newbie needs help picking an amp

[darthpaul]

I have a pair of 250watt sony floor speakers, but neither my cd player nor mp3 player have enough power to drive both. So I was looking for an amp.

It's not clear to me what size amp I need. I've seen other posts where a pyle mini 40watt amp was enough (even though the amp was only rated to 10watts).

Really I just need to power these speakers and crank them up a bit, but I don't have any experience matching amp power to speaker wattage.

 

[oppman99]

Are you talking about a separate stand alone amplifier or an audio video reciever? I'm guessing the second one is what you are looking for unless you have volume control on the CD player. Stand alone amps rated at lower than 250 Watts can power those speakers but you will want volume control. Any of the major brand AVR's like Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz ect. will power them as well. The most simple solution would be to pick an AVR that has an input for an mp3 player. I don't hook my mp3 player in due to sound quality issues, but other members may have some good suggestion or solutions.

If you give us more information we should be able to offer better advice. Exactly what components do you have and what kind of budget do you have in mind?

 

[darthpaul]

I definitley wanted volume control on the amp (or avr). My cd player and mp3 players have thier oen volume, but I was thinking I'd have better (more) control on the output and total volume from the amp.

I've seen the mini pyle 40watt amp with sound control for $50, and I was hoping that would be a decent enough sytem to get my feet wet and the tunes blaring at a low entry price.

 

[markw]

I definitley wanted volume control on the amp (or avr). My cd player and mp3 players have thier oen volume, but I was thinking I'd have better (more) control on the output and total volume from the amp.

I've seen the mini pyle 40watt amp with sound control for $50, and I was hoping that would be a decent enough sytem to get my feet wet and the tunes blaring at a low entry price.

If quality isn't in your plans, go ahead. It'll make lotsa noise when cranked up. Not music mind you, but noise.

If you want any sort of quality at all, I'd suggest you up your budget.

If $4 is tight, scour craigslist, ebay or local swap meets or garage sales for a working 30+ year old stereo receiver or amplifier.

 

[lsiberian]

I definitley wanted volume control on the amp (or avr). My cd player and mp3 players have thier oen volume, but I was thinking I'd have better (more) control on the output and total volume from the amp.

I've seen the mini pyle 40watt amp with sound control for $50, and I was hoping that would be a decent enough sytem to get my feet wet and the tunes blaring at a low entry price.

pyle tends to be equated with a pyle of ____

Save yourself the money. look around for an old used stereo receiver. Denon, Onkyo, Harman Kardon,Yamaha, and Marantz all make good stuff.

You never know you might find a deal.