Desktop PC 2.1 Speaker System
(listening level 60-85 dB; 3-6 ft apart)
-Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus Pure Edition (PC sound card, DAC, 32-bit, 1.25 Watts)
-S.M.S.L SA300 Power Amplifier (full range, 53 Watts at 6 Ohms)
-Sony SA-CS9 Active Subwoofer 115 Watts (powered, 28 - 200 Hz)
-JBL Stage A120 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (passive, 60 Hz - 40 kHz, 6 Ohms)
Adaptor and Cables needed:
AMPLIFIER
-Adapter-Cable: 3.5 mm stereo plug to 2-channel RCA male 6ft
-4 Banana plugs
SUBWOOFER
-Cable: Single RCA cable for subwoofer 6ft
L/R SPEAKERS
-Cable: 12AWG Free Pure Bare Copper Speaker Wire 50ft
AUDIO SIGNAL TRAVEL:
Sound Card to Amplifier to Monitors (2)
Amplifier to Subwoofer (1)
The S.M.S.L. SA300 amplifier enables the 2.1 Speaker System.
IN SUMMARY
The PC sound card Front L/R 3.5 mm port connects the amplifier SA300’s RCA L/R IN
The amplifier SA300 connects the subwoofer Sony SA-CS9 using the single RCA subwoofer cable
The amplifier SA300 connects the L/R JBL A120 monitors through the L/R 12AWG wires
NOTES:
On the Creative Sound Blaster software, set the playback configuration to speaker configuration to STEREO. The Creative Sound Blaster software, and audio ports are configured to connect PC speakers (gaming eg Logitech Z906). The 3.5 mm ports for center/woofer, and rear L/R do NOT support the way we want (home theater configuration). The only ports that can connect a home theater configuration are the Analog Front L/R speakers, or the Digital Optical Toslink.
The S.M.S.L. SA300 amplifier's small size makes it very suitable for a next keyboard or mouse location. I have set the SA300 amplifier to “flat direct full range.” I don't use any of its sound enhancements. For digital USB audio, you may need adapters e.g. micro USB to USB-C for smartphones. For Windows 10 PCs download the drivers. I listened: Pandora streaming on my smartphone, the digital USB-DAC audio sounds better than the bluetooth! The super inputs RCA L/R IN take very well the analog signal from the Sound Card (best).
The Sony SA-CS9 subwoofer LINE IN more likely is a Bass Management Crossover instead of LFE (low frequency effects) that will handle all kinds of single RCA jacks Mono Out, Mix Out, Super Woofer Out, etc. It takes very well the amplifier SA300 SW OUT (single RCA jack for a subwoofer). Nice deep bass complement! A LFE channel can go down to very low single digit Hz but will require way more power than our SA300 can afford. The Sony SA-CS9 can go down to 28 Hz with only 100 Watts! Also, there is NO need to use the Sony's spring clips IN/OUT speaker connectors.
The JBL Stage A120 monitors are directly connected to the amplifier SA300.
OTHERS:
-Please verify the 3.5 mm plug jack sections: 3 sections for stereo (+tip, +ring, -sleeve).
-Front L/R (RCA: Left WHITE) tip; (RCA: Right RED) ring.
-You may have heard terms such as “software volume control” or “hardware volume control. In order to keep the music in its original state bit-depth, leave all software volume controls at 85-100% level. The Sound Blaster software does control your sound preferences. Also, it is packed with sound effects.
-For Windows 10, to make it more interactive download the MS Ear Trumpet 2.0 app for total PC audio volume control so it can be at the desktop taskbar.
-For hardware volume control I use the amplifier SA300 knob to control the volume without disturbing the software volume bit-depth. It is very practical to have the knob volume control and the ON/OFF switch next to you.
-Setup the subwoofer Phase to Normal (check polarity), the Cut Off Frequency between 6-8 o’clock. Make proper sound adjustments, otherwise you will throw the whole thing into the garbage.
-Use quality cables to guarantee noise prevention!
-There should NOT be pop noise when the amplifier SA300 is turned ON/OFF. A click sound can be heard from the Sony SA-CS9 electronics box Auto switching ON/OFF. The click sound never comes through the speakers.
-Sounds good but we can’t earthquake the house (bass shakers)!
