- Apr 20, 2010
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Hi Folks,
I'm looking for advice/recommendations on connecting a new high end PC with a SoundBlaster AE7 sound card, to a new Marantz SR5015 amp, and in turn a 5.1 speaker setup. This is used for music/film/film editing/gaming and work.
The AE7 card provides the following outputs:
The SR5015 amp provides the following inputs/outputs:
I have a 100w subwoofer under the desk, a mid-size center above/behind the main 49" monitor, 2x 36" tower speakers behind/sides and 2 smaller shelf speakers as surround/rears. Those are all connected via bottom ports on the above image, FRONT(R), FRONT(L), CENTER, with the sub on the PRE-OUT subwoofer port (1) and the rear speakers connected via RCA to the PRE-OUT SURROUND BACK (far right) ports. In the case of the rear/surround speakers, they only have RCA in/out as an option, and optical.
The PC is connected from the AE7 card's 3.5mm (9) Front (L/R) port with a RCA-to-3.5mm adapter, like one of these:
It's also running through the SoundBlaster Command software tool, with provides a number of tweakable settings re: speakers, like this:
This 'works', with some issues, and I suspect there's a better/cleaner way to do this. The surround sound balancing seems slightly out of synch, no matter how I tweak distances/levels etc. If I toggle the Marantz amp to surround/music mode when playing music, it's much better, but still not quite right. Running other audio like film or game audio, or simple browser/YT videos is worse, with a larger lack of sync or what I'd consider balanced speaker output. Nothing I do with the amp or SBC app levels seems to fix this.
This is only used for a desk setup with one listener. I'm also in a loft over a room with 30' wood ceiling so the sound swirls, which is great, but may be a factor. Layout, in case useful:
I wonder if the above shows any glaring errors, or at least an obviously better way to do this. I suspect that adapter, or possibly the RCA rear speakers might be factors, but I've exhausted obvious options.
Thoughts/advice?
I'm looking for advice/recommendations on connecting a new high end PC with a SoundBlaster AE7 sound card, to a new Marantz SR5015 amp, and in turn a 5.1 speaker setup. This is used for music/film/film editing/gaming and work.
The AE7 card provides the following outputs:
The SR5015 amp provides the following inputs/outputs:
I have a 100w subwoofer under the desk, a mid-size center above/behind the main 49" monitor, 2x 36" tower speakers behind/sides and 2 smaller shelf speakers as surround/rears. Those are all connected via bottom ports on the above image, FRONT(R), FRONT(L), CENTER, with the sub on the PRE-OUT subwoofer port (1) and the rear speakers connected via RCA to the PRE-OUT SURROUND BACK (far right) ports. In the case of the rear/surround speakers, they only have RCA in/out as an option, and optical.
The PC is connected from the AE7 card's 3.5mm (9) Front (L/R) port with a RCA-to-3.5mm adapter, like one of these:
It's also running through the SoundBlaster Command software tool, with provides a number of tweakable settings re: speakers, like this:
This 'works', with some issues, and I suspect there's a better/cleaner way to do this. The surround sound balancing seems slightly out of synch, no matter how I tweak distances/levels etc. If I toggle the Marantz amp to surround/music mode when playing music, it's much better, but still not quite right. Running other audio like film or game audio, or simple browser/YT videos is worse, with a larger lack of sync or what I'd consider balanced speaker output. Nothing I do with the amp or SBC app levels seems to fix this.
This is only used for a desk setup with one listener. I'm also in a loft over a room with 30' wood ceiling so the sound swirls, which is great, but may be a factor. Layout, in case useful:
I wonder if the above shows any glaring errors, or at least an obviously better way to do this. I suspect that adapter, or possibly the RCA rear speakers might be factors, but I've exhausted obvious options.
Thoughts/advice?
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