Where to start?

[INTI]

I have a couple of Athena bookshelf speakers that I would like to run from my Ipod. I'm guessing I need to have an amplifier or receiver in order to complete the connection. I don't have any interest in playing anything other than music on my Ipod (no radio, no home theater), so I would guess an amp is what I need. Would a two channel amplifier work? What component configurations can I use for an Ipod as a line input source?

In advance, thank you for your time and effort.

INTI

 

[Midcow2]

two channel receiver

Get a cable with a stereo mini plug on one end and two RCA jacks on the other end: right(red) and left (white). Buy a new ( or used) two channel amplifier. Conncet to the right and left audio in. Connect the speakers to the speaker out.

designed specifically for the IPOD> Here a pretty cool one (a little price at $299.95) from Sharper Image. The ipod go into a base with recahrgeable portable wireless speakers.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__GF306


Here is cheaper IPOd dock at $117.

http://sector29.com/PRODUCT_PAGES/120/120-JV-I-7500-JV-I-7500.html

 

[bandphan]

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4186217 here an inexpensive receiver, with a little room to grow with subwoofer output for powered sub, and mp3/ipod cable supplied.

 

[INTI]

Thanks for the info....

Thanks for the info and suggestions. This is probably a total newbie question, but what do I need to look for in an amplifier or receiver when matching it to the speakers? Below is the link to my speakers specifications:

athenaspeakers.com/modelASB2specs.htm (sorry for the bad link, but they wouldn't allow me to post it on my second post on the site)

150 Watts
8 ohms

When an amplifier or reciever says they have 80 watts per channel at 4 ohms does that mean the speakers will be underutilized?

One thing I didn't mention in my first post is that I already have a Yamaha RX-V850 receiver and CDC-625 5-disc changer. They both take up a lot of room and I don't use CDs anymore so I wanted to downsize to something more managable and in line with my music needs. Do you think either of these units have value?

 

[bandphan]

8ohms is a fairly easy load, the lower the speaker ohm the more demanding on the amp.

the yama would be fine to drive the speakers, but if your looking for something smaller in size, look at seth=l teac system. But you have something that works so unless you have to dont change it.

 

[Twexcom]

Good luck.

 

[jcPanny]

stereo amp

Check out some of the T-amps. There are very compact and inexpensive but don't have lots of power. It would work well for your iPod music in a small room.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-958&FTR=T-Amp&CFID=18828508&CFTOKEN=44655331

Audio source also makes some inexpensive amplifiers.