Searching for amp / speakers for casual PC listening
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Searching for amp / speakers for casual PC listening
I find that I'm spending more time sitting at my PC with a variety of audio/visual playing in the background (Hulu, Netflix streaming, my music library, NPR podcasts, Pandora, etc) while I work on other things. Using a pair of cheapish powered PC speakers via mobo line out has finally reached the threshold of not-good-enough.
What I'm looking for:
passive speakers and a separate amp: need the volume knob nearby.
speakers I can mount on the wall 6ft away rather than desktop and 2-3ft away: I find I cannot listen to near field audio at moderate volumes and everything sounds pretty crappy at low volumes at the moment
external amp I can set on the desk with a volume control knob
- In an ideal world it would also have mic/headphone jack...but not neccessary - headset is for skype and can run that via the mobo audio.
- crossover/support for a powered sub might be interesting, but also something I can probably do via the mobo audio.
- an on/off switch to kill idle power would be handy...I can deal with a wall wart if I had to.
spending in the neighborhood of $200-300 for the amp/pair of speakers. I have a powered sub that I could use.
What I'm not looking for:
- an audiophile solution. I can always turn on my downstairs stereo and fill the house with music. (open house layout, large Polk towers circa 1991. )
- My study is ~ 10x12ft. I don't need to go headbanging loud.
Any thoughts out there?
Seems like there should be some Class D or Class D spinoff amps that people can rave about for this use. I saw these $32 Pyle amps listed at Amazon. I wonder how they sound...for $32 I might just buy them on whim.
What I'm looking for:
passive speakers and a separate amp: need the volume knob nearby.
speakers I can mount on the wall 6ft away rather than desktop and 2-3ft away: I find I cannot listen to near field audio at moderate volumes and everything sounds pretty crappy at low volumes at the moment
external amp I can set on the desk with a volume control knob
- In an ideal world it would also have mic/headphone jack...but not neccessary - headset is for skype and can run that via the mobo audio.
- crossover/support for a powered sub might be interesting, but also something I can probably do via the mobo audio.
- an on/off switch to kill idle power would be handy...I can deal with a wall wart if I had to.
spending in the neighborhood of $200-300 for the amp/pair of speakers. I have a powered sub that I could use.
What I'm not looking for:
- an audiophile solution. I can always turn on my downstairs stereo and fill the house with music. (open house layout, large Polk towers circa 1991. )
- My study is ~ 10x12ft. I don't need to go headbanging loud.
Any thoughts out there?
Seems like there should be some Class D or Class D spinoff amps that people can rave about for this use. I saw these $32 Pyle amps listed at Amazon. I wonder how they sound...for $32 I might just buy them on whim.
Instead of going for the dedicated amp you could try one of the Sub-Amp computer type systems. About 5 years ago I paid $50 for a cheap Logitech 5.1 system with a powered sub and maybe 40w per channel, and it still rocks my little office. You don't have to get 5.1. Like this 2.1 system: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6836121122 - looks like it would do the job.
Scythe has a amplifier called the Kama Bay AMP Kro, an earlier version has been reviewed by SPCR.
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- Posts: 102
- Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:39 pm
One desktop amp that got quite an attention on the net was NuForce's Icon.
I have read very good reviews on the audophile forums.
http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/icon/index.php
I have read very good reviews on the audophile forums.
http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/icon/index.php
I did something unintentional with an old panasonic radio...
it had a line in and a line out and a headphone jack, and normal knobs from the 80s, bass treble balance volume...
I have not unplugged it from my pcs in 6 years..it does all that you are looking for..
and the line out goes back to the pc as line in, and I record anyhting that makes a sound from my pc, like the radios of old, that could record the stations they were playing. Seems bizarre this basic radio is not thought of much anymore...
it is a 1984?
rx-5180 panasonic.
just a thought.
it had a line in and a line out and a headphone jack, and normal knobs from the 80s, bass treble balance volume...
I have not unplugged it from my pcs in 6 years..it does all that you are looking for..
and the line out goes back to the pc as line in, and I record anyhting that makes a sound from my pc, like the radios of old, that could record the stations they were playing. Seems bizarre this basic radio is not thought of much anymore...
it is a 1984?
rx-5180 panasonic.
just a thought.
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- Posts: 419
- Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:30 am
- Location: Italy
Currently looking at Polk Monitor 30 speakers ($90) and a desktop class D amp
Potential amps are:
Pyle PCA1, PCA2, or PTA2 for $30-50 or
Scythe Kama Bay AMP Kro for $63
It looks like the T-amp from Sonic Impact is no more. Came across the Trends audio TA-10 if I want to spend $180 on a 15W x 2 amp.
Just found the Pop Pulse 2024 amp via obad imports for $140+ shipping. hmm.
Potential amps are:
Pyle PCA1, PCA2, or PTA2 for $30-50 or
Scythe Kama Bay AMP Kro for $63
It looks like the T-amp from Sonic Impact is no more. Came across the Trends audio TA-10 if I want to spend $180 on a 15W x 2 amp.
Just found the Pop Pulse 2024 amp via obad imports for $140+ shipping. hmm.
Ordered a pair of Polk Monitor 40 speakers from newegg for $129 shipped.
Was referred to the Dayton DTA-100 as another amp option. Still pondering this.
Also going to go with stands rather than wall mount (weight, rear porting).
So, just under $300.
Was referred to the Dayton DTA-100 as another amp option. Still pondering this.
Also going to go with stands rather than wall mount (weight, rear porting).
So, just under $300.