a good 50watt amp less than $50 but better than a lepai amp?

[bradymartin]

i bought sony cores on sale for $73

im considering a lepai amp for around $25 but all my reading says i should get something slightly better for more money.

i cant see myself spending $100 for a computer desktop amp.

any recommendations for an in between a $25 lepai and $50 amp for a computer desktop setup?

 

[lovinthehd]

Lepai may work fine, maybe an SMSL

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I know the form factor would likely be an issue, but best bang for the buck at this budget would be used avr, which you could easily buy at your budget.

 

[everettT]

We used the SMSL amps (50w x 2) to power the atmos channels in a friend's setup. We hooked them up to his Sonus Faber full range speakers and the SMSL held up quite well.

Lepai may work fine, maybe an SMSL

 

[sholling]

I agree with BSA about buying a used AVR. I used an AVR to power desktop speakers for years and will again soon. That said, if you must have a micro amp I'd probably go with something heftier. A lot of these mini amps are rated based on 4 ohm loads at 10% THD. In this case, Lifewire tested the Lepai LP-2020A+ and the Topping TP30. Per the article the "20 watt" Lepai measured at a more realistic 9.1WPC into 8 ohm load at .5% THD and 9.9WPC at 1% THD.

 

[sholling]

I'd also avoid Dayton's DTA-120. I bought one to drive some surrounds in my office and they lasted 2 weeks before the left channel died.

 

[M Code]

Check out the Sherwood RX-4208 stereo receiver, NEW & rated @ 100W x 2 selling for $100, plus AM/FM tuner and remote control. Many sellers even on E-Bagger..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sherwood-RX-4208-200W-Audio-Video-Stereo-Receiver-with-AM-FM-Tuner-in-Black/162706357323?epid=691345609&hash=item25e20dfc4b:g:QLoAAOSwVC1Z29vb


Just my $0.02..

 

[bradymartin]

what about the denon 530bt?

its an avr but with coupon code i can get it out the door for $139 at frys electronics

 

[sholling]

I thought that sale expired?

 

[MrBoat]

I bought a used AVR and it powers my desktop and everything else I want to power with it along with my main system. It's just nice to know when you come across a certain pair of speakers or sub, you're pretty much covered. Bass management etc.

I had one AVR (Denon 3805) given to me, like new condition, and found another exactly like it locally for $75. I may even find another, or something similar to power my system at work.

 

[bradymartin]

i got the denon 530 along with sony core bookshelves

now i need a subwoofer.

any good option at less than $100?
this setup will be used mainly for music. its just a desktop setup small room

 

[MrBoat]

i got the denon 530 along with sony core bookshelves

now i need a subwoofer.

any good option at less than $100?
this setup will be used mainly for music. its just a desktop setup small room

With that budget and somewhat limited expectations, you could have done as well, really, with an active set of computer speakers/sub like the Harmon Kardan Sound sticks kit. I would check Parts Express to see what they have to offer. I mean, by this time next week/month or so, you could have $200? I see an 8" at Parts Express for around $100.

 

[lovinthehd]

Might try this sub for the $100 budget https://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090602&p_id=9723

 

[KEW]

i got the denon 530 along with sony core bookshelves

now i need a subwoofer.

any good option at less than $100?
this setup will be used mainly for music. its just a desktop setup small room

Monoprice has their 9723 12" sub for $79 right now, but you will probably get hit with an extra $40 or so for shipping (depending how far they ship)
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-subwoofer/
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=9723&AID=11051853&PID=5431261&ref=cj&utm_source=cj&utm_medium=11051853&utm_term=Skimlinks-3449840

Edit: I had price wrong and changed it to $79 (originally had $89 which was wrong).

 

[bradymartin]

With that budget and somewhat limited expectations, you could have done as well, really, with an active set of computer speakers/sub like the Harmon Kardan Sound sticks kit. I would check Parts Express to see what they have to offer. I mean, by this time next week/month or so, you could have $200? I see an 8" at Parts Express for around $100.

never heard of that harmon kardan kit deal but i can still return both the sony core speakers and denon 530. i really didnt want to spend over $200 so i see im already going over budget. plan was lepai amp with sony cores.
just googled the harmon kardan sound sticks and they look intriguing. i actually saw them at frys and they sounded pretty good. but i completely forgot about them. hmmm thanks for that recommendation i might go that route

 

[KEW]

With that budget and somewhat limited expectations, you could have done as well, really, with an active set of computer speakers/sub like the Harmon Kardan Sound sticks kit. I would check Parts Express to see what they have to offer. I mean, by this time next week/month or so, you could have $200? I see an 8" at Parts Express for around $100.

I agree...if he sits at the desk and listens from about 3-5 feet away. However, if he uses it from across the room and like to crank it a bit, the Sony Core and Monoprice Sub would do a much better job.
I'm probably mixing people up but I remember something about using the desktop setup as HT and sitting across the room.
So Brady, how will you use?

 

[bradymartin]

Monoprice has their 9723 12" sub for $79 right now, but you will probably get hit with an extra $40 or so for shipping (depending how far they ship)
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-subwoofer/
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=9723&AID=11051853&PID=5431261&ref=cj&utm_source=cj&utm_medium=11051853&utm_term=Skimlinks-3449840

Edit: I had price wrong and changed it to $79 (originally had $89 which was wrong).

im in l.a. so total price shipped is $95.43
but full specs on that sub say frequency response is 50? the sony cores go down to 53 i believe so im confused

still, im very intrigued by that harman kardon soundstick recommended above. they had them playing a movie like a month or so ago and i recognize them. they did not sound half bad.im looking at youtube reviews right now. i see that its wireless and has bluetooth but $229. i might just wait for a frys coupon code on those. i wont pay that much for them.

 

[MrBoat]

im in l.a. so total price shipped is $95.43
but full specs on that sub say frequency response is 50? the sony cores go down to 53 i believe so im confused

still, im very intrigued by that harman kardon soundstick recommended above. they had them playing a movie like a month or so ago and i recognize them. they did not sound half bad.im looking at youtube reviews right now. i see that its wireless and has bluetooth but $229. i might just wait for a frys coupon code on those. i wont pay that much for them.

I saw them recently for $149 at Amazon.

I own a set of these and powered my 12' x 20' living room with them for about 4-5 years. They have a larger sound than what they look like they ought to.

 

[KEW]

im in l.a. so total price shipped is $95.43
but full specs on that sub say frequency response is 50? the sony cores go down to 53 i believe so im confused

still, im very intrigued by that harman kardon soundstick recommended above. they had them playing a movie like a month or so ago and i recognize them. they did not sound half bad.im looking at youtube reviews right now. i see that its wireless and has bluetooth but $229. i might just wait for a frys coupon code on those. i wont pay that much for them.

Pretty sure Monoprice made a "cut n paste" error!
the 8" version of this sub shares the same manual and it specs 50Hz to 250Hz for both subs. It is very unlikely that an 8" and 12" sub of the same series would have no difference in low frequency capability. I'll see if I can find something conclusive on this!

 

[KEW]

Okay, if you got to the Wirecutter article and scroll down until you see a chart/graph.
The second from the top line is for the Monoprice and it puts out a maximum of about 90dB at 20Hz, about 98dB at 25Hz, about 106dB at 31.5Hz, and about 110dB at 40Hz. So Monoprice screwed the pooch on their specifications!
They did not measure the actual frequency response (the graph is of the maximum capability of the sub, not FR); however, I would comfortably say this sub is good for upper 20Hz territory or better based on those numbers with the benefit of some room gain and considering Brent Butterworth's comments:

Unlike some of the smaller subwoofers we tested, the 9723 sounds like a “real” subwoofer. Its addition to a stereo system is not subtle; it adds a lot more bass, enough to shake my listening chair when playing the deep bassline on Olive’s “Falling” or the explosions of depth charges in U-571. It even reproduced some of the ultra-deep pipe organ tones from the Saint-Saëns symphony, something most of the other subs we tried couldn’t do at all. It gave my system a nice full, satisfying bottom end without sounding boomy or annoying. “By far the best,” Geoff said, describing the sound much as I did.