soundcard/sub question

[spectre]

I've got onboard sound and it works fine with my two speakers, but my sub gets very little if anything comming through it, is this because in fact it is onboard sound? if so would a soundcard fix that problem? or is it possible that during my rewiring and everything i killed my sub? or that the sub is on a metal coinbox and since it is magnetic could mess it up? lol... million questions there...sorry

[AlanS17]

Being in the metal coin box shouldn't affect the sub from a magnetic stand-point. However, sound needs volume (space) to expand. So if your coin box is small it might be holding all the bass in.

Some onboard sound cards have been labelled as "tinny" meaning that they sound hollow and high-pitched. That may also be the case.

It's also possible you have a bad sub or perhaps your mini-jack isn't fully plugged in. Try wiggling it. Also, make sure your sub doesn't have a bass control on it. It may be turned down. I know that sounds obvious, but it never hurts to mention.

What ype of speakers are they? What brand/model?

[spectre]

creative 5.1
im using the two fronts and the sub... should work
i decased it... and the sub is on top of the coin box not in the coin box... so that shouldbt be a prob, even when it was out of the cab completey i couldnt hear but a faint sound from it, but the speakers are working fine...

[AlanS17]

Hmmm... Where do the cords run? Does the sub plug into the pc and then the satellites plug into the sub? Is there a remote controll? What does the sub plug into? The PC or a control box?

[spectre]

everything plugs into control box, then box plugs into speaker jack

[AlanS17]

If that's the case then check the connection between the sub and the box. Put on an MP3 or something with plenty of bass and then jiggle the connector. Sometimes if the jack is loose around the inside then slightly pulling it back out can get you the best sound. Also try wiggling the cord around the base of the connector in case the wire on the inside somehow broke.

[AlanS17]

Don't feel too bad about it. The roof at our frat house leaked and it rained on my $200 THX Logitech's. Needless to say... they don't work anymore. (And the leak is still there!)

[spectre]

that sucks... yea i'll try that, first i have to rip all the wired out of the coin box... lol... i'll check it out, maybe get some pliers to tighten the sub wire check that the wire is connected and all i dunno

[Frostillicus]

I would make sure you have the cables plugged in correctly - I have creative 5.1's on my desktop but they have 3 wires coming from my audigy.  How many plugs are you connecting from your onboard sound?
Also - make sure the gain is turned up on the knob.  Check your software settings too.

[AlanS17]

oh crap! that's right! you said it's a creative 5.1. that means it's built for dolby digital audio. does it use multiple audio jacks to plug into your computer? creative speakers were built with creative sound cards in mind. from what i can remember, creative sound cards are reconfigurable between basis surround sound and dolby digital. that could have a HUGE affect on it. if that's the case you may never get all the sound you want out of the onboard audio because of the particular speakers you chose.  

[spectre]

yea they have  3 plugs, but the pc im using now doesnt have the places to plug them in
i usually plug in the front speaker plug they work normaly and the sub goes too...

[AlanS17]

Yeah the speakers can hopefully handle stereo AND dolby digital, but that could be the culprit right there. Make sure the other 2 dangling plugs aren't resting on anything metal and short circuiting the sub. It shouldn't hurt it, but would probably try to force a 5.1 mode. (This is all in theory, mind you.)

I don't know what to tell you other than you might another sound card. More than likely that's the problem. You've got 2 options to go about it, though. You can buy a full 5.1 capable (even though it's overkill for an arcade machine) or you can buy another regular sound card (even though you won't be fully utilizing your speakers). There's no perfect answer.

[Magellan]

i decased it...

You took the sub out of its enclosure?   I may be wrong but that's probably why it doesn't sound very good.  

[spectre]

i don't see why? the enclosure doesn't provide the sound, and even so i would be hearing more than a very faint sound comming from it...

[rampy]

i don't see why? the enclosure doesn't provide the sound, and even so i would be hearing more than a very faint sound comming from it...

that my friend is the problem (or one problem besides not having all the elements wired/plugged in --- maybe... depending.... something...it's certainly not helping matters)

the whole point of a sub is that it's the enclosure that maximizes the thump, by forcing the airflow a certain way (depending on the sub/speaker... lets keep it simple you audio nutz guys)

*shrug*

Rampy

[Frostillicus]

Ok, so:
1)The sub is not in it's enclosure - kind of important.
As rampy said - why else would subs be in boxes instead of just in a cage on the floor?  It's all about the airflow/pressure etc.  Like a car sub.

2)you aren't using all the connectors - also fairly important.  Will the sub get a signal from the center channel? try the left or right channels. Worse comes to worse you can get an old LIVE! 5.1 card for 30 bucks.  They still work and were made for those speakers.