Sound card + front panel audio connection question

[LordPie]

I just purchased a Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 to replace the on-board audio in my computer after fighting with it's incredibly terrible recording quality, and am having some concerns about the front panel audio.

I know that the connector for most of the standard front panel cables in cases is reserved for the high-priced creative cards, but I've read around places that you can make your own converter to plug it into the "creative proprietary connector" fairly easily. As seen here:

http://audigy2zshowto.blogspot.com/2005/05/warning-you-can-damage-or-destroy-your.html

The thing is that every one of these guides i've seen is for AC'97 cables, and some of the places you can buy these already custom-made are also listed as for AC'97, my case on the other hand has an "intel high definition audio" cable, or "Azalia" it says. It looks identical to the ac'97 one so it should plugin fine, but will it work? or will I have to set something up different?

Last question is will I lose any sound quality using the headphone jack on the side of my speaker? in the event hooking up the front panel is too much of a pain i'll most likely do this. The way I look at it is it's just "extending" the cable connection and shouldn't change anything... but a friend of mine had told me it might lower the quality.

Thanks for reading
-Geoff

 

[wahnula]

Lord Pie,

Check out this post:

thread602-1458806

It contains information on making an adapter that will work with Creative cards.

The headphone jack on your speaker may or may not be "enhanced" by the speaker's internal amp. You probably would not want to use this for recording.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[LordPie]

Oh, I had every intention of just using the mic jack on the card itself for recording, I just wanted to get the front panel hooked up to make it easier to use my headphones on the fly. Could the amp in the speaker negatively effect playback?

I'm skimming through the thread now, and it looks promising, thanks. Though, i'm not sure if I will go through with it if the sound quality difference from the front jack and my speaker's jack will be non existant or negligible. I wouldn't really consider myself a do-it yourself'er when it comes to wiring.

 

[wahnula]

For listening (I thought you were recording) the headphone jack at your speaker should work fine.

Tony

Users helping Users...