Computer + JBL LSR 305's + 8/10 inch Subwoofer = Is it possible?

[NoviceNob]

Hello everyone. First, thank you very much for your comments, suggestions and opinions.

I have a 2.0 speaker set up with my computer. I am looking to add a sub-woofer to make it a 2.1 set up. I presently have JBL LSR 305 powered monitor speakers and really like them (they only have a balanced 1/4 inch and XLR hookup).

I have a high end home built computer (I didn't build it, I just bought the parts and had someone else build it ) with a Asus Maximus VI Formula mother board, bought and built about a year ago.

Is it possible to add a sub-woofer to this system? Does it have to be powered like the speakers? And what kind of cabling? I know squat about this stuff. The sub-woofer just needs to be a 8 inch, maybe 10. I live in a small studio.

If you have any suggestions on a sub-woofer also, I would appreciate your recommendations. I can spend up to $300, or thereabouts.

Thank you again for your assistance and time. Any and all positive suggestions are welcome. 😉 And if you have the time, could you tell me how to set this up... In layman terms.

Novice Nob 😀

 

[sirstinky]

You would probably need a PCIe sound card to do that, one that has the RCA hookups so you can add a subwoofer, and it has to have a power source to power it since you won't get the power you need from the PC itself or running straight from your wall socket. Most 2.1 PC speaker setups with a powered subwoofer (think, Logitech Z2300, Klipsch ProMedia 2.1) have a built-in amp to run the satellites and the woofer. So, you would need to find a woofer that already has an amp to it, or find a way to hook up an amp to a speaker in an enclosure, then run the amp to the sound card. Unfortunately, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it. Sound cards with RCA's are spendy. This one is one of the better ones http/www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-XONAR-ESSENCE-STX-90-YAA0C0-0UAN00Z/dp/B001OV789U/ref=lp_284823_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1419199258&sr=1-7

That's about all the suggestions I can offer based on my knowledge of how PC audio works. You might be able to do a single 3.5mm to RCA adapter, but I am not sure how well that would work for your application.

 

[NoviceNob]

Thank you very much sirstinky. Now I checked the back of the computer inputs and I have a 1 x audio line out (center/subwoofer)-mini jack.

The following is from the Asus website for the mother board: Interfaces DisplayPort ¦ 1 x HDMI ¦ 1 x LAN (Gigabit Ethernet) ¦ 6 x USB 3.0 ¦ 4 x USB 2.0 ¦ 1 x audio line-out - mini-jack ¦ 1 x audio line-in - mini-jack ¦ 1 x audio line-out (side surround) - mini-jack ¦ 1 x audio line-out (rear) - mini-jack ¦ 1 x audio line-out (center/subwoofer) - mini-jack ¦ 1 x microphone - mini-jack ¦ 1 x TOSLINK....

Is this for a subwoofer and if so, what kind of hookup is it?

 

[NoviceNob]

You would probably need a PCIe sound card to do that, one that has the RCA hookups so you can add a subwoofer, and it has to have a power source to power it since you won't get the power you need from the PC itself or running straight from your wall socket. Most 2.1 PC speaker setups with a powered subwoofer (think, Logitech Z2300, Klipsch ProMedia 2.1) have a built-in amp to run the satellites and the woofer. So, you would need to find a woofer that already has an amp to it, or find a way to hook up an amp to a speaker in an enclosure, then run the amp to the sound card. Unfortunately, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it. Sound cards with RCA's are spendy. This one is one of the better ones http/www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-XONAR-ESSENCE-STX-90-YAA0C0-0UAN00Z/dp/B001OV789U/ref=lp_284823_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1419199258&sr=1-7

That's about all the suggestions I can offer based on my knowledge of how PC audio works. You might be able to do a single 3.5mm to RCA adapter, but I am not sure how well that would work for your application.

Oops.... please read the above answer... It was supposed to be posted to you but I goofed it up. 🙁

 

[sirstinky]

That connector (should be black on your board as I think it's able to do 7.1 surround) is for the subwoofer output. This is designed for a PC-type speaker system. The issue you have is that most systems designed for a PC that have a subwoofer, has the outputs for the satellites and subwoofer tied to a central control unit, either a volume control unit (a separate wired remote), or it's routed through one of the satellites. The subwoofer operates independently, but acts as the control unit for the satellites. On my Logitech system, the satellites connect to the subwoofer with RCA's which has the control unit built into it, and the whole deal is controlled by a wired remote with the 3.5mm connector that goes to the line-in/headphone jack on the PC. So the woofer acts as the control unit: it has the amplifier built in and the controller unit for volume/bass control. On the flip side, for home auto, that's all run through the receiver/amplifier. Naturally, all of that is either RCA or the spring-type terminals. I can't think of any way to make a woofer work, unless it's designed for a PC system. Offhand, I can't think of any PC-specific standalone subwoofers 8( that would work with your LSR's. For now, the best bet is the Xonar card.

