Connecting studio monitors into SPDIF out on m/b soundcard?

You can go digital from your computer to the right Roland ma-15d Micro Monitor.

But then you'll have to go analog between the right and the left Roland ma-15d Micro Monitor.

Which introduces the opportunity for the right speakers to blare out pure sound while the left one will not come through as clear or true.

It's probably ok though because those speakers can't tell the difference.


There's no reason not to try the SPDIF hookup... (although the converter in the $75 speaker may not be any better than that heard with the infamous Soundblaster or Realtek onboard chips) but you'll probably find that the analog connection does not create any discernible degradation.

If you can be satisfied with analog connections your choices for good sounding speakers expands greatly.

I suggest you consider all your options rather than concern yourself with the need for a digital connection to your monitors.


best regards,
mike

Any differences between analog outs and s/pdif would be moot even for high-end speakers, and especially insignificant with MA-15D's. All you're really doing is moving the D/A conversion from one end of the cable to the other end.

"The output from the built-in amp of the MA-15D's is the same for both speakers.  There is no analog left speaker and digital right one, it's just that the amp is in the right enclosure and the left one is passive.  They are both connected to the amp via a good ol' fashioned bit o' wire."

You are of course, you are entirely correct.

Carnifex, 

You never mentioned the soundcard...other than to refer to it as "connecting the monitors to a m/b soundcard, " .  And ... having zero latency.... that is freaking amazing, especially for a motherboard soundcard.   OK, ( I'm not trying to be sarcastic here) , but no one that I know of is getting latency numbers below somewhere around 4 or 5 ms. Not saying you aren't but it's likely that you're not seeing the real round trip latency of the soft synths. 

SO.....




 One thing I would consider in your studio setup, would be the appropriate USB or PCI based audio interface designed for music production. It will give you (depending on the model) at least two  and as many as 8 or more outputs for speakers & monitors and subs.  Plus it gives you easy access to the inputs as well as the midi input for the Korg.


As far as the monitors, you mentioned you are planning to use X1 to compose electronic music, not a problem, but I would definitively spend the money (if you can) to get  better monitors. The MA-15's have some pretty small drivers in them.  Consider going with a minimum size of 5" powered monitors. 8" is even better but 5" will do fine. I use Mackie MR-5's. I've subsequently added a 10" 100w sub to fill in the bottom. In electronic music, the low end is very important, and you need to hear it accurately..... I doubt the small driver in the MA's will do that for you. 


hope this helps you some.