Playing MP3 player with loudspeakers and a receiver

[narecupio]

Hi,

I wasn't satisfied with my computer speakers, so I went searching for bigger ones - loudspeakers / bookshelf speakers.

I found out that those speakers do require a receiver. However, I have always thought playing through a receiver is for home theather system, TV, game console, etc., not a small MP3 player.

So, my question is, if I do get a receiver and two loudspeakers for my living room (an apartment, I don't think having louder sound is allowed here) and play it with my MP3 player, would I be getting lower quality of sound than playing it with different source other than MP3 player like Stereo system, computer, etc.?

Thank you for your help.

 

[markw]

Several issues here.

Yes, you need some sort of an amplifier to drive speakers. A receiver is the best bang for the buck.

These come in plain vanilla two-channel stereo as qell as the full-blown HT scenario. For MP3's, all you really need is two channels. Decent Two-channel stereo receivers NIB start at < $100 (best buy's Insignia brand, some Sherwoods and maybe others).

Likewise, you might find a bargain at a garage sale o or some other means. With these, all you need is a cable from a dollar store to connect an MP3 player.

As for sound quality, well, it'll be light years better with a receiver and speakers than it is through your headphones or computer speakers. Will YOUR* MP3 be the end-all and be-all for sound? Maybe, maybe not, but at least you'll now be set for other sources, the receiver's radio, a CD player, your computer, perhaps a turntable, and who knows what else.

* Depending on the compression rate you used to jam the music onto your MP3, you can get some pretty decent sound from it. The lower the bit-rate the "less pleasing" your sound is likely to be. I use WMA on a Sandisk Sansa and it rivals a CD player.

 

[juliusdeane]

My sound card has an optical out, and I use it to play compressed music through my 2.0 system. Not the greatest sound, but it's better than I thought it would be.

I know a lot of receivers have iPod input/control add-ons.