Maggies for my computer?

[AndrewLyles]

WHen I was first auditioning speakers I fell in love with the sound of maggies Maggies but didn't have the room for the 1.6's I desired. I'm upgrading my wretched computer soon and want to replace the speakers as well. My brilliant thought of the week was to get the wall mounted maggies and place then on either side of my desk and use the computer for the source. My only real problem with that is how do I amplify them? The smaller the solution the better as I have no real usable desk space so I'll probably put something on top of the computer tower...keep in mind that I'll probably need something to decode the signal from the computer as it will be comming out as an optical spdif most like...thanks and look forward to the suggestions!

 

[rumble]

I would just take the analog stereo line out from the sound card and run into a Behringer a500 amp. You will need some splitters/converters to adapt the 1/8" stereo out into two rca cables.

Those speakers should not be difficult to drive since you will be sitting so close to them. They do require an amp comfortable with 4-5 ohm loads though.

If you really want to use the spidf output from the sound card I would look at the panasonic digital receivers.

 

[markw]

What rumble said.

Just take the headphone or line out and feed it to an amplifier. The Beringer is great but I think an integrated amp or reciiver (which is an only integtrated with a tuner thrown in) would be a bit more flexible. Also, you'll most likely find you need subwoofer since those wall mounts were designed with one in mind and will sound, well, thin without one and the proper integated would afford that flexibility, as well as more control options. Perhaps one with pre outs and main ins, or perhaps a sub out. As far as integrateds go, I like NAD. They handle low impedances quite well.

 

[AndrewLyles]

Just take the headphone or line out and feed it to an amplifier. The Beringer is great but I think an integrated amp or reciiver (which is an only integtrated with a tuner thrown in) would be a bit more flexible. Also, you'll most likely find you need subwoofer since those wall mounts were designed with one in mind and will sound, well, thin without one and the proper integated would afford that flexibility, as well as more control options. Perhaps one with pre outs and main ins, or perhaps a sub out. As far as integrateds go, I like NAD. They handle low impedances quite well.

I had thought about the Behringer or a Crown as well, but I think those would be a bit large for the desktop environment. I'm not dealing with a rack mountable space so I"m trying to keep size and price to minimum. It had been suggested that an emotiva stereo amp might take the cake and the size seems a bit more reasonable, but the smaller the better here.

As far as the sub goes, I've thought about this and am having trouble finding a small sub. I have one now that came with my computer now but would love to get rid of it for something better. I don't think I need anything near what I would consider for my main rig, just something to agment below 80hz a little...do they even make 6" subs?

 

[auujay]

AudioSource Amp One/A

I used an AudioSource Amp One/A to power my DV62si's by my computer. When I bought it was just over $200, ubid sells them now for $70 (before shipping) for a refurbed unit. This had plenty of power to push my speakers.

I much prefer this amp to the "pro-audio" amps because it is passively cooled and has a rather slim profile. Mine is tucked into the "keyboard" slot/tray of my Walmart desk (I have not had any problems with it getting too hot either). Compared to the emotiva amp it is much wider but thinner.

 

[EnzoPolotso]

If you're not going to use a digital output you need at least some kind of decent soundcard. Going from a line-out or headphone output is going to sound terrible from any onboard soundcards.

 

[xboxweasel]

Similar setup.

This is what I am running for PC speakers. Nothing fancy like your maggies. I am using a Harmon Kardon PA2200 amp (100W/channel @ 8ohms) with a pait of Klipsch RF35's. The stanton mixer is being used as a pre amp. I don't trust the PC on board sound card. It's software controlled. If for some reason something (applications, winblows, etc) decides to max out the volume I am going to blow speaker chunks all over the office. I bought the amp used. I was thinking of going with the Behringer, because it comes with volume knobs. But they were not stock in the 4 cities around where I live. Some of the authorized dealers did not even know of the A500. But after my inquiry they are going to start stocking them.

How I love the sound from big speakers.

I still need to clean up the cables though.

 

[jaxvon]

WHen I was first auditioning speakers I fell in love with the sound of maggies Maggies but didn't have the room for the 1.6's I desired. I'm upgrading my wretched computer soon and want to replace the speakers as well. My brilliant thought of the week was to get the wall mounted maggies and place then on either side of my desk and use the computer for the source. My only real problem with that is how do I amplify them? The smaller the solution the better as I have no real usable desk space so I'll probably put something on top of the computer tower...keep in mind that I'll probably need something to decode the signal from the computer as it will be comming out as an optical spdif most like...thanks and look forward to the suggestions!

I agree. The A500 should be a decent amp. It isn't tiny, but it isn't huge like some amplifiers. I know of nothing else that is compact that has comparable value. You can find similarly powerful amps that are smaller, but they cost at least an arm, if not and arm and a leg. I bet that if you were crafty you could figure out a way to mount the A500 underneath your desk or some other inconspicuous place. As far as connections go, I would opt for a quality sound card or a preamp with a digital input as most onboard sound controllers have noise issues that will come out with a system of any higher quality than PC speakers. If you have some cash to swing, you may want to opt for a compact integrated amp. AV123's Onix makes a couple that are definitely desktop-friendly and crank out plenty of power, though they only have analog input (necessitating a quality sound card). My recommendation for a sound card would be (if you don't want surround and aren't interested in future capability) the M-Audio Audiophile:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=361112&prodlist=froogle

Here's my sub recommendation (use the speaker-level inputs):

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=subwoofers&product=12.1

And here are some integrated options (used, but the prices rock):

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1177537120
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1176689475
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1175208342
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1174962732

And here's the link for Onix electronics so you can read up on their integrated amps.

http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=processors&brand=33