Student needs speaker advice!!

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Hi All,

This is my first post on here, and I hope somebody could be of help!

I purchased these last night: http://www.polkaudio.com/tsx110b/d/1049

Being a complete amature, I wasn't really aware of the necessity to have an amplifier etc. I was wondering whether the following components would work efficiently, and allow me to play quality music in my university dorm!

Amp (The bluetooth is a huge bonus):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DROK-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Aluminum-Smartphone/dp/B014J0TUR0/ref=sr_1_11?s=receiver-speakers&ie=UTF8&qid=1445714168&sr=1-11&keywords=stereo+amplifier

or:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lepy-2024A-LEPY-Plus-Amplifier/dp/B00SATAEEA/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1445715077&sr=8-11&keywords=stereo+amp

and then would I just buy standard cables/banana plugs to connect them?

Cable: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Tex-Speaker-Stereo-Surround-metres-A/dp/B005EHAQOE/ref=pd_bxgy_263_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1G9E2146B636WM0E3XC3

Plugs: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Speaker-Screw-Banana-Connectors/dp/B009XPCJ2U/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1445715131&sr=1-8&keywords=banana+plugs

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Thankyou for the advice. Im completely boggled by the specifications, the watts per channel stuff and how i'll go about connecting it all! In hindsight, I should've gone for a bose bluetooth system!

Thanks,

Andy

 

[SHAXOS]

Hey There!

Whats you maximum budget?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Hi!

Probably 30pounds max. I didn't really anticipate extra costs! I need as cheap as possible, whilst not compromising the quality of the sound!

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Freddy58]

Hi All,

This is my first post on here, and I hope somebody could be of help!

I purchased these last night: http://www.polkaudio.com/tsx110b/d/1049

Being a complete amature, I wasn't really aware of the necessity to have an amplifier etc. I was wondering whether the following components would work efficiently, and allow me to play quality music in my university dorm!

Amp (The bluetooth is a huge bonus):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DROK-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Aluminum-Smartphone/dp/...

or:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lepy-2024A-LEPY-Plus-Amplifier/dp/B00SATAEEA/ref...

and then would I just buy standard cables/banana plugs to connect them?

Cable: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Tex-Speaker-Stereo-Surround-metres-A/dp/B0...

Plugs: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Speaker-Screw-Banana-Connectors/dp/B009XPC...

-------------

Thankyou for the advice. Im completely boggled by the specifications, the watts per channel stuff and how i'll go about connecting it all! In hindsight, I should've gone for a bose bluetooth system!

Thanks,

Andy

Reposted to produce links

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi!

Probably 30pounds max. I didn't really anticipate extra costs! I need as cheap as possible, whilst not compromising the quality of the sound!

Thanks,

Andy

Yikes! The cheapest decent sollution I can think of is a used NAD 3020 or Rotel 930 or 820. To that, you'll need to add, for the time being, 2 speaker cables (cheapest copper ones you can find, equal lengths). Don't bother with banana plugs, just use the bare wire, but make sure the + and - (the red and black) don't touch at either end. In addition, you'll need a 3.5mm stereo jack to 2 RCA cable, to link the headphone jack from your phone/laptop/desktop to the amplifier (I'm assuming one of those will be your source). But all of this will in no way fit your budget.

The 2 amps you linked - it makes me curious as to how they can deliver 30W/ch. Either it's class D or it's 30W peak, not continous. But who knows, maybe they'll work.

If you find a 200 pound bill on the street though, get a Denon PMA520 AE. That's the lowest I would use with the Polks, if buying new.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Thanks for your response.

So the main issue is the amplifier. The reviews on these amps seem to be good (check them out), and people seem to be using them for larger speakers like these polks.

I admit that i've fully rushed into this with little thought, but I was really keen on getting some decent sounding speakers!

What is the cheapest amp you can think of that won't compeltely mess up the sound quality?

EDIT: I'm not bothered about adjusting attirburs of the sound (eg. bass), I just need a simple amp to connect the speakers and system, and ensure it sounds good!

Thanks

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Thankyou for your response!

All these amps look large and technical. I'm literally looking for enough to support two speakers, to ensure that I can play them loudly with as little distortion as possible! I don't need all the volume settings etc.

Thanks

Andy

 

[steve_1979]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to say this but any new amplifier costing £30 will be rubbish. The only way that you'll find anything worthwhile for that price will be second hand.

As well as regular stereo amplifiers some of the old home cinema ampifiers (AKA receivers) are very good quality and can be picked up for peanuts. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Clicky

Clicky

Clicky

Clicky

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

I appreciate everybodys help by the way, thankyou for your suggestions!

 

[rainsoothe]

Thanks for your response.

So the main issue is the amplifier. The reviews on these amps seem to be good (check them out), and people seem to be using them for larger speakers like these polks.

I admit that i've fully rushed into this with little thought, but I was really keen on getting some decent sounding speakers!

What is the cheapest amp you can think of that won't compeltely mess up the sound quality?

