Hercules Gaming Theater XP 7.1

Okay, I'm thinking of upgrading my sound card to this but had a question question. Is the breakout box powered at all working like an amp or not? I see RCA plugs for the center and sub channels and wondered how I should go about connecting these. I'm using Creative Labs Inspire 5.1 5200 speakers and everything connects to the powered sub as RCA jacks but the input to the computer itself are mini plugs. Will I be able to plug the RCA jacks directly into the breakout box or will I simply have to purchase miniplug - RCA adapters?

If your talking about the analog 5.1 output on the back of the break out box, they are RCA level outputs with no real power for volume. You are expected to amplify them with a reciever. So if your speakers accept line level inputs you can convert them to rca with adapters with no issue. I love this card / break out by the way.

~Chris

Edit: you need to leave the rcas for the speakers attached to the sub and convert the 1/8's to rca.

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Originally posted by imagoon
If your talking about the analog 5.1 output on the back of the break out box, they are RCA level outputs with no real power for volume. You are expected to amplify them with a reciever. So if your speakers accept line level inputs you can convert them to rca with adapters with no issue. I love this card / break out by the way.

~Chris

Edit: you need to leave the rcas for the speakers attached to the sub and convert the 1/8's to rca.

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Thanks, figured as much but was hoping otherwise:D Everything I read about this card is tremendous and I've been using on board with my new motherboard (it actually sounded just as good as my Live Platinum 5.1) but I'm ready to get something that is going to sound like I paid for it.

I've read a couple of reviews of new sound cards featuring 24-bit chips, but I just happened to get a fat Best Buy gift card for Christmas so I hopped on the Audigy 2 Platinum. I had the Soundblaster Live! Platinum and the two are like night and day. Creative definitely has been busy getting things right recently. Highly recommend their new card.

I having be using a game theater xp 6.1 (older) for min excess of a year including music production. Very pleased with it. I used 4 Newtone Electronics (NTE) stereo amp modules in a home made 8 channel amp and scrounged the Salvation Army and similar stores to find some decent speakers. Got by for less than $100 aditional and it works very well. The only change was to include a new Radio Shack 12" Bass Speaker in one of the cabinets. It is at least equal to the upper Klipsch and Logitech systems.
Jim Cook a\[email protected]