Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Do you need a preamp with a soundcard as your source?

Suppose I was to connect this soundcard http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=41cf7347b20eff77b69588578a74aa58 to an amp and then to the speakers. Would I need a preamp to adjust the volume and send the signal to the amp, or would the soundcard act like a preamp and let me adjust the volume from there, in the mixer for it?

I can definately get a better power amp for the same price as an integrated amp, or an amp of equal quality for a lower price than an integrated amp, so this is a bit crucial here.

Thanks.

No. Just plug into an input (DAT, Tape, CD-R, etc.) or digital input (SPDIF, Toslink) and your amp should treat it like any other source.

Here is another source you can try - I own the Soundblaster Extigy

Creative Labs

Sean

Ah, then what are preamps used for then??

So, lemme get this straight - I connect soundcard into the amp, something like this http://rotel.com/products/specs/rb1070.htm and then to the speakers? No preamp needed, just RCA cables from soundcard to speaker? And I could adjust volume and all from the soundcard's mixer? Sorry for bein' dense, but I wanna make sure I get this right and don't have to ship stuff back after I find out it doesn't work.

//snip// Babbling deleted

According to the documentation with my Extigy, I CAN plug it directly into a power amp (no-pre required).

Sean

PS In looking at your Soundcard, the analog outs (RCA outs) would plug in to your power amp.

whoa whoa...

Depending on the output of the card, yes or no.

I have the turtle beach santa cruz, when i plugged it into my preamp, i had to have the volume on what would be quite loud on my cdp, and i had all the volumes on the puter set to high and it wasnt even that loud.

My preamp is capable of 20db of gain too., so i doubt the soundcard could have driven my amp well.

In reply to:

---

I have the turtle beach santa cruz, when i plugged it into my preamp, i had to have the volume on what would be quite loud on my cdp, and i had all the volumes on the puter set to high and it wasnt even that loud.

---

The old Turtle Beach stuff (I've used a SCruz back when they had a clear step-up over Creative's products) has no amp circuit onboard if I remember correctly... TBs stand (correctly so) is that they don't want to add amplification inside the EMI disaster that is a computer case.

The Creative line should drive a solid line level... that M-Sound or whatever, you're on your own... never tried one.

Bren R.

As for M-Audio stuff, I've had a Revolution 7.1 in my PC for a while now and it's been a good card. The S/N is 106dB and I have it going to my NAD T762 for now. I'm pretty sure that if you had an M-Audio card going straight to an amp, it wouldn't sound too bad. The only quirk I've noticed is that I get really annoying static when I run my ATI All-In-Wonder to the line in on the M-Audio, but I'm sure the static is from the ATI. So it's no big deal, just unplug it when I'm not watching TV. Another thing you might need to know is I remember reading about people having driver issues with the USB version of the Revolution 7.1. I'm not sure if it would be the same as what you're looking at, but just thought I'd let you know. Oh yeah...and their software is REALLY nice. Easy to use and plenty of features and settings. The manual on the other hand is on par with Denon. * for all those poor people who have suffered such pain and anguish while reading one* If you want you can wait till it's cold and use it to start a fire. That's about it's only use. Anyway, hope this helps a little.

My initial response was Yes - pre-amp is required. After looking at the manual, it seemed to indicate that a pre-amp wasn't required but not explicitly. Since I don't like to give bad information, I've sent an e-mail to Creative Labs for this question regarding the Extigy. I expect that the response will be the same for both cards - that a pre-amp will be required. I could not find enough information on the Extigy to determine what the maximum gain is but I know that internal versions of the card used to be equipped with a 4W amp if memory serves.

The specifications on the web for the Maximum Audio audiophile USB, shows that the Analog Outs are variable "line level" which indicates that the output signal is at the same level (when turned up to maximum) as a DVD or CD-plyer which would not be enough to drive a power amp as far as I know. I assumed integrated amp from your post and not power amp. Had a rough evening yesterday - my apologies for any confusion.

Sean

Creative answered my e-mail - they essentially said "it has a line level output that you can connect to an amplifier" with specifying integrated or power - no further ahead here.

Sean

Sean,

If it outputs a line level signal, and the M-audio provides volume control, then I believe direct to amp should work just fine.