Ziel
New Member
This story starts all the way back in 2000. We got our first computer (a Gateway), and my parents put a lot of upgrades into it. One of which was adding a sound card, and upgrading the speakers. They got a set of Boston Acoustics BA735's, the digital-only version. They work great, have good sound and everything.
Last week, I finally got them to let me build them a new system. I put everything together, and got it all working. I did not put a sound card in. Just planned on using the onboard sound. I temporarily connected plugged in the monitor's built-in speakers, just to make sure I had all the drivers in and everything.
We finally took the machine upstairs, and I got it all hooked up again, this time using the 735's. Much to my dismay, the sound didn't work. I put the monitor speakers back in, and they worked, so it wasn't a driver issue. I reconnected the 735's countless times. Nothing. Brought my own speakers and connected them, and they worked. Put the 735's on my computer, and got nothing.
Did a little research on the internet, and finally realized that the problem was an analog/digital dispute. The speakers are digital-only, but the mobo can only put out analog signals. So I tried the obvious, and took the sound card from the old comp and put it in the new one. It's an old SoundBlaster Live Value card. Unfortunately, Vista and the drivers don't agree, so no good there.
So now, we're stuck figuring what we have to do from here. I figure there's two options: Either get different speakers, or get a sound card capable of digital output. Problem is, that I want to fix this as cheaply as possible, while still having decent sound quality. Because of that, I figure the sound card is a better way to go.
I guess the first question is this: Are there any cards out there can can send both analog or digital through the line-out anymore? Obviously the old card could (speaker cable is 3.5mm on computer end, RCA on the other). If so, what would be the cheapest option for this solution?
Or, should I just get a cheap card with digital RCA out, and get an RCA cable for the speakers?
Again, I'm looking for the cheapest solution.
Last week, I finally got them to let me build them a new system. I put everything together, and got it all working. I did not put a sound card in. Just planned on using the onboard sound. I temporarily connected plugged in the monitor's built-in speakers, just to make sure I had all the drivers in and everything.
We finally took the machine upstairs, and I got it all hooked up again, this time using the 735's. Much to my dismay, the sound didn't work. I put the monitor speakers back in, and they worked, so it wasn't a driver issue. I reconnected the 735's countless times. Nothing. Brought my own speakers and connected them, and they worked. Put the 735's on my computer, and got nothing.
Did a little research on the internet, and finally realized that the problem was an analog/digital dispute. The speakers are digital-only, but the mobo can only put out analog signals. So I tried the obvious, and took the sound card from the old comp and put it in the new one. It's an old SoundBlaster Live Value card. Unfortunately, Vista and the drivers don't agree, so no good there.
So now, we're stuck figuring what we have to do from here. I figure there's two options: Either get different speakers, or get a sound card capable of digital output. Problem is, that I want to fix this as cheaply as possible, while still having decent sound quality. Because of that, I figure the sound card is a better way to go.
I guess the first question is this: Are there any cards out there can can send both analog or digital through the line-out anymore? Obviously the old card could (speaker cable is 3.5mm on computer end, RCA on the other). If so, what would be the cheapest option for this solution?
Or, should I just get a cheap card with digital RCA out, and get an RCA cable for the speakers?
Again, I'm looking for the cheapest solution.