 

[ien2222]

Hey there Novice,

What are you using as a pre/DAC/inbetween for the JBL's?

 

[timlmd]

Hello everyone. First, thank you very much for your comments, suggestions and opinions.

I have a 2.0 speaker set up with my computer. I am looking to add a sub-woofer to make it a 2.1 set up. I presently have JBL LSR 305 powered monitor speakers and really like them (they only have a balanced 1/4 inch and XLR hookup).

I have a high end home built computer (I didn't build it, I just bought the parts and had someone else build it ) with a Asus Maximus VI Formula mother board, bought and built about a year ago.

Is it possible to add a sub-woofer to this system? Does it have to be powered like the speakers? And what kind of cabling? I know squat about this stuff. The sub-woofer just needs to be a 8 inch, maybe 10. I live in a small studio.

If you have any suggestions on a sub-woofer also, I would appreciate your recommendations. I can spend up to $300, or thereabouts.

Thank you again for your assistance and time. Any and all positive suggestions are welcome. 😉 And if you have the time, could you tell me how to set this up... In layman terms.

Novice Nob 😀

The easy answer is just buy the JBL LSR310 subwoofer, it's made to match and work with your speakers. Just run the cables you have going to the speakers now into the subwoofer instead, and then run a set of cables from the sub to the speakers. It's a 10 inch driver and it has a power amp and crossover built in. Sweetwater and B&H both have it on sale for $299 through the end of March.

 

[maarkr]

why are you going with a studio sound level system? if you want studio quality, get the JBL or other name brand powered 8-10" sub, and run it thru a pro sound interface, either PCIe or standalone USB/Firewire. Make sure the interface has enough outs for the mains and subs. If you are just gaming, you don't need to put money into a pro audio quality system, cause they are meant to sound flatter than some OTS computer sound system.

 

[rexter]

Hello everyone. First, thank you very much for your comments, suggestions and opinions.

I have a 2.0 speaker set up with my computer. I am looking to add a sub-woofer to make it a 2.1 set up. I presently have JBL LSR 305 powered monitor speakers and really like them (they only have a balanced 1/4 inch and XLR hookup).

I have a high end home built computer (I didn't build it, I just bought the parts and had someone else build it ) with a Asus Maximus VI Formula mother board, bought and built about a year ago.

Is it possible to add a sub-woofer to this system? Does it have to be powered like the speakers? And what kind of cabling? I know squat about this stuff. The sub-woofer just needs to be a 8 inch, maybe 10. I live in a small studio.

If you have any suggestions on a sub-woofer also, I would appreciate your recommendations. I can spend up to $300, or thereabouts.

Thank you again for your assistance and time. Any and all positive suggestions are welcome. 😉 And if you have the time, could you tell me how to set this up... In layman terms.

Novice Nob 😀

You need a powered sub for your system. The Polk Audio PSW 10 is ok for it's price but if you prefer different ones then check the link below.
http/www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_4?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=subwoofer&sprefix=sub+%2Caps%2C403

Then get a distribution or headphone amp/ pre-amp or distribution amp. like one below. and cable to connect it to your sound card.
http/www.amazon.com/Behringer-HA400-BEHRINGER-MICROAMP/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1422326396&sr=8-13&keywords=audio+distribution+amplifier
http/www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-CMS110-inch-Adapter/dp/B000068O36/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1422331466&sr=8-17&keywords=1+4+stereo+to+3.5mm

Then you need 1/4 mm TSR to 3.5 mm and connect it to 3.5 mm TRS to XLR for your speaker.
http/www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-5-Pack-Plated-Adapter/dp/B00PIWB2SO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1422330978&sr=1-1&keywords=1+4+stereo+to+3.5mm
http/www.amazon.com/Hosa-CYX-403M-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B000068OEP/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1422328233&sr=8-31&keywords=1+4+stereo+to+xlr

You will then need a 1/4 TRS to RCA like this one, but that depends on the connection your sub need.
http/www.amazon.com/Hosa-TRS-202-Meter-Insert-Cable/dp/B000068O1K/ref=sr_1_25?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1422331245&sr=1-25&keywords=1+4+stereo+to+rca