Thinking of a budget audio setup for my computer.

[AndrewJ]

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.

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

[ShadowTD]

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.

[AndrewJ]

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

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

[Halcyon]

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.

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

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.

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.

[AndrewJ]

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.

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

[AndrewJ]

I think I get what you mean Zingle

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?

yes

[handyman]

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

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

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

yes

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

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