I've got a professional sound card with -10 and +4 1/4" outputs.
Seeing as have equalizer, etc on board with software, can't i just plug the sound card straight into a power amplifier without needing a preamp - and therefore get more bang for my buck!
The full story is, I've just landed some quad 12Ls and need something in between my computer and my speakers that will do them justice. I'm on a budget:say $400-650.
I use an integrated amp with my professional sound card and it works fine, with some quite similiar speakers. Thats what your 'supposed' to do. Although I do know that using just a power amp works, but I dont think the sound is as loud or as good.
hmm, now why wouldn't it sound as good? I thought a preamps role was just to add the right mix of treble/bass ets. as well as take in all the different inputs from your hifi gear.
Wouldnt you rather have the option to control bass and treble from an amp aswell. Unless your echo audio has hardware accelerated effects/eq.
I mean, I use my amp for both audio from my pc and from television so it might suit me more than you.
Im using a cambridge audio 540a. Its really quite a good amp for the money. I wanted an arcam but I couldnt afford it.
My emu0404 sound card manual shows a picture of different applications the card can be used in. One of which is soundcard>>intregrated amp>>speakers. It actually says integrated.
Its the same prinipal as using a separate power and pre amp. Everybody knows there will be benefits. I think of my soundcard as like the processor of a seperates cd player. Its that component in the chain. In a sense, thats what it is, only with versitility to record, sample etc.
yeah,I've heard about the cambriges. Interesting. I'll check them out too.
well at least i know a power amp will work! My concern was that, you needed to amplify the source signal first, with a pre-amp, before the signal was powerful enough for the power amp to use. Are you 100% sure I can just plug it in without a preamp?
I'd not risk it. I do reccon you'll require a pre-amp too. It wont be that loud with just a power amp I dont think. As you said, the source signal needs amplifying. Im not sure a hifi dealer would know because they dont deal with soundcards, but you could always ask.
I've done this with my system for playing music outside on the deck - I have a PC with the soundcard plugged directly into an old NAD 2150 power amp. I control the volume using Winamp. Works fine for me.