extreme noob questions :D

[Kris_H]

hello people, i have a few questions

firstly, please dont bog me down with tech abreviations, i really dont know anything about audio equipment.... and hell what i am planning on doing would probably be close to heresy for some (if not most) of you guys...

but heres my questions...

i will soon be grabbing a pair of mission speakers from my dad...who is getting a 5.1 system... they are two loud speaker (i dont know the spec or model..im sure i can get that info tomorrow when i go visit )

and ill be using these to upgrade my (make sure u are sitting) pc audio system...

now currently this is just pc speakers coming directly from my pc, 3.5inch jack to 3.5 inch jack...

now look at this (the amp i think i should get)http://www.musiciansbuy.com/mmMBCOM/images/behringer/behringer_a500_Rear.jpg

am i right to assume that each separate input powers each seperate speaker, and that the two knobs on the front are independent volume for left/right speakers (i actually winced at that question myself) if so do i need to buy a cable like....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5mm-Jack-to-2-RCA-5M-audio-cable-GOLD-FAST-POST_W0QQitemZ5846344255QQcategoryZ31492QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...now that the cabling is out of the way, how would the amp interact with my pc... is it a case of the amp just makes whatever comes out of my pc louder (so i use my pc to set bass /treble etc) and what about volume... if i turn the volume down on my pc settings, would the amp still keep it loud

(as i hopefully become more of connoisseur (but before i a real system) ill probably want to upgrade my pc's sound card... any suggestion on what i could get for 80-150 pounds (thats british ))


right anyway thanks for reading, hopefully i havent disgusted u audiophiles too much, any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Kris_H]

*edit*

i thought i saw a soundcard with 2 rca output... which i didnt...

though the question i posed before the edit is still valid.. will i need to get a new soundcard to really appreciate any difference

maybe something like
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=14066

id hate to think i was wasting my money on the amp by not upgrading for my normal no thrills sound card

 

[jcPanny]

Amp connections.

Yes the A500 is a great amp and should work well for any 4-8 ohm speakers. Yes you will need a cable like the one you linked from ebay. You can also pick up these adapters at radio shack to save on shipping.

If the A500 is too expensive, check out the amps from AudioSource. Just get one with a volume control so you can limit the maximum volume level to the speakers regaurdless of the PC's setting.

I would try out your existing sound card before upgrading it, but obviously the Amp and speakers can only sound as good as the source.

 

[ExtraCheese]

Sounds like a great idea. I just got the A500 and am very pleased with it. Make sure you are connecting from the line-out of the soundcard, not the headphone jack. Not connecting to the right source could potentially damage things...

There could also be an issue with the input impedance on the A500. I doubt the expected output load impedance of your soundcard is something that is easily accessible, but if you experience sound quality problems, this might be the reason.

As jcPanny says, just get the amp and try it out. Good luck. =)

 

[Kris_H]

oki doki, im gonna go for it... it may be a humble start, but i hope it sounds good

ill erm let u know what it sounds like. although im sure my opinion wont be very informed lol

 

[Kris_H]

oh btw i have 2 mission 702e

they are rated at 100watt... so would this amplifier be likely to cause damage if im not careful?

i read a forum saying that to do damage theyd need to be really really loud... but knowing some of my friends they'd end up walking in and turning it up before i had time to run and shout stop

i was wondering if there a way to limit how loud they get if needed..

i read this

-Independent thermal overload protection with LED indicator for each channel automatically protects amplifier and speakers -

whats that all about then ?

 

[jcPanny]

Amp options.

-Independent thermal overload protection with LED indicator for each channel automatically protects amplifier and speakers -

whats that all about then ?

Kris, This will protect the amp from being overdriven and overheating, it will not protect your speakers. If you read some of the audioholics articles you will find that most speakers are damaged when the amp is overdriving and starts to clip the output signal and frys the tweeters. But as you suggested, the A500 is probably overkill. You might consider a less expensive AudioSource amp with 80-100 Watts per channel.

Alternately, if you every plan to expand to a multichannel HT, consider buying a receiver instead of an amp. An entry level model like the Yamaha HTR-5840 or Onkyo 503 will run about $200. It will include an AM/FM tuner and plenty of inputs for connecting audio and video sources.

 

[Ryan_Lilly]

To answer on of you questions, yes if you turn the volume down or up on your computer, it will change the output from you amp. I would put the volume up all the way on you computer(if it distorts or sounds bad turn it down a little) then adjust the volume controls on the amp up till it is about as loud as you will ever listen to it, and put the amp somwhere where you freinds cannot see it, and just use the volume on the computer.

 

[Kris_H]

thank you for your replies

ryan_lillie, thanks for that idea also.. ill put it on a high shelf so they cant fiddle.... and let them know not to touch unless they wanna pay to replace em

i think ill go with this amp.. as i imagine my first upgrade after this will be new speakers...

new second hand speakers... i guess ill save that for another post in the future

also jc, the sound card im getting has multiple inputs on the front... i guess in a way this will be acting as my reciever, as ill be etiher playing from my hdd, cd, dvd...or whatever i put into it (keyboard, guitar etc)

well im off tomorrow to buy my stuff, if its in stock

 

[shudster]

Hiya

I also have a few noob questions regarding using the A500 in a setup, and thought I'd add to this post.

I know pretty much nothing about component audio setups, so basically, I'm wondering if this setup wil work:

Source to http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=366

From the mixer to http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0508&CATID=15&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=443

The subs then run off the sub amp, and using the rca outs on the sub amp, then running the signal to the A500, which powers my mains.

So, for starters, will this setup work? Secondly, will using the mixer give me basic control of the sound? Thirdly, will there be any lag from the source to the speakers?

This setup is for a bit of unusual application, with an unusual mix of speakers, hence the DJ mixer, and sub amp.

Any help would be great guys.

Cheers,
Shud.