Help me understand speakers a bit better.

Hello folks, and i hope everyone has had a good christmas if i haven't said it to them already.

Basically im learning to better my knowledge when it comes to sound in general, but the topic really at the moment are speakers.

(Im fairly low budget too )

But basically i went out the other day and purchased some logitech x-530'



Now i really like them! they offer good trebble, fairly low midtones, but the subwoofer does a fantastic job of covering that up (this why i haven't taken them back already haha.)

They are a 5.1 set, 1 center at 15w and 4 sats at 7.5 and a 5.25 inch sub at 25w (its enough, believe me.)

The speakers also do not have any sound card or amp is it? im not so sure so its really down to how well the laptops audio card performs.

The frequency response is 40hz to 20k hz.

Now i have quite a few questions really,

Currently i have no 5.1 output on my laptop (i have however two jacks that output sound simultaneously but not in quad configuration...dangit.) This means that i have to use a supplied RCA input to tripple 3.5mm output converter but i believe im finding that the sub is slightly flapping? (i cannot describe really.) but i recon this could either be due to the fact that there is no audio controller as part of the speaker system and that the RCA converter is causing too much BASS to be pushed through, (take it this way the speakers seem waaay to bassy even when the bass dial is at 0.) So im wondering if anyone has any ideas about this? or could it be that 40hz isn't low enough for a sub and may muffle if something wants the lower frequency?

Next i want to know if prolonged distortion or flappyness can damage say the subwoofer? Im not sure but i'd like to find out before i break these things.

Im planning on buying the soundblaster fi 5.1 external sound box and running the speakers through this however there is an rca (im assuming front left and right) then a 3.5mm input for sub/center as well as the rear speakers.

The problem is that the speakers output are three 3.5mm outs, front left right, rear left right and sub center. (although the front right has a d-sub connector for the sub if that makes any different) although it does mean if i use the 3.5mm connectors single, that the sub always operates. (again why i think the 3 inputs could also muffle bass if the speakers have no form of sound controller.

I know this is quite a useless long thread ^^ but if anyones quite savvy in this area and willing the contribute i'd be very happy.

Thanks guys!
And good night (3am here, will wake up and read a thread full of replies hopefuly haha.)

 

First off, the reason your subwoofer might sound like that is due to the cross over, I'm guessing it goes up to 150hz, which is very high for a subwoofer. My subwoofer wont even give me the option to go above 100hz, and I keep it down to about 70hz. And I'm pretty sure you can't turn it down with your system.

I'm not sure about the soundblaster, it should have 3.5mm connectors for all the channels. Post a link to the actual model of the card your looking at.

 

Hey man, thanks for the reply! maybe my problem could be solved with the help of a good EQ configuration say in media player?

http://us.store.creative.com/Sound-Blaster-XFi-Surround-5.1/M/B0017QQQAE.htm

The USB sound blaster XFI is what i was refering too (should have included that in my post,) it looks like it will do the job, but from checking out the pictures i may be wrong.

 

It could help some, but the cross over in the actual subwoofer will still allow it to play those higher frequencies, basically all you could do is boost all the other frequencies except the 70-150hz, or lower the 70-150hz, so the sub still plays them, but just gets less of them to play, if you understand what I mean.

And it looks like the package contents of that sound card does come with a stereo RCA to 1/8" adapter. I'm guessing that its the one needed to plug your speakers into it. If not that then sometimes the headphone port will double as the front speakers. I know with some of creatives older sound cards you could adjust things like that via software.

 

One of these?

I really appreciate the help your providing .

I have run a sound test to see what the real frequency actually is (i cant be sure if its accurate)

20hz plays but fairly quietly, 40hz (as it says plays nicely although slightly quieter then 60hz unless its because the lower tones are just deeper) and the sub hits all the way up to 200hz with its arms behind its back hehe.

At the moment im not running with that external card, but a realtek HD (no control over custom eqs unforunately )

Is there any risk of damaging the sub due to the mix's of freqency response crossing over? (or at high volumes of bass?)

Again you have been a big help! .

If there is one condition the sub has worked excellently, its when playing fps games haha.

 

Yes I assume its that connector, only other one it could be is RCA to male 3.5mm, and I don't see why they would include that with a sound card.

Yeah, you can damage the sub, but you can do it with low frequencies also. Basically it will get damaged if you extrudes to far, which is a result of having the volume(or gain on the sub) up to high. Usually it will distort before this happens, so if it starts sounding like a horrible fart then I suggest you turn it down.

And its no surprise that your sub doesn't hit 20hz very well, you've gotta spend a good amount on a sub to reach that low and have good db to it.

 

I must say for the price i payed, the quality of the sub is really good (at present best in gaming it think) but for music, i've just been using front left right and rear left right to reduce chances of damaging the sub unit (and since the sub is also connected to the front right using dsub, the sub still functions nicely.

