Mr. Fiddles

I'm sure you don't get this often, but I actually WANT to be able to use mono instead of stereo, so the output from the X-Fi to my amp is Mono, so I can run through one speaker.

Is it possible? I can't find the options anywhere. How about for the EVGA 680i on-board sound? Anything will do, just need mono.

Where's the little switch like I used to have on my walkman?

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drougnor

Vista? Crap, can't remember the steps to get there, but in the control panel, you should be able to find a Sound and Audio settings app. Open that sucker up, and under one of the advanced settings options is a dropdown box that you can select what kind of speakers you have hooked to the pc, including some mono speakers . . .

This assumes that MS didn't jack that option around and get rid of the mono options.

d

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Wafflesomd

You want mono why?

eascarface

Right Click on the volume icon in the sys. trya then playback devices>configure.

Think thats what you want anyways.

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Mr. Fiddles

I've got to that settings/configuration and the option for Mono isn't there. I remember it being there on XP too. Only options I have now are Stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and quadraphonic or something...

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Dex

You probably shouldnt be using Vista in a professional environment, sounds like its causing you no end of problems with your work.

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Mr. Fiddles

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex You probably shouldnt be using Vista in a professional environment, sounds like its causing you no end of problems with your work.

Only this one problem.

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degu22

You could always use a stereo to mono headphone adapter, i'm sure they exist. You could also make a stereo to mono adapter.

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Hibiki

Quote: Originally Posted by degu22 You could always use a stereo to mono headphone adapter, i'm sure they exist. You could also make a stereo to mono adapter.

Like this: LINK

I don't know if you have a Radio Shack over there, but you should be able to find items like these somewhere.

Wafflesomd

I still don't understand why you want mono. Unless you have two monoblocks, and want to amp each speaker on its own channel.

I don't think you should have purchased and X-fi if you wanted to customize your outputs.

Mr. Fiddles

Well if you remember the thread I made about my speakers that NOBODY REPLIED TO, then you'll know more. Basically, I have one speaker working now, the second only making low frequency noise, so I have to mute it or everything sounds low and bassy.

However this method of using one speaker presents the problem of stereo music causing random quiet or misplaced sections of sound as a melody is panned to the speaker that's missing, lol. Or when I turn one way in a game and everything goes quiet (like in Half Life when someone is speaking from my left, I cannot hear them as it's coming from the left speaker - which isn't there).

I did not purchase everything together like this. I originally had XP, where the option was present, and secondly I didn't intend on having a speaker blow on me.

This PC is not a strict work-station. It's not a career job I use it for, more a hobby that earns some good money, so it's not the end of the world, just a complete pain in the a$$.

I still have my desktop speakers which will suffice for gaming, but music is a different matter. I cannot do without my beastly Kef mofos. Or singular mofo now as it were.

I've tried using the on-board sound. Hasn't got a mono option either. I guess I'll have to buy an adapter of some sort

Man, who'd of thought there'd be problems using mono.

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drougnor

Old trick I used to use is splicing an old stereo headphone connector into the single speaker. Just make sure the black wires, the common ground wires, both connect to the ground, and the other two 'live' wires are connected together on the other connector. Then, of course, for the safety of your speaker, make DAMN good and sure the black grounds go to the black connector on that. Little time, electrical tape and maybe some solder to make the connections permanent, but that SHOULD do the trick.

d

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turbopsi

I really don't understand your problem. If one speaker sounds fine, and the other one sounds bassy with no highs.. that means you plugged your speakers into the center/sub port(usually yellow I think).

So you're going from your xfi to an amp... is the amp mono only output? Unless it's a mono only amp you should be able to hook your normal 2channel green port to your input of the amp.. and have perfectly fine output, and even could hook your speakers parrallel for mono sound that way.

If you're amp is mono out only, then you will need an adapter, I guess.

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Wafflesomd

KEF's you say?

Sounds like you should be paying attention to the speaker, rather than your output.

What model of KEF? If they only put out lows, the tweeter might be blown (which isn't any easy task unless your amp is junk and clips). Since they make their own coax drivers, you'll have to buy a whole new speaker. Not sure if they cover blowing a speaker.

How did you even manage to blow it?

turbopsi

Did he blow a tweeter?

One thing you can do is hook your speaker up to the 2 channel amp bridged. As long as you don't increase or decrease the impedance I think it should be fine.

You could actually hook both sets of wires to the same terminals too, I think that cuts the ohms in half though so be careful if you try it.

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Mr. Fiddles

Yes I blew the tweeter on the left speaker. I know this already.

I'm not looking for resolve of the speaker problem, I already confidently know what my problem is as well as why. I'm just looking for a temporary solution to get one speaker working in mono directly in Vista, not through the amp or changing the terminals (as yes this cuts the ohms in half and the speakers will not perform properly).

Perhaps there is some sort of software or software patch or something which will enable me to make sure the signal my soundcard sends out is a mono signal. It has almost every other damn option, and I seem to remember when I first got my X-Fi, I had some problem or other which caused my sound to all be mono. If only I could remember the problem I'd re-ignite the fire.

Go check my thread 'Audio Junkies This Way Please' in the Anything Goes section for more info on the speakers.

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Wafflesomd

The smartest solution is to just buy a new speaker.

How did you manage to blow the tweeter?

Mr. Fiddles

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd The smartest solution is to just buy a new speaker. How did you manage to blow the tweeter?

Unfortunately the smartest solution isn't affordable as the speakers are $600-800 a pair. Once again refer to the original thread where I explained the whole situation.

Broke it when using an older driver for X-Fi trying to get it to work on Battlefield in Vista, which caused a very loud crackle and in-turn a busted tweeter! I'm lucky I didn't blow both of them and I will not be messing with the driver whilst the speakers are on ever again.

There is some hope, however. I have a centre speaker of the same range from which I may be able to remove and swap over the tweeter from, and place into the now broken main speaker. We'll see...

So it seems Mono is completely out of the question then eh?

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Im_gumby

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd How did you manage to blow the tweeter?

First, you give tweeter a booty call.
Second, you bust out the Tequilla.
Thrid... well let's just say it's not that hard to imagine.

Dude, go for the adapter option... should be less than a pound and is nice & easy.

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Mr. Fiddles

Quote: Originally Posted by Im_gumby First, you give tweeter a booty call. Second, you bust out the Tequilla. Thrid... well let's just say it's not that hard to imagine. Dude, go for the adapter option... should be less than a pound and is nice & easy.

Indeed I think I shall for now.

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