Help with set up! M Audio Firewire Solo with DX4 monitors

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Level 1

70 points

Help with set up! M Audio Firewire Solo with DX4 monitors

I hope the user which has the same set up as me reads this...

I just bought the 2 items above and have installed them. The interface is working fine since I downloaded latest drivers and now get sound from the headphones plugged in the front input

However, I cant get any sound from my speakers (the DX4 pair from MAudio). I found a 'Y' connector in the garage and made the red and white inputs from the speakers into one.... and plugged it into the orange S-pdif output on the back of the interface. I turn volumes up and down and all I get is a hisss... is this not a proper way to connect the speakers? i dont have the balanced cables to plug from the balanced line outputs to the trs inputs on the speakers.
rthanks
J

imac intel core duo, Mac OS X (10.4.7), 20 inch

Posted on Sep 10, 2006 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 10, 2006 2:57 PM in response to djkhont

Hey D,

SPDIF's a digital out, don't do it, (you'll never get sound from it) your speaker's analog.
Take the 1/4 unbalance line outputs from the solo to
the DX4 1/4 unbalance line inputs.
As an advice: don't be too cheap on your cables,
go to a music store and ask for it, I'm sure you find
something from $10 to $30 and don't get a 10 metre
cable if you only need 1,5m.
best regards,

Jorge

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Answer 2

djkhont Author

Level 1

70 points

Sep 10, 2006 6:37 PM in response to djkhont

Jorge thanks

So what can I use the digital out for? An amplifier with a digital in I guess...

I have used a 'transformer plug' I found and used the cable that came with the speakers. It is RCA red white on one end and small headphone type jack on the other. With the extension converter, I plugged this end to the balanced output 1 on the interface, and now I get sound OK.

Do you believe the sound will improve if I buy a double cable to go from balanced outputs to the left sanf right TSR inputs on the speakers? Or am I OK with what I have done

Thanks Jorge
J

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Answer 3

Nov 3, 2006 8:31 AM in response to djkhont

I have a firewire Solo (phone jack inputs and S/PDIF i/o) and I own a new iMac with digital audio out. What cable do I need to connect the audio output from the iMac to the S/PDIF input on the Firewire Solo or do I just need a 1/8 inch phono to 2xphone...confused. I'd had to use a d/a converter.

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Vince_h

Level 1

8 points

Nov 3, 2006 12:45 PM in response to Rick Kuntz1

Rick,

With your firewire solo selected as your output under prefs/audio, take the balanced 1/4 inch outs from your fw solo to your speakers (or to your amp if you have non-powered speakers). You may need some adapters depending on your setup (eg rca to 1/4).

In Logic, you set the firewire solo as your audio device under preferences as well.

Hope this helps.

Vince

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Answer 5

djkhont Author

Level 1

70 points

Nov 4, 2006 4:25 PM in response to Rick Kuntz1

Rick,

You iMac communicates to your FW Solo via firewire, not via the digital input. do not plug it this way, use a firewore cable and use the other inputs and outputs on the back of the FW solo for speakers, other devices, etc.

J

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