(listening level 60-85 dB; 3-6 ft apart)
-Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus Pure Edition (PC sound card, DAC, 32-bit, 1.25 Watts)
-S.M.S.L SA300 Power Amplifier (full range, 53 Watts at 6 Ohms)
-Sony SA-CS9 Active Subwoofer 115 Watts (powered, 28 - 200 Hz)
-JBL Stage A120 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (passive, 60 Hz - 40 kHz, 6 Ohms)
Adaptor and Cables needed:
AMPLIFIER
-Adapter-Cable: 3.5 mm stereo plug to 2-channel RCA male 6ft
-4 Banana plugs
SUBWOOFER
-Cable: Single RCA cable for subwoofer 6ft
L/R SPEAKERS
-Cable: 12AWG Free Pure Bare Copper Speaker Wire 50ft
AUDIO SIGNAL TRAVEL:
Sound Card to Amplifier to Monitors (2)
Amplifier to Subwoofer (1)
The S.M.S.L. SA300 amplifier enables the 2.1 Speaker System.
IN SUMMARY
The PC sound card Front L/R 3.5 mm port connects the amplifier SA300’s RCA L/R IN
The amplifier SA300 connects the subwoofer Sony SA-CS9 using the single RCA subwoofer cable
The amplifier SA300 connects the L/R JBL A120 monitors through the L/R 12AWG wires
NOTES:
On the Creative Sound Blaster software, set the playback configuration to speaker configuration to STEREO. The Creative Sound Blaster software, and audio ports are configured to connect PC speakers (gaming eg Logitech Z906). The 3.5 mm ports for center/woofer, and rear L/R do NOT support the way we want (home theater configuration). The only ports that can connect a home theater configuration are the Analog Front L/R speakers, or the Digital Optical Toslink.
The S.M.S.L. SA300 amplifier's small size makes it very suitable for a next keyboard or mouse location. I have set the SA300 amplifier to “flat direct full range.” I don't use any of its sound enhancements. For digital USB audio, you may need adapters e.g. micro USB to USB-C for smartphones. For Windows 10 PCs download the drivers. I listened: Pandora streaming on my smartphone, the digital USB-DAC audio sounds better than the bluetooth! The super inputs RCA L/R IN take very well the analog signal from the Sound Card (best).
The Sony SA-CS9 subwoofer LINE IN more likely is a Bass Management Crossover instead of LFE (low frequency effects) that will handle all kinds of single RCA jacks Mono Out, Mix Out, Super Woofer Out, etc. It takes very well the amplifier SA300 SW OUT (single RCA jack for a subwoofer). Nice deep bass complement! A LFE channel can go down to very low single digit Hz but will require way more power than our SA300 can afford. The Sony SA-CS9 can go down to 28 Hz with only 100 Watts! Also, there is NO need to use the Sony's spring clips IN/OUT speaker connectors.
The JBL Stage A120 monitors are directly connected to the amplifier SA300.
OTHERS:
-Please verify the 3.5 mm plug jack sections: 3 sections for stereo (+tip, +ring, -sleeve).
-Front L/R (RCA: Left WHITE) tip; (RCA: Right RED) ring.
-You may have heard terms such as “software volume control” or “hardware volume control. In order to keep the music in its original state bit-depth, leave all software volume controls at 85-100% level. The Sound Blaster software does control your sound preferences. Also, it is packed with sound effects.
-For Windows 10, to make it more interactive download the MS Ear Trumpet 2.0 app for total PC audio volume control so it can be at the desktop taskbar.
-For hardware volume control I use the amplifier SA300 knob to control the volume without disturbing the software volume bit-depth. It is very practical to have the knob volume control and the ON/OFF switch next to you.
-Setup the subwoofer Phase to Normal (check polarity), the Cut Off Frequency between 6-8 o’clock. Make proper sound adjustments, otherwise you will throw the whole thing into the garbage.
-Use quality cables to guarantee noise prevention!
-There should NOT be pop noise when the amplifier SA300 is turned ON/OFF. A click sound can be heard from the Sony SA-CS9 electronics box Auto switching ON/OFF. The click sound never comes through the speakers.
-Sounds good but we can’t earthquake the house (bass shakers)!
