Question about Case Audio Cable Routing
Question about Case Audio Cable Routing
Quick Question - is it acceptable to route the case audio cable through the PSU enclosure? I appreciate how this setup allows for a compact installation at the front, though I have concerns about heat buildup and interference from the power supply. You can observe the PSU through the case opening.
Yes, everything is in order. The PSU features its own sealed airflow system, ensuring the cable remains unaffected in any way. Additionally, the outer metal shell of the PSU stays cool, preventing heat transfer to the cable.
It's hard to judge from the photo if the audio cable is shielded or not. However, given that a computer case is a very noisy place from an EMC/RFI standpoint, it probably doesn’t matter much where you connect it. I’ve checked computers for EMC compliance and had to ask the maker to install a filtered VGA connector on their graphics output to back up their CE/UL claims. For genuine high-quality sound, it’s usually better to avoid using the internal audio cable to the front panel and instead use the outputs on the rear panel. Even better, you might want to invest a few hundred dollars in an external USB DAC and skip the internal processing inside the case. I use a mid-range Cambridge Audio DACMagic 100 connected through a USB switch to four different computers.
You can test the noise by comparing the background without music or audio playing, with your amplifier or headphones on both front and rear panels, and increasing the volume. If you don’t notice any difference, sticking with the front audio ports is probably fine.
I haven't encountered any HD Audio connector with a dedicated grounding port yet.
Pin #2 serves as the ground within the HD Audio connector. The ground wire is clearly visible connecting to pin #2 from the image (the black sleeved wire).
This falls within the realm of audiophiles. For most users, HD Audio suffices (especially with analog speakers). However, with the prevalence of USB speakers and headsets today, the presence or absence of grounding (EMI shielding) in the HD Audio cable becomes less significant.
Yes, the speaker and line out will be mounted on the back panel. The front panel serves only as a headset interface.