PC sound card output cable?

[MitsuMan]

:D Running a single mini plug into a Y to connect my computer to my receiver. Is there any difference in cables and how long can it be before you would deem it ridiculous? I know it's just to play MP3's but I'm kinda new to the melding of "real" audio with my computer.

[rulerboyz]

I don't believe I've noticed any significant difference between using different types of Y cable. The ideal of course would be to have a card with RCA out jacks. The quality of your soundcard is going to play a critical role in the quality you will get.

[MitsuMan]

I don't believe I've noticed any significant difference between using different types of Y cable. The ideal of course would be to have a card with RCA out jacks. The quality of your soundcard is going to play a critical role in the quality you will get.

I have a Turtle Beach Montego sound card, but I think it only has a single speaker out jack.

[rulerboyz]

You can experiment with using different cables and see which one works best.

[dew042]

If you have a Best Buy close -- their generic y cable in the mp3 section is $15 at most and its a very well made cable. Dynex is the brand. Well shielded and well built.

Frankly the sound output on that sound card leaves a little to be desired. I could suggest a very good analog card for about $30 shipped if you are interested.

dew.

[decius]

//waves arms in air// Im interested if hes not! ;]

[MitsuMan]

If you have a Best Buy close -- their generic y cable in the mp3 section is $15 at most and its a very well made cable. Dynex is the brand. Well shielded and well built.

Frankly the sound output on that sound card leaves a little to be desired. I could suggest a very good analog card for about $30 shipped if you are interested.

dew.

The turtle beach montego is one of the highest rated cards available. <scratches head> way better than most of the stuff Creative Soundblaster puts out. :yes:

[dew042]

Is this a new card? I hate it when they reuse names... my mistake.

Back in the day Turtle Beach had another Montego card that was nothing special, in fact is was less than nothing special. I was a rabid TB Santa Cruz fan for many, many years. I share your comtempt for Creative, although I was recently forced to buy a Creative product to ouput from my laptop.

So, Mitsuman - what do you think of the sound of this card? I am not familiar with the Cmedia chipset it has onboard.

Decius - This Chaintech card is a great budget card - if you manually turn on the hi sample rate option it has one good DAC (it will output out of the 9/10 channel on the back) and does 2 channel analog out very well. If you use digital output its good as well. Otherise the other 7 DACs are junk: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

dew.

[MitsuMan]

Is this a new card? I hate it when they reuse names... my mistake.

Back in the day Turtle Beach had another Montego card that was nothing special, in fact is was less than nothing special. I was a rabid TB Santa Cruz fan for many, many years. I share your comtempt for Creative, although I was recently forced to buy a Creative product to ouput from my laptop.

So, Mitsuman - what do you think of the sound of this card? I am not familiar with the Cmedia chipset it has onboard.

Decius - This Chaintech card is a great budget card - if you manually turn on the hi sample rate option it has one good DAC (it will output out of the 9/10 channel on the back) and does 2 channel analog out very well. If you use digital output its good as well. Otherise the other 7 DACs are junk: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

dew.

This is the one.

http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/detail/tbs/EC.TBS.MONTEGODDL.JPG

I like it so far. It has alot of surround features that I don't really need and some other "room type" enhancements that I'll probably never use. It does have digital direct outputs, a decent equalizer and other neat features. I just don't understand why they don't put left and right RCA jacks on it instead of the stupid single mini jack. :thumbsdn:

Like any mp3, if it came from a good source and a high sampling rate was used, it sounds surprisingly good. It really does make the poor ones stick out like a sore thumb though. :yes:

[nashbap]

Dew 042:

I am considering purchasing the Chaintech AV710 as you mention. My primary use would be for converting LP's to burn to CD's so does this have a good analog to digital converter in your opinion? Thanks.

[MitsuMan]

Dew 042:

I am considering purchasing the Chaintech AV710 as you mention. My primary use would be for converting LP's to burn to CD's so does this have a good analog to digital converter in your opinion? Thanks.

Frankly, I haven't used it to do any LP > .wav> cd dubbing yet.

Here's a link to the specs on the unit if that helps

http://turtlebeach.com/site/products/soundcards/mtgoddl/indetail.asp

[salred]

I've done a few transfers to CD so far, and I've been pleased. While I've done the transfers mostly to play in my car, a few test spins on my main system have sounded pretty good, and for $25 I think its a bargain. Give it a try!

Other parts of my workflow:

TT -- > PC: RIPVinyl (http://www.ripvinyl.com/)
Declicking: ClickRepair (http://wwwmaths.anu.edu.au/~briand/sound/)
Split tracks, etc: Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) [Free!]
Burning: The software that came with my PC

Steve A.

[MitsuMan]

I've done a few transfers to CD so far, and I've been pleased. While I've done the transfers mostly to play in my car, a few test spins on my main system have sounded pretty good, and for $25 I think its a bargain. Give it a try!

Other parts of my workflow:

TT -- > PC: RIPVinyl (http://www.ripvinyl.com/)
Declicking: ClickRepair (http://wwwmaths.anu.edu.au/~briand/sound/)
Split tracks, etc: Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) [Free!]
Burning: The software that came with my PC

Steve A.

That RIPVinyl looks interesting. I might have to try that.
I've got Voyetra Audio Surgeon 5 that came free with the TB soundcard. I've played with it, but man it's not what I would call easy to use. :no: It has way more features than the casual user needs, but I guess for the serious mixmaster it's really a good tool.

[dew042]

Dew 042:

I am considering purchasing the Chaintech AV710 as you mention. My primary use would be for converting LP's to burn to CD's so does this have a good analog to digital converter in your opinion? Thanks.

No idea - never used it, however - I would look at a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 rather -- it has RCA inputs/outputs, better overall card. Its a entry level pro card. On Ebay runs $60-100. Same chipset, better card.

dew.

[nashbap]

Thanks.

[OldSchoolCool]

Hi guys. My $.02
The only sound card I have had any kind of performance with is the Soundblaster Audigy 4. I used the X-Fi but the Audigys better S/N ratios was obvious on my system. Also, the upconverting crystalizer software is unuseable to me on the X-fi. The TB and others are fine, but if you have great HiFi, the Audigy 4 is your only choice.
On the cable.... the single out is a stereo mini to left - right RCA... not a generic mono splitter...right?... I hope. Monster cable makes a very good shielded Mini stereo plug to stereo RCA for about $20. Well worth it.
I have my PC out Audigy 4 to a Threshold FET 1 pre and Threshold S-300 X 2 to a pair of IRS Betas. Using lossless CD encoding, the sound quality is outstanding.
Good luck,
Steve

[drspiff]

I've got the M-audio Delta 44 which outputs to the Ramsey FM transmitter and have been delighted with the sound. Pleased enough to buy a second Delta 44 as a backup.