MJ
Hello music lovers. I am planning to set up myself my first ever stereo system (2 loudspeakers). In doing so I hope to make an improvement to my pretty good Creative table speakers/sub system (2.1) connected to my laptop. However I have some questions regarding how-to technical stuff, so I though I ask you guys for some advice. As I understand I need to buy 2 loudspeakers, then connect them to some sort of amplifier/receiver (not sure what's the difference) and then connect the amp directly to my laptop (in the future maybe to pc). Are there any flaws in these plans ? Also one thing really bugs me. If my laptop have standart basic/integrated sound card, is it worth installing this hi-fi system at all, because I heard that if laptop "can't produce good quality, nothing is going to help and I first need to get a decent soundcard". OR is the amplifier going to take care of business regardless of soundcard type ?
Please give me your honest opinions, tips, advice. Thank you very much and rock on. NB If it is relevant I am on a budget - planning to spend around 400-500 dollars overall. I guess that's not very hi-fi, but whatever :).
Answer
All you need
Vintage amplifier or receiver from 70s or 80s.....
Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics, Sansui, Onkyo, Zenith, Harmon Kardon, etc
$50 upwards for good quality sound.
A receiver is an amp and a tuner in one unit. Add speakers or headphones, you get a high quality stereo radio with inputs for CD, Tape, Phono etc
If it doesn't have one labeled CD, plug the CD into TAPE or AUX. Those are all line level inputs
.
Do not plug anything into PHONO except turntable leads.
PHONO is a very low level input and can be crushed into bits and messed up real baaaaad by a line level device.
A typical vintage receiver
http://audioklassiks.de/Bilder/Pioneer/PIONEER.SX-727.01.jpg
Vintage hifi speakers ....
B&W, Wharfedale, Eltax, Rogers, Tannoy, Castle Acoustics, etc
$50 upwards for good quality sound
B&W DM5....excellent......so are dozens more.
http://www.hiendoption.com/main/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/B_W_DM5____Comin_4db638f6dc463.jpg
Speaker cable or use 5 amp lighting cable, does the same thing
3.5mm to 2 RCA connecting lead from computer headphone socket to any line level input on the amp.
Line level inputs are TUNER-CD-TAPE-AUX
Total $105 upwards. Beats $300 stuff bought new.
Look in Cash Converters, Cash Generators, eBay, local classifieds etc
Or get a lucky find at a car boot or garage sale and walk home with a complete set for $50
Sound will be much better than $300 computer speakers or music centers even from a cheap laptop with an old sound card.
On the link at the bottom is where I am sitting now in a small hobby room with piles of stuff, astro mirror making kit, piles of books, tape recorders, speakers, photo gear, workbench, coffee prep etc and little space left so the amps are on top of the speakers..
QED A230, Quad 34 pre-amp, Wharfedale Denton speakers on top, B&W DM5 underneath.
Cost in order......
QED....25 (auction)...
.Quad 34...20(Cash Converters)...
Denton...zero (rescued from being thrown into a skip).
DM5 ...10...(Cash Converters, covered in coffee stains, cat scratches. Sanded down, re-varnished)
Total £55 ($80)
You can do it for $80 too where you are. There is more in the USA than in the UK.
Look around, grab stuff when it's going.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65837999@N00/7723988278/
Laughing all the way to the bank.
Pic taken a few days ago. It's currently all connected to an Asus notebook, nothing special or high spec.
A PC is on the floor waiting for new bits so the Asus is covering sick leave for that.
I'm doing this with it now and playing Mahler's 8th synphony (Symphony of a Thousand) written for a thousand instruments and voices.
Later it'll have Brian May on it playing guitar at the Olympic closing party, replay of last night's broadcast on BBC iPlayer, complete 3 hour video.
Good guy, Brian.
Started a PhD in astronomy, went back to uni over twenty years later to finish it.
Rock career got in the way.......look him up....group called Queen
Have fun....
All you need
Vintage amplifier or receiver from 70s or 80s.....
Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics, Sansui, Onkyo, Zenith, Harmon Kardon, etc
$50 upwards for good quality sound.
A receiver is an amp and a tuner in one unit. Add speakers or headphones, you get a high quality stereo radio with inputs for CD, Tape, Phono etc
If it doesn't have one labeled CD, plug the CD into TAPE or AUX. Those are all line level inputs
.
Do not plug anything into PHONO except turntable leads.
PHONO is a very low level input and can be crushed into bits and messed up real baaaaad by a line level device.
A typical vintage receiver
http://audioklassiks.de/Bilder/Pioneer/PIONEER.SX-727.01.jpg
Vintage hifi speakers ....
B&W, Wharfedale, Eltax, Rogers, Tannoy, Castle Acoustics, etc
$50 upwards for good quality sound
B&W DM5....excellent......so are dozens more.
http://www.hiendoption.com/main/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/B_W_DM5____Comin_4db638f6dc463.jpg
Speaker cable or use 5 amp lighting cable, does the same thing
3.5mm to 2 RCA connecting lead from computer headphone socket to any line level input on the amp.
Line level inputs are TUNER-CD-TAPE-AUX
Total $105 upwards. Beats $300 stuff bought new.
Look in Cash Converters, Cash Generators, eBay, local classifieds etc
Or get a lucky find at a car boot or garage sale and walk home with a complete set for $50
Sound will be much better than $300 computer speakers or music centers even from a cheap laptop with an old sound card.
On the link at the bottom is where I am sitting now in a small hobby room with piles of stuff, astro mirror making kit, piles of books, tape recorders, speakers, photo gear, workbench, coffee prep etc and little space left so the amps are on top of the speakers..
QED A230, Quad 34 pre-amp, Wharfedale Denton speakers on top, B&W DM5 underneath.
Cost in order......
QED....25 (auction)...
.Quad 34...20(Cash Converters)...
Denton...zero (rescued from being thrown into a skip).
DM5 ...10...(Cash Converters, covered in coffee stains, cat scratches. Sanded down, re-varnished)
Total £55 ($80)
You can do it for $80 too where you are. There is more in the USA than in the UK.
Look around, grab stuff when it's going.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65837999@N00/7723988278/
Laughing all the way to the bank.
Pic taken a few days ago. It's currently all connected to an Asus notebook, nothing special or high spec.
A PC is on the floor waiting for new bits so the Asus is covering sick leave for that.
I'm doing this with it now and playing Mahler's 8th synphony (Symphony of a Thousand) written for a thousand instruments and voices.
Later it'll have Brian May on it playing guitar at the Olympic closing party, replay of last night's broadcast on BBC iPlayer, complete 3 hour video.
Good guy, Brian.
Started a PhD in astronomy, went back to uni over twenty years later to finish it.
Rock career got in the way.......look him up....group called Queen
Have fun....
Best 5.1 home theatre for £200-300 pounds?
Techie
Needs to have wireless rear speakers.
Answer
I recommend Samsung HT-TZ325R 5.1ch Home Cinema System
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001V9KQKS?ie=UTF8&tag=nop107-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B001V9KQKS"
I recommend Samsung HT-TZ325R 5.1ch Home Cinema System
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001V9KQKS?ie=UTF8&tag=nop107-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B001V9KQKS"
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