JBL lsr305 with Focusrite or onboard audio

[waloshin]

I am picking up some JBL lsr305 studio monitors. I have a gigabyte h270 gaming 3 with the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5+ALC 1220 120dB SNR HD Audio which I hear is quite good.

Will I see any benefit from using a Focusrite 2i2 or something similar compared to my built in audio?

I also transfer audio cassettes to digital. Would I see a benefit using the Focusrite 2i2 in that area as well?

Thanks

 

[xb2003]

You probably wouldn't notice much of a difference in any of those ares. The one advantage of using the focusrite would be balanced connections between the speakers and computer, which can reduce noise.

 

[waloshin]

Currently I have a stereo 3.5mm connected to a 1/4" TSR into my JBL 305. Because it is a stereo cable my monitor was playing both right and left channels and sounded very weird. Right now I have pulled out the 3.5mm a bit out so I only get one channel, but all I hear hear is the tweeter the kids and vocals are barley present.

Is that caused by using the wrong cable?

 

[xb2003]

If you are using 1/8" TRS (3.5mm) to 1/4" TRS, the right channel is 180 degrees out of phase and everything that is center panned (Vocals) is getting canceled out.

If you don't have an audio interface, you need a 1/8" TRS to dual 1/4" TS cable.

 

[waloshin]

Would running the speaker like that cause any damage?

 

[xb2003]

With an 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS? No you wouldn't damage anything.. it'll just sound like crap.