Ok the last question is, can wire quality have much effects on audio in general or prevent certain interference from causing artifacts as such with audio?

Again i think you very much for replying to the thread!
Rep up sir +

 

AFAIK it can be affected by the quality of the line. Higher quality connector and wire = higher quality sound.

 

One little note.
The Logitech subwoofer only sounds nice when its hidden behind and beneath a table - the table takes a lot away from its sound.

(I've got the X-230 which is the same with 2 speakers only though)

 

Hmm interesting, i will try repositioning it around objects then Its quite a powerful unit even when on 0 volume, i am quite impressed, so all that really needs doing to them is getting a decent 5.1 sound card and some new wires i think, the rca connector im using is fairly cheap atm.

 

Hey guys, im now all set up with the speakers huraaay, and i've stashed the sub behind my TV which works really well.

But now i have a cool new problem to report, i can hear radio channels, i think russian (cant remember it was definately non UK based). This is when the speakers are on 0% volume!

The radio noise goes really quiet when turning up the volume but if let it idle or play music, it begins to pop randomly not frequently but its actually audable to be annoying.

Anyone know whats exact source of the problem?

A friend believes its potentially the wires. (RCA to 3.5mm)

 

It is the cables... they work as antennas - the question is which cables...

You could attempt to manually shield them by placing a layer of aluminium (foil?) around the cables... maybe even around the speakers...

It might, or might not work...

 

Well i have from front right speaker three 3.5mm cables (front l/r rear l/r and sub/cent)

This is connected to a tripple 3.5mm input from RCA converter, then the rca cable to my laptop.

I will give the aluminium foil idea ago, that sounds pretty interesting .

 

I would be pretty surprised if your picking it up with your cables like that.. Maybe on that side of the pond the broadcasting is much stronger. And unless your tin foil is grounded then it probably wont help to much.

 

Im quite suprised too, although i dont have this with my other speakers or say the laptops/television speakers.

From reading up ferrite coils apparently help? the aims to make the signal quality as bad as possible from what i read lol.

I do also have a fair bit of grounding issues in my room.

 

Yeah, grounding issues are always the biggest problem. If you have a grounding issue then your music is nearly destined to sound bad. But with your speaker system(no offense) then some ground issues will slide.

 

Well to be honest, the x530s put out the crispest sound i've heard in years haha, I really do like them, it'd be nice to get rid of the popping, anyway ill be at home in like 8 hours so ill see about getting some pictures of the configuration...and foil.

 

Well, they are pretty good for a low price.

But there are better speakers out there
Let us know if you can shield them in any way

I'm not sure you'd need earthing... I'd expect the radio waves to induce a current in the aluminium foil rather than the cable - the insulation would keep the aluminium foil's current from the cable...

But experiment

 

This is actually really frustrating, i really do not need foreign radio channels running through my damn speakers...so far foil has been ineffective.

Maybe its something within the sub that needs shielding?

Wrapped foil round the sub inputs, its actually semi working effectively, but whenever i touch the foil it completely stops, so prehaps it actually needs grounding?

If it carries on i may have to take the speakers back :/.

 

Well, that's good news - You found a cause and solution - juts need to optimise it.

You can run a wire from the sub to the radiator for grounding - as an example.

Or you could buy a plug - you are in the UK - and connect just the grrunding cable.
(B&Q for example)

 

Hmm could do, this is so much dam hassle :/ cant just buy a budget pair of quality speakers can ya hehe.

Radiators on other side of the room which causes even more trouble, this is stupid lol.

 

I suspect most speakers except the ones with shielded cables would suffer... in fact, I think the speakers themselves are shielded...

So you'd need a high quality product to solve your issue.
Possibly a professional one...

 

Yeah i suppose, i just find it odd why my old duraband £50 set suffered from 0 issues at all in the same sort of configuration, nor does my goodman hi-fi system but these ones do, do you think theres a possibility that getting another set may help?

 

phew.... hmm...

Only if it is a defect - you might try... I think the speakers are supposed to be shielded... as your "source of error" is around the subwoofer it might not... you can always try good luck

Check your CP

 

Ahh you shouldn't have man, you've been a great help!

I'll give it a shot, if not ill look more into completely nulling out all grounding issues in my room (mainly centered around my laptop, this can effect my external monitors as well as other things lol.)

Again, thanks, will report back in a while to let you know how i get on.

 

Don't worry

Good luck let's hope it works out
No grounding can be annoying... it generally isn't needed, but some hardware has a little design flaw and voilá... I'll look forward to hearing back from you on this

 

Actually, grounding issues are very common in sound systems. If all else fails you can line your entire house with tin foil, that should fix it.