How to connect Edifier MR4 + sub to pc

[SharablePower]

I bought the Edifier MR4. Once I save up some money, I'd love to get a subwoofer too (I’ve already seen there's a thread about which sub to choose for the MR4). What I’d like to know is (just to clarify, I’m not an audiophile and I don’t have technical knowledge): to connect everything to a PC (which has a bad built-in sound card), would it be a good idea to buy an external sound card? A DAC? Both? If yes, which models (the cheapest possible)? I don't want to spend more than 100 euros for the card/dac. Or do you think I can just use an RCA cable from the PC to the sub and then connect that to the speakers?

 

[DVDdoug]

If it's a desktop computer a 5.1 channel soundcard is the most straightforward solution. A cheap one probably won't sound any different from a "good" one. There are external 5.1 channel USB soundcards but you might not want to use one with "portable" laptop. (You have to be a bit careful with USB soundcards because some are advertised as 5.1 but they only "5.1 compatible" with 2-channel output.)

Or there are subwoofers with built-in crossovers and high-passed line-level pass-through for the main monitors. (Without true surround sound decoding you'll lose the "point one" LFE channel with movies and the sub will only be used for the regular bass from the other channels.)

Or, you can use Y-splitters and run the full-range signal to the sub (which will have a low-pass filter) and main channels, so the main speakers will also get the bass. If the sub only has one input, you can just connect one channel. The bass is usually the same in both channels anyway. (You should NOT "short" the left & signals with a Y-Adapter.)

 

[SharablePower]

What soundcard would you pair with the edifier t5 + MR4?

 

[Weeb Labs]

The Edifier T5 includes a crossover passthrough but the manual does not specify whether the output to the main speakers is high passed, which is very important. I suspect that it is not.

Your PC's onboard codec may be perfectly adequate if used in conjunction with Voicemeeter or similar; especially if an ASIO driver is available for it. You mentioned that it is "bad" but what exactly do you mean by this?

 

[SharablePower]

The Edifier T5 includes a crossover passthrough but the manual does not specify whether the output to the main speakers is high passed, which is very important. I suspect that it is not.

Your PC's onboard codec may be perfectly adequate if used in conjunction with Voicemeeter or similar; especially if there is an ASIO driver available for it. You mentioned that it is "bad". What exactly do you mean by this?

I don't know, usually pc sound cards are not good quality.

 

[Weeb Labs]

I don't know, usually pc sound cards are not good quality.

Most modern onboard codecs are perfectly fine. Could you possibly tell me the brand and model of your PC (or that of your motherboard)?

 

[SharablePower]

La maggior parte dei codec di bordo moderni sono perfettamente a posto. Potresti indicarmi la marca e il modello del tuo PC (o quello della tua scheda madre)?

MSI x670e tomahawk

 

[SharablePower]

If it's a desktop computer a 5.1 channel soundcard is the most straightforward solution. A cheap one probably won't sound any different from a "good" one. There are external 5.1 channel USB soundcards but you might not want to use one with "portable" laptop. (You have to be a bit careful with USB soundcards because some are advertised as 5.1 but they only "5.1 compatible" with 2-channel output.)

Or there are subwoofers with built-in crossovers and high-passed line-level pass-through for the main monitors. (Without true surround sound decoding you'll lose the "point one" LFE channel with movies and the sub will only be used for the regular bass from the other channels.)

Or, you can use Y-splitters and run the full-range signal to the sub (which will have a low-pass filter) and main channels, so the main speakers will also get the bass. If the sub only has one input, you can just connect one channel. The bass is usually the same in both channels anyway. (You should NOT "short" the left & signals with a Y-Adapter.)

Maybe a Presonus Eris Sub 8BT would be better?

 

[Weeb Labs]

MSI x670e tomahawk

Your motherboard includes a very reasonable onboard codec with multichannel output and ASIO drivers available. It will work well for your 2.1 configuration.

 

[AnalogSteph]

I have posted measurements of the ALC1200 in my Z590 board here and here. More than adequate for a desktop speaker setup. It's feeding a pair of K+H O110 via a Behringer HD400 "hum destroyer" here.

I had to turn up the input volume a bit vs. my previous 2 Vrms capable Asus Xonar D1, but other than that there's more than enough dynamic range. My only complaints are minor, there's a fairly loud pop when my PC wakes up from hibernation (which I work around by turning on speaker power later - they're on a switch power strip mounted on the underside of my desk), and I can hear a slight click whenever my fridge's compressor turns off, but that's it.

Maybe a Presonus Eris Sub 8BT would be better?

Beware of ground loops when using that one (seems to be IEC Class I), you may also need one of these HD400s then.

 

[SharablePower]

I have posted measurements of the ALC1200 in my Z590 board here and here. More than adequate for a desktop speaker setup. It's feeding a pair of K+H O110 via a Behringer HD400 here.

I had to turn up the input volume a bit vs. my previous 2 Vrms capable Asus Xonar D1, but other than that there's more than enough dynamic range. My only complaints are minor, there's a fairly loud pop when my PC wakes up from hibernation (which I work around by turning on speaker power later - they're on a switch power strip mounted on the underside of my desk), and I can hear a slight click whenever my fridge's compressor turns off, but that's it.

Could you tell me how to connect the sub to the pc (I will probably get the presonus sub 8)? Will I still have to use a DAC? Or is the Y jack- RCA cable enough?

 

[Weeb Labs]

Could you tell me how to connect the sub to the pc (I will probably get the presonus sub 8)? Will I still have to use a DAC? Or is the Y jack- RCA cable enough?

The subwoofer should be connected to the right channel of the jack labelled C/Sub. The speakers should be connected to the jack labelled Front.

It is important that you do not use a Y-splitter, as a proper crossover is needed. The subwoofer needs to receive only content below 80Hz and the speakers need to receive only content above that frequency.

With the subwoofer and speakers connected to their respective onboard jacks, you can use either Windows’ integrated subwoofer crossover (very simplistic) or a third party solution such as Voicemeeter.

 

[SharablePower]

The subwoofer should be connected to the right channel of the jack labelled C/Sub. The speakers should be connected to the jack labelled Front.

It is important that you do not use a Y-splitter, as a proper crossover is needed. The subwoofer needs to receive only content below 80Hz and the speakers need to receive only content above that frequency.

With the subwoofer and speakers connected to their respective onboard jacks, you can use either Windows’ integrated subwoofer crossover (very simplistic) or a third party solution such as Voicemeeter.

Front would be L-out and c/sub would be cs-out?

 

[Weeb Labs]

Front would be L-out and c/sub would be cs-out?

View attachment 439371

That is correct. Have a look at the video below for an explanation of the software configuration. It does not cover the high pass filter configuration.