Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Hi all.

I am toying with getting rid of my OTT Sony monster setup for something smaller and more mature.

I fancy a nice AMP, which would connect to my pc, for games and music to play through some nice Floorstanding speakers or bookshelf speakers.

Thing is my budget is a maximum of about £250 much less would be nice however.

I listen to alot of violin music, some rave bit of trance and if I am in a bad mood a bit of metal, so perhaps something capable of a bit of bass would be best suited to myself.

I just need some advice because stack systems just lack the quality of a good separate amplifier.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Look at Richersounds for last years models you will pick up something nice for a ton if you just want a stereo amp. If you want surround you will need to pay more to get a good one but there are budget options

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...=CAMB-A1V3-BLK

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...id=TANG-AMP100

these 2 are stereo ^^

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...id=PION-VSX417

good surround on a budget ^^^

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...d=DENO-AVR1507

my amp ^^^

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...KEF-CRESTA3CCH floorstanders


http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...TA-MONITOR3BLK bookshelf budget

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...TANN-CUSTOM-F1 bookshelf not so budget

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Just a note to say I've got a Cambridge Audio Azur 540c V1 and it's a superbb amp. Plus a quick plug for RS' excellent and cheap guarantee - £10 for 3 years on a £100 amp.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Hmmm the Cambridge with the "not so budget" speakers looks good to me.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

I prefer the crestas personally mind you my floorstanders are Kef and they are awesome

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Richersounds are definately your best bet for the money you want to spend.
Cambridge Audio give you quite good equipment for the money.
If you can, go for some Morduant Short speakers. They are quite good.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Mordaunt shorts are great little speakers, I've had a set of MS15s for 20 years which are now used for the Xbox and they still sound as good as the day they were bought.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Out of interest would I be able to fit a woofer to the Cambridge? their are times I like my bass should neighbors be out.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

stereo amps are just that stereo amps

I spose at a push you could split the source and output from devices directly to a sub as these are active anyway. Its not ideal from the xbox but if your pc has 5.1 or the like the out put from the pc to the subwoofer will work fine you will not need to pass it through the amp

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

I think I get what you mean Zingle :erm:

So I'd wire the pc to the amp for the left right channel, and then a woofer to the sub/ctr out on the pc?

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

yes

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

You could also get a dvd surround job with a aux input. I have a 300w lg one which was £120, sounds ace. Plus doubles up as a cd player / radio

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

but it lacks the finesse of a seperates system the quality of an aio will never cut the mustard :)

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

But how would the woofer receive power, I've only seen woofers which require an amp to drive them, not any with phono 3.5mm input

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

most woofers are active and amp themselves I would not buy a passive amp

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

Hmmm I shall ask at my audio shop about that, but to enable the woofer out I'd have to put my card into 5.1 mode, will I still get quality sound on the front output to the amp and 2 speakers.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

does it not have 2.1?

why dont you just buy a decent 5.1 pc set up like the creative.Irrc you can input a xbox360 to the amp box.Or better still a proper home cinema amp like mine. Can output from the pc digitally then which is better


In all honesty though most music does not carry a woofer signal anyway as its stereo. If you buy good speakers IE the kef crestas you will be surprised by the base that kicks out. If only you could here my Kef coda 9.1's you would understand my point.They can shake the room plenty without the 200 watts yam sub being forced for stereo audio

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

I shall give the Cambridge a go with the more expensive bookshelf speakers.

Will post up what I think of them, once I get them here then.

Re: Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.
 

That depends on what the amp/sub etc do with the signal. Being as a Sub is best designed to handle frequencies below 60ishHz (maybe higher or lower depending on the size of it) and all music has such frequencies in it, a simple crossover is all that is needed to pass the signal in the right direction, just the same way as you get a crossover in a speaker to route high freqencies to the tweeter and lower to the mid bass unit.