Recommendations for computer speakers

[Shahmatt]

Subwoofer won't care. Your soundcard however will.

It will make sound, but at a reduced volume before clipping, and you will also have no bass.

Thanks. How do I amend the setup to get it to work? I guess I will need an amp?

 

[networked]

Anyone has solutions for speaker pop sound after a song?.
Tried cleaning the cables. Plug and unplugged

Using swans m10

 

[Entry Level PC]

Anyone has solutions for speaker pop sound after a song?.
Tried cleaning the cables. Plug and unplugged

Using swans m10

Usually Power Plug or 3.5mm Cable.

 

[wwenze]

Thanks. How do I amend the setup to get it to work? I guess I will need an amp?

Yes, amp.

Anyone has solutions for speaker pop sound after a song?.
Tried cleaning the cables. Plug and unplugged

Using swans m10

Pop sound after a song is due to your sound card or DAC having some kind of standby mode after a song.

 

[tsteo77]

Thanks. How do I amend the setup to get it to work? I guess I will need an amp?

For fuller audio output of your speaker setup, get a soundcard with rca output then get an a/v amp with
passive sub output. Using 3.5mm cable will sound miniature.

 

[tsteo77]

Anyone has solutions for speaker pop sound after a song?.
Tried cleaning the cables. Plug and unplugged

Using swans m10

Does the pop sound occur on Games, CDs or media playback or all ?

Yes, amp.



Pop sound after a song is due to your sound card or DAC having some kind of standby mode after a song.

Does soundcard/DAC have stand by mode after every song ?

 

[Shahmatt]

For fuller audio output of your speaker setup, get a soundcard with rca output then get an a/v amp with
passive sub output. Using 3.5mm cable will sound miniature.

I have an old Go-Vibe USB DAC which still works.

Do you have any recommendations for amp?

 

[Shahmatt]

Currently the sub is plugged directly to the motherboard. Curious to understand how the pc motherboard can drive a 20 kOhm subwoofer. Is there something I am missing?

 

[tsteo77]

I have an old Go-Vibe USB DAC which still works.

Do you have any recommendations for amp?

This Denon-PMA600NEBKE2 2.1 Amplifier is quite good but you need a step down transformer for it.

Currently the sub is plugged directly to the motherboard. Curious to understand how the pc motherboard can drive a 20 kOhm subwoofer. Is there something I am missing?

Your onboard sound only provide line level output, it's the subwoofer's amp that drive it.

 

[wwenze]

The higher the ohms, the easier to drive

 

[Shahmatt]

This Denon-PMA600NEBKE2 2.1 Amplifier is quite good but you need a step down transformer for it.


Your onboard sound only provide line level output, it's the subwoofer's amp that drive it.

This is too expensive. I only want to try using audio exciters (like Dayton, Aiyima etc.) to see if I can DIY some hanging wall speakers or use my PC table as a speaker. It's to save table space and maybe satisfy my curiosity. Speakers may be around 30USD.

The higher the ohms, the easier to drive

I see. I read somewhere there is an upper limit to impedance to what the PC can drive (600 Ohms). So I assumed that there might be a low bar to the current. I guess not. Sorry I last did electronics in schools, trying to remember the rulesL V=IR, P = V^2R and so on.

So in my original setup the sub would be completely ignored, i.e. no current at all passing through, therefore no bass. It is as though only the speakers would be present. I could revert to my current setup whereby the sub and the speakers are independently connected.

One youtuber i found says that PC motherboards can tolerate 8 Ohm speakers, but 4 Ohms is too much. Since these exciters use material resonance to amplify the sound, they are relatively low powered: 15 to 25W.

 

[Shahmatt]

For fuller audio output of your speaker setup, get a soundcard with rca output then get an a/v amp with
passive sub output. Using 3.5mm cable will sound miniature.

Just to check. Plug in active sub to passive sub output can damage the sub?

 

[wwenze]

I read somewhere there is an upper limit to impedance to what the PC can drive (600 Ohms).

This kind of idea spreads due to the "copy and paste first answer on Google without actually reading the webpage or context" effect.

People are often talking about high-impedance headphones which need high output voltage. And 600ohm is one standard impedance for high-impedance headphones. And the computer soundcard is often unable to provide enough voltage. So the statement often gets corrupted into "soundcards can't drive 600ohm headphones" when the correct statement should be "soundcards can't drive headphones with low voltage sensitivity". Sensitivity, btw, is how loud your speaker gets at a specific voltage.

Typical active speakers have input impedance of 10k or higher.

So in my original setup the sub would be completely ignored, i.e. no current at all passing through, therefore no bass. It is as though only the speakers would be present. I could revert to my current setup whereby the sub and the speakers are independently connected.

Passive speakers have pretty good voltage sensitivity btw. It literally says in their specifications: 85dB (example) @ 2.83Vrms. With the 2Vrms that a computer soundcard can output, this is sufficient to sound like a dishwasher. To get the same amount of voltage sensitivity, your active speaker or subwoofer would need to be turned up to near max volume. Try it and see if the volume you get balances out.

