Not sure where to ask this but PC based looked to be ok. ') I hope.
I have an amp with ~25db gain. What I am not clear enough about is the drive capabilities of sound cards and usb audio interfaces. The sound card is USB Soundblaster Xfi. Outputs on the back marked line in / phono, and line out. The USB audio interface is similar but with a dedicated mic input. I assume there are some standards.
What I don't know is the line out's capabilities. Details on the amp are scant other than ~25db gain and capable of 2x50w but I will probably running at a voltage that doesn't allow anything remotely that powerful. It's spec'd down to 6v where it will only produce a few watts. It will only be used for freq sweeps and spl measurements.
I have an amp with ~25db gain. What I am not clear enough about is the drive capabilities of sound cards and usb audio interfaces. The sound card is USB Soundblaster Xfi. Outputs on the back marked line in / phono, and line out. The USB audio interface is similar but with a dedicated mic input. I assume there are some standards.
What I don't know is the line out's capabilities. Details on the amp are scant other than ~25db gain and capable of 2x50w but I will probably running at a voltage that doesn't allow anything remotely that powerful. It's spec'd down to 6v where it will only produce a few watts. It will only be used for freq sweeps and spl measurements.
Assuming 50 W rms @ 8 Ohms you get 20 V rms output max from your amp.
25 dB of gain equals 17.78-fold amplification.
So, in order to drive your amp to the max you would need about 1.12 V rms output from your soundcard. As far as I know a modern soundcard can do that easily.
Also, the soundcard most probably allows to regulate the output level. If not you could add a attenuator potentiometer or resistor network at the input of your amp (if it's not there already) to reduce the level if needed.
25 dB of gain equals 17.78-fold amplification.
So, in order to drive your amp to the max you would need about 1.12 V rms output from your soundcard. As far as I know a modern soundcard can do that easily.
Also, the soundcard most probably allows to regulate the output level. If not you could add a attenuator potentiometer or resistor network at the input of your amp (if it's not there already) to reduce the level if needed.
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