power, but the device you have connected to the computer has it's own volume control. Power amplifiers (unless they have a gain control) are at the same level of output at all times (which is very high), they require a preamplifier to reduce the amount of output from the source.

 

[maxx103]

mmk

well audio cad uses analog and like i said they have a little basic pre-amp thing on parts express (really a unbalanced to balanced converter) anyway thanks for the input

 

[Hi Ho]

I use a small mixer with my PC. I leave the amp turned up for my speakers and control the volume with the mixer.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-EURORACK-UB802-Mixer?sku=631238

It's a nice little mixer and it adds a lot of flexibility. It also provides a good amount of power to headphones.

 

[Mika75]

Or even better, use a SM Pro Audio Nano Patch + Passive Volume Attenuator

The Nano Patch + really comes into its own when connected between your computer audio interface/soundcard master outputs and a pair of active (powered) monitor speakers. One of the benefits of passive volume attenuation is that you no longer have to control volumes with your software's master volume fader. Reducing levels from your software only reduces the audio bit depth. It is better to keep your software masters at unity and attenuate the audio to your active monitors with a passive controller like the Nano Patch +.

 

[maxx103]

mmk

well i rly like those but i need analog inputs and i cant tell if th eurorack has them. Is there a mini converter or somthing i know the think im looking at is a unbalanced to balanced converter but it does volume so im fine with that untill i feal like wasteing money (i would never use all the stuff on the euro rack). if you can recomend an analog eq (ill prob just find one real quick) also prefered passive thanks all