So I’m very much new to this and I’m looking for some assistance.
When I’m chilling I spend almost all my time at home at my computer desk, not so much in the living room or anywhere else and I’m looking into a setup for listening to music, playing neat games with alot of sound (i.e. speakers), playing with friends where headphones and microphone is needed so.
I’ve been looking at the topping mx3 cuz that seems to tick my boxes, it’s a good enough headphone amp and you can also send signal to speakers and subwoofer but does it work for powered monitors and an active subwoofer? I run my current speakers either through the headphone out or line out on the FiiO so headphone out works for powered monitors it seems but that wouldn’t work if you add on an active subwoofer would it?
As I play guitar and piano and trying to get better at singing as well I’ve been looking at a mackie big knob as well but would that work with an active woofer? Can you like piggyback it onto the LR RCA channels.
I’m completely lost but I think I’ve explained what I’m after, what kind of gear do I need? Should I get multiple items and give up on the topping mx3 single unit does everything solution or should I give up on powered monitors or a subwoofer or what the heck should I be looking at.
The only thing I know I want is a single digital audio device on my computer and the ability to easily switch between a powered 2.1 solution like the edifier s350db and headphones.
I’d like to start off modestly in the very budget section but have some room to grow.
I listen to most things from classical to black metal to baroque black metal triphop grindcore (Igorrr, look them up ) to classic rock to hip-hop to EDM to symphonic metal to soundtracks. Everything that isn’t mass-produced top 20 nonsense.
I play everything from RTS, MOBAs, FPS, bombastic action games a la uncharted, platformers and everything in between.
Everything in audio gear that isn’t speakers confuse me tho.
You could get an interface like a mackie big knob or something a bit less like a focusrite scarlett solo, that would work just fine. For the speakers, perhaps some used jbl 305p mk2 perhaps (and add a sub down the line).
So what I would do is that you would split the pre out of the interface since you are already using that for volume control to the sub and then to the speakers.
The jbl are very solid for the price, hard to go wrong with them imo. Neutral, accurate and enjoyable
So I could possibly do:
Computer -> Mackie Big Knob -> Line out L to JBL 305P left + subwoofer left and Line out R to JBL 305P right + subwoofer right, headphones plugged into headphone out?
Could also replace the big knob with something more basic/not a recording interface like the micca origen g2 or SMSL M3 and it would still be controllable and switchable, yes?
And go from 3.5 mm line out to 2x RCA and from each RCA go to 2 RCA for speaker + subwoofer. (so in total 1 3.5mm → 2x RCA → 4x RCA → speaker left, woofer left, speaker right, woofer right)
Last question then, what in your mind would be a simple setup for this (with the JBL 305Ps [with subwoofer coming at a later date if needed/desired] and headphones) that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg?
Plan made, get some cables and a pair of JBL 305P first, run them with cable tree thru the q1 mk2. When budget allows get a big knob then when budget allows get sub, then get hd600s.
) to classic rock to hip-hop to EDM to symphonic metal to soundtracks. Everything that isn’t mass-produced top 20 nonsense.