I've used headphone amps to power speakers too.

The soundcard or headphone amp's ability to output voltage is not a problem. The ability to output current is.

Now, if you're thinking of Ohm's law, and how current and voltage relationship must obey Ohm's law, you're correct. So when an amplifier cannot supply enough voltage or current? It also stops supplying the current or voltage so that Ohm's law is preserved. Hence, it clips, or distorts. Since soundcards have low output current, the max voltage it can supply into speakers before distorting is also low, and follows Ohm's law. You can still get a comfortable 50-60dB out of it in most cases, although at elevated distortions (Not due to clipping but rather due to the lowered impedance, but that's a story for another day.)

BTW a stereo amp can be bought for less than $100.

 

[i1magic]

Lol number tombaleg lah. hahaha. I got mine from a shop in sls when they were having a promo in July this year. It was going on for 180 or 189 or 199 i cannot remember. Now they are selling it for 259 thereabouts. I know it was below the prices other shops were selling it for by quite abit back then. Really loved the bass!

I also got it at the special price. Lowest that I have seen so far. I got it because of the RGB lighting. LOL!

But luckily, Logitech last few updates did improved the sound quality. Yes, the bass is tok gong.

 

[tsteo77]

Just to check. Plug in active sub to passive sub output can damage the sub?

The amp in active subwoofer are tailored for it's woofer speaker. Passive subwoofer have difference power and ohms rating, therefore can either damage the built in amp or passive woofer. Is there any active subwoofer that has connection for a passive sub ?
Some active subwoofer has speaker out, it only has limited power for a mid/high frequency speakers.

 

[Shahmatt]

The amp in active subwoofer are tailored for it's woofer speaker. Passive subwoofer have difference power and ohms rating, therefore can either damage the built in amp or passive woofer. Is there any active subwoofer that has connection for a passive sub ?
Some active subwoofer has speaker out, it only has limited power for a mid/high frequency speakers.

I found the model in link which can be setup to drive passive speakers and active sub:
https://fosiaudio.com/products/bt30...-power-amplifier-with-bass-and-treble-control

 

[wwenze]

You can also go aliexpress for this brand. Makes handling logistics easier.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...38-1&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000025483196649"}
Here's one from Aiyima in case you want a brand that has been tried and tested by AudioScienceReview

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...2-29&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000023998397454"}

 

[tsteo77]

I found the model in link which can be setup to drive passive speakers and active sub:
https://fosiaudio.com/products/bt30...-power-amplifier-with-bass-and-treble-control

Great , be sure to check does it's speaker output impendence match yours.

 

[Shahmatt]

This kind of idea spreads due to the "copy and paste first answer on Google without actually reading the webpage or context" effect.

People are often talking about high-impedance headphones which need high output voltage. And 600ohm is one standard impedance for high-impedance headphones. And the computer soundcard is often unable to provide enough voltage. So the statement often gets corrupted into "soundcards can't drive 600ohm headphones" when the correct statement should be "soundcards can't drive headphones with low voltage sensitivity". Sensitivity, btw, is how loud your speaker gets at a specific voltage.

Typical active speakers have input impedance of 10k or higher.



Passive speakers have pretty good voltage sensitivity btw. It literally says in their specifications: 85dB (example) @ 2.83Vrms. With the 2Vrms that a computer soundcard can output, this is sufficient to sound like a dishwasher. To get the same amount of voltage sensitivity, your active speaker or subwoofer would need to be turned up to near max volume. Try it and see if the volume you get balances out.



I've used headphone amps to power speakers too.

The soundcard or headphone amp's ability to output voltage is not a problem. The ability to output current is.

Now, if you're thinking of Ohm's law, and how current and voltage relationship must obey Ohm's law, you're correct. So when an amplifier cannot supply enough voltage or current? It also stops supplying the current or voltage so that Ohm's law is preserved. Hence, it clips, or distorts. Since soundcards have low output current, the max voltage it can supply into speakers before distorting is also low, and follows Ohm's law. You can still get a comfortable 50-60dB out of it in most cases, although at elevated distortions (Not due to clipping but rather due to the lowered impedance, but that's a story for another day.)

BTW a stereo amp can be bought for less than $100.

Thanks for the info. Very enlightening.

You can also go aliexpress for this brand. Makes handling logistics easier.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...38-1&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000025483196649"}
Here's one from Aiyima in case you want a brand that has been tried and tested by AudioScienceReview

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...2-29&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000023998397454"}

Thanks. I searched Aiyima previously but did not spot this one. Now I can buy the exciters and amp from the same place.

 

[summer_dell]

My Swan M10 has this interference sound when power up. ( u know those buzzing soft soft sound. )

I decided that perhaps its time to change my speakers. I'm looking at perhaps to change into a creative t100. Is this speaker ok ? any reviews?

Btw, Swam m10 interference issue. Buzzing soft sound. anyone know how to solve it ?