How do I connect my new M-Audio BX5 D2 to my PC

[juventino]

Hi,

I just bought the M-Audio BX5 D2 speakers/monitors and the ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card. The speakers only have XLR and 6.3 mm connections. My sound card has RCA connection and SPDIF out. Now I know I need a RCA male to 6.3 mm male cable. But the cable I am getting is RCA male to 6.3 mm mono male. Shouldn't it be stereo? Would I get better sound quality if I used to SPDIF to XLR/TRS?

Thanks for the help in advance.

Ciao!

 

[hemantwaghe]

Why not RCA to XLR cable I am using the same . About your query it should be RC at Inch MONO cable as each speaker is powered.
Also how you will convert SPDIF to Speaker input , you require a DAC in Between and Xonar is reasonabaly good DAC on board so best is to use RCA to XLR cable , which is easily available , or RCA to Inch MONO cable.

congrats on M audio purchase. What was the reason to buy this specic version? BTW I have MX 8 a , 8 inch version..

 

[juventino]

Why not RCA to XLR cable I am using the same . About your query it should be RC at Inch MONO cable as each speaker is powered.
Also how you will convert SPDIF to Speaker input , you require a DAC in Between and Xonar is reasonabaly good DAC on board so best is to use RCA to XLR cable , which is easily available , or RCA to Inch MONO cable.

congrats on M audio purchase. What was the reason to buy this specic version? BTW I have MX 8 a , 8 inch version..

Won't I get mono audio instead of stereo audio?

I bought these speakers as they are highly rated, reasonably priced and come with warranty where I live.

 

[hemantwaghe]

Won't I get mono audio instead of stereo audio?

I bought these speakers as they are highly rated, reasonably priced and come with warranty where I live.

No man - every speaker is independent - ie every powered speakers have one amplifier unit ( or 2 units) - so every spear act as MONO Pre POWER SPEAKER unit - which requires appropriate MONO input for each channel . Your XONAR will provide the input through RCA out
Please check the manual..
FM any further help..

 

[banskevie]

Why not RCA to XLR cable I am using the same

 

[hemantwaghe]

I THINK WE BOTH WERE PARTIALLY WRONG/ PARTIALLY RIGHT !!!
The connector is inches (6.3 mm) TRS connector In headphones it has 3 segments it is stereo and 2 segments it is mono..

HERE it is used to take only one mono channel BUT you can use 3 segment ( acc to you stereo) plug to TRANSMIT BALANCED SOUND . ( Google about balanced sound)

NOW CHKED BX5s manual ( not D2 older version) it says it can take BALAENCED & UNBALANCED TRS connectors.

Now as your xonar gives UNBALANCED output MONO connector should do . Again check the manual. You should get RCA to Stereo TRS where 1 segment is NOT used

BEST is to use RCA to XLR cable , that is what I am doing..

 

[jls001]

Ideally, your chain should be:

balanced analog left and right output of sound card --> balanced analog input of L and R speakers

Does your sound card have XLR balanced connectors? Or at least a breakout cable with XLR connectors at one end?

And what is your speaker's inputs - XLR or TRS?

Making a RCA to balanced cable is not the best way of wiring it up, as you will not be able to take advantage of the balanced circuitry of the speakers.

 

[cyber_cat]

L speaker (mono) + R speaker (mono) = STEREO

Think you are getting confused.

 

[juventino]

My speakers inputs are XLR and TRS.

My soundcards output is RCA unbalanced. Unless I get a converter for unbalanced to balanced I don't see the point of RCA to XLR.

I checked youtube and couple of reviews of the BX5 D2s and in all the cases the connection used was RCA to 6.3 mm mono. So I think I am gonna use that.

 

[jls001]

My speakers inputs are XLR and TRS.

My soundcards output is RCA unbalanced. Unless I get a converter for unbalanced to balanced I don't see the point of RCA to XLR.

I checked youtube and couple of reviews of the BX5 D2s and in all the cases the connection used was RCA to 6.3 mm mono. So I think I am gonna use that.

I just checked the specs of your sound card - I guess you will have to stick to unbalanced as the card doesn't seem to have a means to output balanced analog audio.

 

[thevortex]

So, how is the sound with this setup? Am curious to know...

 

[unikaman]

Hi Guys,

I have also bought a pair of M-Audio BX5 D2 pair based on the nice reviews I read over the internet.

Now, having read this thread, it is pretty clear that I would be buying RCA to TRS 6.3 mm mono cable to connect to my sound card (which is Maya44 USB and has RCA output 4 channels).

Now, what I need to know is would I have to buy 2 RCA to TRS 6.3 mm cables (1 from soundcard RCA output channel 1 and 2 to left BX5 and the other cable from soundcard RCA output channel 3 and 4 to right BX5 monitor)?

It would be great if anybody can answer this today and I will order them...

Cheers!