Need some advice on a reciever...

[Alcohol]

Well... something with an optical input. I'd also like to make use of my monitors' xlr inputs... I don't do any recording, just want some nice quality...though I'm a total noob with audio stuff.

My monitors are powered, btw.

I'll consider any advice/sugestions...

Price I wanna spend is far from being solid...I'd like it if you guys could throw some ideas around with what it might cost. I don't want to spend a lot but probably will if I have to.

thx

 

[reshp1]

Like a FM/AM receiver? I'm confused.
Either way, you can use the monitor's XLR inputs with a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable. You won't gain any sound quality from a straight 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS cable though.

 

[GABritton]

explain in more detail what you're wanting to do.

 

[Alcohol]

Like a FM/AM receiver? I'm confused.
Either way, you can use the monitor's XLR inputs with a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable. You won't gain any sound quality from a straight 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS cable though.

Like you just said, I wouldn't gain any quality from that... no point in spending money on it...

explain in more detail what you're wanting to do.

I just use my monitors for playing mp3's and cd's from my computer...just looking for a reciever that will put out at least 5.1 sound, with an optical input, and preferably, xlr outputs...

...I don't have any idea what to buy, nor do I see any recievers with xlr outputs which means I'm probably missing something...

 

[GABritton]

You mentioned 5.1 sound, but most studio monitors are just stereo. there are 5.1 monitor kits, but more expensive, and not used as much yet.

If you want true 5.1 sound, then you would need a soundcard able to decode the 5.1. I dont' think you need a "receiver". A "receiver" is used in home theather systems and most of the time also contains the amplifier to push your 6 speakers.

what type of monitor system do you have?

 

[Alcohol]

You mentioned 5.1 sound, but most studio monitors are just stereo. there are 5.1 monitor kits, but more expensive, and not used as much yet.

If you want true 5.1 sound, then you would need a soundcard able to decode the 5.1. I dont' think you need a "receiver". A "receiver" is used in home theather systems and most of the time also contains the amplifier to push your 6 speakers.

what type of monitor system do you have?

I just have a pair of m-audio bx8's...I'm going to add a sub, and at least 2 more and probably three if I can buy a single monitor somewhere...

I have a soundcard that I know supports 5.1 and I believe supports 7.1... still need an interface between the soundcard and the speakers to carry on even just 2.1 sound or else I'm getting mono. Right now I have a 1/8" rca splitter plugged into my sound card and then two 1/8" to 1/4" cables running to my monitors......which is ghettoness and putting out mono sound.

I'm going to be getting a sound card with an optical out...so I need a reciever (or some type of interface....) that has an optical input....and preferbly xlr outputs for my monitor.....

 

[GABritton]

All soundcads produced now are at least stereo. The way you're getting only mono might be the cables. You would need the correct stereo cable out of your card, to split into two mono cables. Don't worry about using the XLR inputs on the speakers. The sonud difference is so small you probably wouldn't be able to hear it unless you were running cables for 50' or so.

Just buy a 1/8" to 1/4" stereo cable. Run it into a stereo to mono splitter and run your split cables to your monitors. This will get you by. It's not 5.1 but it will work. You could even run your sub on a crossover to eliminate high frequencies from it.

I'm pulling shit out of my ass at the moment, hope this all helps.

 

[Alcohol]

All soundcads produced now are at least stereo. The way you're getting only mono might be the cables. You would need the correct stereo cable out of your card, to split into two mono cables. Don't worry about using the XLR inputs on the speakers. The sonud difference is so small you probably wouldn't be able to hear it unless you were running cables for 50' or so.

Of course the soundcard is stereo....I believe it supports dolbo pro logic as well (it's an audigy 2 zs). I don't see how I'm gonna get stereo sound without a reciever or some *interface* between the sound card and the speakers to direct sound separately to each of the speakers. There will be more speakers and a sub added to the system...so either way, I need an *interface* that directs sound to each of the 4, 5, or 6 speakers.

Now buying a sound card with an optical output and a reciever (or whatever interface I'd be using) would greatly improve sound quality from everything I'd be able to discern...but to carry over the quality the optical output from the soundcard can give...xlr outputs would be necessary from the reciever. Using rca cables to connect my speakers to the reciever (or whatever inerface I'm using) would probably (I really don't know) defeat the point of going with an optical connection between the sound card and reciever.

Just buy a 1/8" to 1/4" stereo cable. Run it into a stereo to mono splitter and run your split cables to your monitors. This will get you by. It's not 5.1 but it will work. You could even run your sub on a crossover to eliminate high frequencies from it.

I'm pulling shit out of my ass at the moment, hope this all helps.

See, I really don't need something to get by. I want this system to sound really nice....and I'll be keeping it for a while...unless I find some monitors or tower speakers for a similar price that I like better...in which case I'd sell these and buy new ones. I've heard lower quality speakers then mine sound better because they're hooked up via a decent reciever...

When it's done, it'll be a pretty baddass party system. hehe.

 

[Carter]

WOW,

are you still trying to get that to work out, all you need are all active speakers L/R front m-audio bx8's L/R rear m-audio bx8's Center m-audio bx8 or what ever you choose, and a sub, Your sound card can do the surround You must not have the sound card set-up correctly because it coming out in mono, each jack should have its own flavor, do you have something like a c-media 3-d audio panel?

It will work you just have to set it up,

 

[Alcohol]

WOW,

are you still trying to get that to work out, all you need are all active speakers L/R front m-audio bx8's L/R rear m-audio bx8's Center m-audio bx8 or what ever you choose, and a sub, Your sound card can do the surround You must not have the sound card set-up correctly because it coming out in mono, each jack should have its own flavor, do you have something like a c-media 3-d audio panel?

It will work you just have to set it up,

hehe...

Thing is here I'm looking for some pristine quality. I've heard lesser quality speakers hooked up to cheap recievers with burned cd's in them sound as good or better then my speakers.

I have a sterio rca splitter plugged into my sound card with 1/8" to 1/4" cables going from the sound card to the speakers....they're putting out mono sound. The mono sound is annoying...but how the hell would I get 5.1 sound out of my soundcard without some type of interface? Something to split up the stereo sound?

I can live with mono sound for a bit longer... but a new sound card with an optical output, a reciever with an optical input, and some how making use of my speakers' xlr inputs should increase sound quality a lot right? That's what I'm looking for, better sound quality out of the speakers...and that 5.1 for whenever I finish the system.

From what I've gathered so far making use of those xlr inputs would cost me a shitload of cash...but I still don't know how I'd hook up my speakers using them. not a clue... nor really a clue what it would cost.

 

[Alcohol]

as far as software (forgot to include this in last post).....

here is a screenshot...

 

[GABritton]

Alcohol, don't kill yourself trying to use the XLR inputs on your monitors. I have a set of Behringer Truth monitors that have both TRS and XLR inputs. I use the TRS connectors. Both are balanced cables w/ balanced connectors.

I looked at your monitors and they are TRS connectors. So wheter you use the TRS or XLR inputs doesn't matter as long as the source your sending from is a balanced output.

XLR and TRS are "basically" the same cable w/ different connectors on the ends. Just make sure whatever receiver you use has "Balanced" outputs.

 

[Alcohol]

Alcohol, don't kill yourself trying to use the XLR inputs on your monitors. I have a set of Behringer Truth monitors that have both TRS and XLR inputs. I use the TRS connectors. Both are balanced cables w/ balanced connectors.

I looked at your monitors and they are TRS connectors. So wheter you use the TRS or XLR inputs doesn't matter as long as the source your sending from is a balanced output.

XLR and TRS are "basically" the same cable w/ different connectors on the ends. Just make sure whatever receiver you use has "Balanced" outputs.

I have a number of sources telling me that if I get my monitors hooked up with the xlr inputs, there will be a large increase in quality.

I still don't know how to do it, or have any idea how much it might cost.

Obviously if it's going to be a hell of a lot of cash, I'll ditch the idea, grab a reciever, and start buying more speakers...

 

[Rokket]

I have a number of sources telling me that if I get my monitors hooked up with the xlr inputs, there will be a large increase in quality.

I still don't know how to do it, or have any idea how much it might cost.

Obviously if it's going to be a hell of a lot of cash, I'll ditch the idea, grab a reciever, and start buying more speakers...

Now your talking!

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

Sorry, i didn't read all of the response posts.

If you want to eventually have a 5.1 or 7.1 setup from your computer. You will want to look at a soundcard that can handle the task.

For eaxmple....

The Tascam FW-1804 http://www.tascam.com/Products/fw1804.html

It will give you at least six (6) to eight (8) outputs.

5 to 7 for your speaker and 1 to the sub.