Topic: Diagnose my monitor issue

[Sloan Simpson]

I have long been running my PC audio out to an Ego-Sys U2A to my home stereo. This week I bought a pair of JBL LSR308 monitors. They require a balanced input via either TRS or XLR. My choices are either unbalanced 1/4" out of the U2A, or 1/8" out of the motherboard's sound outputs. Either way gives me noise and a high-pitched whine.

I've ordered an expensive balanced 1/8">Dual XLR from Sweetwater, and it will be here tomorrow. But I'm curious if this is going to solve my issue or if I will end up needing a different solution on the PC end. I did notice that the noise doesn't begin as soon as you power on the PC, it starts later in the boot sequence (when the sound drivers are loaded I'm assuming).

Thoughts?

[Sloan Simpson]

I ended up picking up a M-Audio M-Track Plus, which provides balanced TRS outs. It also has a level knob I can reach for more easily than the Windows volume.