EDIT: I'm not bothered about adjusting attirburs of the sound (eg. bass), I just need a simple amp to connect the speakers and system, and ensure it sounds good!

Thanks

I remember when, as a student, I very hastily purchased a Technics center speaker because I didn't check that the price was per unit. Also, it was a centre speaker, and not meant for stereo use. After paying for the first one, I bought the second, spending my entire budget. That was 14 years ago, and my dad still hase the speakers (yes, I donated them) and they honestly sound quite decent. Doesn't matter, though, the point is that some people rush into stuff like this, but it doesn't mean they made a bad decision.

I think them Polks are quite ok for the money, but indeed you need a proper amp, and those small ones seem pretty bad, and they'll distort the sound a lot, at least when you push them. Read the above suggestions, they're quite good - I used to own a Sony surround amp (actually I think it was exactly the one Steve suggested) to drive my old B&W 602 S2 speakers, and it wasn't half bad.

Otherwise, if you can afford a bit more, again, look for Nad 3020 (not the new D3020 one, but there's old used ones on the bay, or check used hi-fi stores), Pioneer A400 or Rotel 930 or 840.

 

[Freddy58]

You're going to really struggle for £30 I'm afraid. Second is the only way you'll find something decent.

Something like this would be exellent for £50? Clicky

He mentioned blue tooth, so I'm guessing he has no source, other than that.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Ok, i'm willing to pay more, but i'm still really constrained.

- I'll be using laptop/phone as my input source

- i have two speakers and nothing else, so the w/channel doesnt need to be massive

- I will be playing music loudly, and would want the best quality possible, especially for the bass.

- I'd want the smallest amp possible, with less switches/inputs etc. Just something that can sit on top and not prove awkward.

Hope that helps, and clears things up

New budget = £40 preferably

 

[Freddy58]

You're going to really struggle for £30 I'm afraid. Second is the only way you'll find something decent.

Something like this would be exellent for £50? Clicky

He mentioned blue tooth, so I'm guessing he has no source, other than that.

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

They'll be arriving tomorrow, and I doubt it'll be easy to return them.

I understand what you're saying, and I can't thank you enough for your advice so far. Those cambridge audio ones seemed promising, but if they can't ensure decent sound quality, i'm slight screwed!

The company suggests 20 watts per channel, so 40 in total. Would the cambridge ones be suffice, or will they sound terrible once the speakers ar blaring at full blast?

Thanks.

 

[steve_1979]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

Just plug one of these cables into the headphone output of your phone/computer via the 3.5mm jack plug and connect it to an amplifier using the two RCA plugs.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

Does this suggest that I don't even need an amp to play music..?

 

[Freddy58]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

No, I meant can the headphone socket be used as an input? Ahh, ignore that, I see where you're coming from

 

[steve_1979]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

No, I meant can the headphone socket be used as an input? Ahh, ignore that, I see where you're coming from

Ah sorry I should have been clearer in my original post. I ment the headphone output from the phone/computer into the RCA input of an amplifier.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

No, I meant can the headphone socket be used as an input? Ahh, ignore that, I see where you're coming from

Ah sorry I should have been clearer in my original post. I ment the headphone output from the phone/computer into the RCA input of an amplifier.

Pardon my complete lack of knowledge, but does that mean I can just plug in my phone to the amp and play music through that?

 

[steve_1979]

Does this suggest that I don't even need an amp to play music..?

You will need an amplifier.

A 3.5mm to RCA cable is a cable that can be used to connect your phone/computer to an amplifier using the headphone output socket on your phone/computer.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Brill.

So all i need is your best amp for price reccomendation. What is the best I can get, that's not too bulky but really preserves the sound for around £40?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

Thanks for the suggestion. It says it has 6 ports, is that necessary? Would reducing the ports reduce the price?

I don't need perfect sound, just as good as possible, I can compromise on that slightly

 

[steve_1979]

IMO he'd be better of conecting his phone/computer to the amplifier via the headphone output

You can do that?

Of course. Clicky

No, I meant can the headphone socket be used as an input? Ahh, ignore that, I see where you're coming from

Ah sorry I should have been clearer in my original post. I ment the headphone output from the phone/computer into the RCA input of an amplifier.

Pardon my complete lack of knowledge, but does that mean I can just plug in my phone to the amp and play music through that?

Yes you can.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10206917098901977]

I was incliened to get some after my friend (who owns these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038W0NEU/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0051U7D0E&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ME77R1VY91WN5V5CP6M) used them at a party. I presume the ones i've bought are better (but less bass-y), I just wonder whether he's testing his to the limit?!

What if i were to look for ones that state to be 80watts, not 150? Surely that's enough (and ultiamtely cheaper)

eg. these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/PCA2-Computer-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B001P2VV50

 

[Freddy58]

Steve has given you a perfectly good suggestion/solution. He has suggested a 'proper' amp, one if I were in your situation, I would snap up.