Seeking specific features in a soundcard. Something that mimics an nForce2 APU would be great.

[Jeff7]

Surgery has begun.
There shall be pictures. None right now though - don't know where the cable is for my camera at the moment.

I'm intending to install either a rocker or pushbutton switch on the back panel, which will simply open and close the circuit in one of the wires leading to the speaker. The speaker itself is tiny too, only maybe 2 or 3 inches in diameter. It's a Labtec thing, labeled 40W, 4O.

It's too late at night though to bust out the soldering iron and Dremel - everyone else is sleeping, and might not appreciate the noise. I'm debating installing a hard on/off switch too - the speakers use 6 watts when they're turned off. It seems like a bit of a waste, especially considering that they don't have a remote control, or anything really that needs soft-off functionality.


Update: Yes, just an edit. This wasn't worthy of a new post. Not just yet.
The modding is done. Testing will wait until tomorrow, everyone's asleep now, and I don't want an errant blast of noise waking anyone up.
I don't anticipate any problems though. The two switches went in nicely, and the soldering and wiring was simple. I have one switch to cut all power to the speaker system, to keep it from sucking up power whilst it's doing absolutely nothing, and a switch to cut the connection to the subwoofer, to make it shut the hell up in the event that everyone I live with doesn't want thundering bass when I'm listening to Enya.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You're such a courteous modder

 

[Jeff7]

Alright, here we go.
The Logitech Z-640 Subwoofer Mod

I know it's not crazy good HTML, but it passes the W3C validator. Let me know if there are any blatantly hideous problems there, or anything I might want to add.

 

[dawks]

Screen shot..

I just tried this as I have an identical setup, ASUS nForce2 Deluxe, with Logitech Z-680's speakers hooked up via SPIDF.

I have the same problem, the lowest volume setting for the sub is WAY to loud, even for daily use. So I only have the sub on when no one else is home.

I just tried the LFE trick you Jeff7 is talking about, and it works, it does limit the volume of the subwoofer, but it ruins the sound comming from the rest of the speakers. It sounds like pure ass.

My own problem now is nVidia is not making Vista drivers for this board so the SATA and nForce audio does not work. The extra Realtek audio chip on my board does work as MSFT is shipping drivers with Vista.

 

[Jeff7]

Ah, there we go. Yes, that's what it's called. LFE Crossover Frequency.
With that enabled, it slices off the lower frequencies. Yes, it doesn't sound nearly as rich or "deep" but it doesn't piss off anyone else in the surrounding rooms. Bass carries through paper-thin walls very easily.
This switch I put on the subwoofer certainly does the trick though.

Your Z-680's look like higher grade hardware than the 640's. I didn't use any of the Dolby Digital hardware that the nForce2 had to offer, just the plain analog outputs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Alright, here we go.
The Logitech Z-640 Subwoofer Mod

I know it's not crazy good HTML, but it passes the W3C validator. Let me know if there are any blatantly hideous problems there, or anything I might want to add.

Nice