Solved Should I update the driver, the card or the speakers?

[springson]

Greetings all! I'm trying to use a set of 2.1 speakers that were issued with my former Gateway desktop. They're called Boston Acoustics Digital BA735. Thinking they would work on my newly purchased Lenovo M73, I decided I forgo purchasing new speakers. No such luck confirming any playback from them after some troubleshooting. I later learned, browsing around different forums, that they're probably not designed for the type of card onboard.

I'm trying to weigh my options on the following:
1.) Updating the driver to suit the BA735, if possible.
2.) Updating the sound card to one that has digital output. The last card I used with these speakers was the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE.
3.) Purchase new speakers (2.1, preferably) to suit the build of card onboard.

Would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!

 

[Alysha29]

Hello, I am Alysha New in the forum wanna know that I have pc and set speakers with it but there is no sound come out so how can i check that my sound drivers are properly working or not, or the problem is sound drivers or something else.

 

[rvcjew]

The back of the subwoofer does not also have a analog input? Googling seems to say it does, can you take a picture of the back of the sub please?

 

[springson]

Apparently there are models of these speakers with and without the 'analong in' port. Attached is the one I currently have.

 

[rvcjew]

is the out a XLR connection? That's odd. Is it this one your connecting to ThinkCentre M73 Tiny Desktop | Desktop PCs for Large Enterprise | Lenovo US ? It does not give a lot of info on whether it has a digital out combined in its 3.5mm jack.

EDIT: if you want to use your curent speakers you need something like this http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Converter-Selectable-Sampling/dp/B0055EBH5S so you can make your analog connection into a Digital SPDIF, then you need a SPDIF cable and a 3.5mm to rca spiltter to go into the converter. Or you can get a usb sound card that will output to digital and sound better than the onboard anyway like a e10K http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000059783139&MenuID=105026003 http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Hea...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1411162666&sr=1-1&keywords=e10k . If you love how your current speakers sound that's your best option.

 

[springson]

rvcjew, I never said thanks for answering my post initially. Thanks!

Here's another rear view of the BA735 subwoofer I own (see below):

Those are interesting conversions you offer in your edit. Though I'm probably leaning towards purchasing a new 2.1 set, I'll think about what you're saying. Thanks again!

 

[rvcjew]

yeah you would use the Digital in and a SPDIF cable with the DAC i linked simplest conversion and guaranteed to sound better than your onboard sound. What's your budget for a new set of 2.1 if you go that route?

 

[springson]

I figure about $175 max. Something that'll playback above basic sound dimensions when it comes to music and enough to handle the occasional movie viewing from my desktop.

 

[rvcjew]

Music or games and what kind of each?

 

[springson]

Like I said, music and an occasionally movie. No particular genre for each.

 

[rvcjew]

Hmm, you might want to hit up headfi for that, ATM I only have knowledge in non powered speakers. I'm running a home theater setup so i'm not much help there. EDIT: and yeah just found that that speaker used a non standard digital interface anyways so they never would have worked even if you converted them. they were gateway proprietary.

 

[springson]

Ahh, interesting. Did not know that about Gateway. I guess this really thrusts me towards a new.purchase. Oh well, I'll shop around then.

Again, thanks for all your help and attention. Be well! :thumbup: