Cheap attractive way to power speakers?

[axiomflash]

Hello from a greenhorn audiophile! Hope I can find some help with my question.

I have three unpowered speakers (two towers and a center channel) which I would like to power somehow. I want to set these up in my small home office, and use my computer as the audio source.

A cheap home receiver is the obvious answer, but it seems like this is overkill. I really don't need any more inputs/outputs than (Stereo RCA input -> powered output to three speakers), nor even a remote. Hoping to find some sort of amp that can plug into the wall and be hidden away. My searches for amps have only turned up automobile amps or expensive pro components.

Can you suggest a simple solution?

 

[GranteedEV]

A 3 channel integarted amp with a small profile could be tough. I really can't help you at this time because i'm sleepy and can't think.

more importantly... we've got an Ugg-goblin

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello from a greenhorn audiophile! Hope I can find some help with my question.

I have three unpowered speakers (two towers and a center channel) which I would like to power somehow. I want to set these up in my small home office, and use my computer as the audio source.

A cheap home receiver is the obvious answer, but it seems like this is overkill. I really don't need any more inputs/outputs than (Stereo RCA input -> powered output to three speakers), nor even a remote. Hoping to find some sort of amp that can plug into the wall and be hidden away. My searches for amps have only turned up automobile amps or expensive pro components.

Can you suggest a simple solution?

It's having three speakers that is making your search impossible.

Why do you need three speakers? Two are quite sufficient for a situation like yours.

 

[axiomflash]

You are right that two are sufficient. I have the third already–this was previously my home theater setup, and that third speaker is the center channel. I could always lose that one.

 

[JerryLove]

Three plate-amps for subs from Parts Express? You could literally mount them in the wall.

An emotiva UPA-3?

What are you using for gain control and what are you using to generate 3 channels?

 

[sholling]

Let's back up and figure out what you plan to play. If it's music then you don't need a center, just two speakers and possibly a subwoofer. If that's the case then you'll probably want to use digital output from your computer to a digital input in a receiver. That eliminates any interference and issues from cheap sound card amp sections. If the goal is gaming or movies then 3 channel makes sense but once again so does a receiver.

 

[Seth=L]

I may have the solution.

Very attractive, and your definition of cheap could be different than mine, but I feel it would fill the void nicely. I recently sold the slightly larger brother of this to a guy for $200 in a very similar situation to yours, where he wanted to use it with his computer with quality components vs. cheap/cheesy PC speakers. It is a stereo receiver, as you can tell from the picture it is very compact. Since this is a lower model than the other one and I don't have the remote I'd be happy to sell this one for $120 + shipping costs. The CD player is not included in the sale because it has a tracking problem. Until I can get it fixed it's worth maybe $20. If you're handy with electronics you might pick it up to see if you can repair it.

Let me know what you think.

Transformers Blu-ray, not included.

I haven't taken a snap shot of the rear yet, but it would look like this.

Notice it has two tape loops, 4 standard analog inputs and a phono input to top it off. Headphone output on these units is solid.

 

[Seth=L]

I took some images of the one I have to show it's size/condition. It's sitting on top of a standard sized stool. Basically it's a half width component, two of these side by side would be approximately the same width as a standard sized component.

 

[Seth=L]

The OP has disappeared into the abyss.

 

[Pyrrho]

The cheap way is to go to a thrift store and buy an old surround receiver.