SBLive improvement

[p2mine]

Hy!

I have a Creative SBLive soundcard with emu10k1 sound processor.
having my amplifier connected to soundcard output, I can hear a noise, but when I activate the mute command, the noise dissapears.

Do you know how can I improve my souncard?
changing caps, or other components....

[Bricolo]

can you define this noise?
does it sound like 50 or 100Hz?

My SB Live is very quiet.
Try to use the rear output, it has a better sound quality (better dac)

[nuppe]

Hi p2mine

When you test this, are the inputs to the card muted?
The mic preamp is noisy if it's turned up loud, that might be your problem.

Btw, if your not already using it, i heartily recommend the KX driver. It's an open source Asio driver that's just great. The only downside is that it's sometime a little too complex to setup, but once you get the hang of it, it really blows Creative drivers away.

edit: don't think it's really open source, but it's free anyhow.

/Andreas

[fedde]

For best sound you have to unselect the Digital output only and Mic. boost (20 dB) options (while using the SBlive drivers). Mute all inputs you don't use, and also put the volume sliders down (seems to sound better, maybe lowers jitter due to reduced volume of unused inputs).

The KX driver gives better sound, though I had some install problems with it the second time I installed it (hanging computer after boot).

Fedde

[Bricolo]

mine has the lowest distortion when the master volume is set to 50%

[p2mine]

still, I cannot get rif of that noise.

I've installed KX drivers. they are cool.
You can do lots of things with SBLive!.....

I cannot define that noise....
is somehow like a higher frequency is amplitude modulated with 50Hz.
Is not because of the amp, because when I select digital output only, the noise dissapears.
all the other controls were down to minimum.
the mic boost is checkbox is not checked.

I've tried some other things.
I've disconnected all the links that were not in use from the KXDSP.
the noise is still present.

A great impact upon the noise seems to have the 3DSE settings. when it's put to off, the noise is minimum. when it's on high, the noise is maximum.

the problem appears to be in the signal path before the 3DSE block..

If you would to improve youre soundcard, How would you proceed??

Thanks and regards.
Reloo

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by fedde
For best sound you have to unselect the Digital output only...
Fedde

If it's selected you won't have sound on your speakers.

[Bricolo]

yes he will! activating "digital outputs only" doesn't turn the rear analog out of

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by p2mine
If you would to improve youre soundcard, How would you proceed??

Thanks and regards.
Reloo

I have an old Live Value.
Some years ago I changed the TL072 op-amps for OPA2604, correctly bypassed.
On the analog in and outs.
Too much noise with the PC PSU, so I made a +/- 15v psu with a small trafo, just for the op-amps.
That PSU is inside the PC, no wires come out, even mains is connected inside.

PC's switching PSUs are really crap, some more than others.
You may have a really nasty one.

Oh, BTW the result is very good.
Incredible recordings from vinyl.

[5th element]

The SBlive outputs on my card are loud too, ie give off hiss aplenty but this is only when you have them connected directly to a poweramp so the output is not attenuated whatsoever. Into a preamp first shouldnt give too much hiss. The best upgrade for a SBlive is to add an external DAC with a good power supply and quiet output stage.