BF2S Forums Need DAC/External Audio Card

Bevo wrote:

Morpheus wrote:

If you REALLY want to know that this will put you in the right direction, you could try and simply un-plug the laptop's power cord, if the noise goes away is indeed something along that line, most likely a ground issue.

I've only said about 4 times that when I pull the AC power cord, the screeching goes away.



The hum however is independent of even an audio source.

ah, whoops, lol, missed that when re-reading
then yea, it's probably a good chance this will fix that problem. The hum could be a cable issue, try the cross-plugging I mentioned earlier... or simply making sure they're all connected tightly (I've had that one before.)

also, I know (read: done it before) to make 3.5mm -> XLR cables.

yea that would work, lol. but if you already have the 1/8" to rca, why not make it 1/8" to xlr?
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MXLRconn/

Bevo wrote:

Morpheus wrote:

yea that would work, lol. but if you already have the 1/8" to rca, why not make it 1/8" to xlr?
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MXLRconn/

Probably because I'm using a cheap ass $3 RCA wire and already have XLR cables

Wouldn't 2 XLR cables to what I posted be, uh, better?

ed: Obv all that length would go to waste, a small adapter would be best (and cheaper).

oh, well, yea. You'd need two of those XLR adapters... one to replace each RCA... and yes, if you have to go unbalanced (even tough you are going to XLR it's still unbalanced because of the 1/8") it's best to be as short as possible, and away from any possible interference (i.e. power lines, etc)

Bevo wrote:

So my cables are going to be unbalanced no matter what as long as I'm using a 1/8 into my laptop?

Would a cheap-o USB DAC be an ok way to switch to balanced?

well, unbalanced cables are not a problem in-and-of themselves. they are more susceptible to interference, thus making them less-than-ideal for 'longer' cable runs.
Basically, what I want to say is your system is only as good as your lowest-quality part... if you have good cables but a shit interface, you'll still have a shit system. If you have a decent interface, with decent cables, you'll have a decent system. Unless you know for sure the cables are bad, it's probably not worth it to change them.

Adapters are no good. Temporary solution. You should get a RCA to XLR cable if you need to.

Morpheus wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Adapters are no good. Temporary solution.

which is how I told him to use it

You should get a RCA to XLR cable if you need to.

...explain how that's better?

You said get an adapter didn't you? I said ditch the adapter and get only 1 pair of cables without any adaptors.

I think you are going about this all wrong with the XLR cables and this and that with various adapters.

Get something simple like this - a USB powered DAC with a simple RCA output - and then a pair of RCA/phono audio interconnects. Run one from the left RCA out to the left speaker, and one from the right RCA out to the right speaker.

Done.

mcminty wrote:

I think you are going about this all wrong with the XLR cables and this and that with various adapters.

Get something simple like this - a USB powered DAC with a simple RCA output - and then a pair of RCA/phono audio interconnects. Run one from the left RCA out to the left speaker, and one from the right RCA out to the right speaker.

Done.

Or, if the issue is the power, he could just use a 3.5mm ->RCA/XLR/TS/Whatever...

The point is to actually figure out the problem, and then apply the most appropriate solution.

mcminty wrote:

But he has tried everything possible with the power....

Not yet. He said he's gonna try the ground adapter.

Bevo wrote:

ed: House minty? This guy lives in a shitty apartment

Well.. that could be the cause of the shit power lol.

Ho-Kay! Thanks to a slightly crazy grandmother who thinks everyone needs more food and money, my budget has expanded.

Gooners is getting an e-mu 0404 usb sound card - is this a good choice?

Bevo wrote:

Ho-Kay! Thanks to a slightly crazy grandmother who thinks everyone needs more food and money, my budget has expanded.

Gooners is getting an e-mu 0404 usb sound card - is this a good choice?

soundcard is alright for a low-end solution. better than not having one, put it that way. it'll do just fine for most casual applications.

btw i sympathise with audio impurities with "dirty electricity". a poorly grounded house-mains supply will wreak havoc on highly-sensitive audio equipment. my perfect-tone valve guitar amplifier will hiss, screech, spit and hum all day long if i plug it into a shitty supply at a shitty location.