Help With Subwoofer And Speakers???

[kaybee1998]

Okay, I'm getting a "Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer" and "Micca Motion Series MB42 Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter" and I need to know how to connect them. The subwoofer is 460 watts and the speakers are 75 watts each, the subwoofer has a built in amp but the speakers do not. Can I plug the speakers into the subwoofer to power them? Or will it blow them up? Do I need to purchase an amp for the speakers separately? If so, will it blow up the subwoofer? I am also going to be mainly using my iPod for this, will it power them? And also, if I use a "Belkin Rockstar Multi Headphone Splitter" will I be able to plug in various other small speakers? So again my question is; how do I connect them? lol. I have absolutely NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to this sort of thing, any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks so much, Caleb

 

[Alex2507]

Hey there. Welcome to AH. The first thing I'd like to ask is if you have no idea what you're doing why are you doing that? You said you are getting, not that you got so let's start there. Why? Is it from a friend or something like that?

Anyway the speakers need an amplified signal from something like a receiver. Do you have one?

 

[kaybee1998]

I already have a subwoofer and speakers but it's a lot more simple than the one that I'm going to get. The REASON that I'm getting it is because I want an upgrade to the one that I have now. I'm buying it new from Amazon. No, I don't have a receiver and don't even no what that is...lol. I've done a lot of research on the subwoofer and speakers and I'm certain that those are the ones that I want. But, if you have any suggestions on other brands that are better and around the same price I'd be happy for you to tell me. Thank you for welcoming me, by the way.

 

[Alex2507]

I looked up those speakers and saw that Amazon had them for about 60 bucks. I don't have any recommendations in that price range but if they're an upgrade and that's what you want, cool. Here's the wiki page for AV Receiver. There's probably another page explaining Stereo receiver too. You can google that stuff as it comes up.

Are you using your current sub and speakers with a computer? What is your current sub and speakers? I'm just trying to figure out where you're at and where you're going kind of thing. Where's the audio coming from (CD?, MP3?) and how are you listening to it now?

 

[kaybee1998]

I'm not using them with my computer, I'm using them with my iPod touch (5th generation). The ones that I'm currently using are "Cyber Acoustics Subwoofer Satellite System (CA-3602a)". For the price they're pretty good I think. What is a good brand of receiver? And what is the difference between receivers and amplifiers? Is there a difference? If so, which is better? And should I get a stereo receiver or an AV receiver? Sorry for asking so many questions lol.

 

[Alex2507]

I'm not using them with my computer, I'm using them with my iPod touch (5th generation). The ones that I'm currently using are "Cyber Acoustics Subwoofer Satellite System (CA-3602a)". For the price they're pretty good I think. What is a good brand of receiver? And what is the difference between receivers and amplifiers? Is there a difference? If so, which is better? And should I get a stereo receiver or an AV receiver? Sorry for asking so many questions lol.

It's good to ask questions. Everybody starts at the same place. A rec'r is a tuner, a pre-amp and amp all rolled into one. Because they make so many of them they are cheaper than getting separates (pre-amp and amp). The pre amp amongst other things would have a volume control.

Okay, so your budget is around $260 from what I can see and you need a rec'r to power up the speakers so that means more money. Now that I have an idea of what is going on I can say that you might do better to scrap the sub and passive speaker idea in favor of an active speaker solution like the Rokit 5 speakers. It's close to your current budget and considerably lower if you factor in the cost of a rec'r.

I would wait to hear from some other guys on here that know a little more about active speaker options for ipods. That seems to be what you're after. In terms of sound quality these Rokits are known to be good. I've heard the Rokit 8s in person and have heard from a reliable source that the Rokit 6s are also good. I'm pretty sure that you could add a sub down the line as your budget allows and then you may very well want to make a better choice than the Polk.

I'd like it if some of you iPeople would back me up or provide some other options. Can we get some iHelp over here?

 

[ImcLoud]

Since you are using your IPOD, why not just get an intregrated amplifier and don't bother with a receiver...

Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amp w/o pow 310-301

then hook your ipod up with
Ziotek ZT1900666HC1 6-Feet Ipod 30Pin To Rca Stereo Cable, White - Amazon.com

install a 1 of these on each line out from the ipod adapter Amazon.com : Monster ILJRY-1 F Single Female RCA to Dual Male RCA Y-Adapter : Electronics

then run a set of these to the amp and a set to the sub Amazon.com : Monoprice 1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black : Electronics

then run speaker wires from the amp to the bookshelf speakers...

EZ PZ Lemon Squee-Z

them links with the cables in them are just for example you may be able to find better ones cheaper... but that is where I would start...
Hook the ipod up to the ipod cable, install a splitter on each end of that cable, then install 1 rca plug from each stereo cable onto eac hsplitter, then plug a set into the amp and a set into the sub...

I would also install a set of these in the amplifier...
Amazon.com: FMOD Crossover Pair 100 Hz High Pass: Electronics

that will ensure your amplifiers power is going towards making mids and highs, not reproducing bass that the sub woofer is taking care of anyway...

good luck and welcome to the forum, you can have a decent sounding system there for cheap money, I own that lepai amp and it is impressive, paired with some efficient speakers its loud enough for a medium sized room for sure...

What is your actual budget, you would be much better served with a set of used bookshelfs IMO, look on ebay for some used infinity rs125 or 225 's, or maybe some mirage M190 's, or some boston acoustics, polks, ect. there are plenty of good used bookshelfs out there in the sub $100 range...

Let me know your actual budget and what you have and want specifically, like I have my ipod, but want 2 speakers, and a sub with all the wires needed for $300...

 

[kaybee1998]

I don't really have a budget, it doesn't really matter how much I spend. I just don't want to spend a whole lot is all. I'm pretty set on getting this subwoofer. Since it's already got its own amp built in, what if I just used a pair of speakers that don't need an amp? Because I have some pretty good (in my opinion) speakers that don't require an amp (my iPod can run them by itself). If I can simply get the subwoofer and then use some of my own speakers with it, I wouldn't need anything else to go with it, right?

And yes, some "iHelp" would be nice.

 

[kaybee1998]

I will look at all of those links that you posted. So basically, I don't have a budget but I don't want to spend a whole lot (under $300 preferably) and I'll be using my iPod with them. I think (if it will work) that I'm going to buy the subwoofer and then use a pair of speakers with it that don't require an amp. I'm waiting for the other person's reply. By the way, I can't use the 30 pin cables, I have to use a lightning cable, Apple changed it.

 

[ImcLoud]

So you sub is $200 so that leaves $100 left for either a pair of powered bookshelfs or a pair of passives with an amp or receiver and all the cables needed...

 

[kaybee1998]

Yeah, basically. If it will work I'm probably just going to use a pair of speakers that I already have and just buy the subwoofer.

 

[Alex2507]

I'm probably just going to use a pair of speakers that I already have and just buy the subwoofer.

Glad we could help.

 

[kaybee1998]

Yeah, basically. If it will work I'm just going to buy the subwoofer and use an old pair of speakers that I have with it.