Wondering if a pre amp would work to power speakers

[mercyplease]

Hi,
I'm really not new to audio equipment, a made a few investments on audio equipment in the past. but now i have a maybe unusual question.
I know that I can buy a preamp to plug into the wall at 110 volts,
and i was wondering if i can bypass a receiver totally.
I'm kind of out of room and I'm using a computer with a fiber optic soundcard.
is there a way i could hook this up without a reciever? so, basicly, what i'm wondering is, is it possible to hook up LSI9 polk speakers to a preamp to power them, and then hook up a fiber optic input??? also, give me a goood brand and model number for a preamp that would be suitable to power the speakers and has a fiber optic in.

 

[markw]

Nope.

Simply put, you need to use a power amp between the preamp and the speakers. Ain't no way around that.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

If you just want a small fairly cheap amp get one of those Sonic T-amps. I think mine was around $50. And its battery or wall wart powered.

Probably puts out no more than 10watts so use it with efficicent speakers.

 

[mercyplease]

ok,
so what do you call a power amp?
and what do you call a preamp?
is a power amp a reciever? ifit is then i don't need a preamp, right?

 

[mercyplease]

I really don't want a fairly cheap one, i want a good one for cheap

If you just want a small fairly cheap amp get one of those Sonic T-amps. I think mine was around $50. And its battery or wall wart powered.

Probably puts out no more than 10watts so use it with efficicent speakers.

 

[Nick250]

I really don't want a fairly cheap one, i want a good one for cheap

Buying at pawn shops has worked very well for one of the forum members.

Nick

 

[MDS]

ok,
so what do you call a power amp?
and what do you call a preamp?
is a power amp a reciever? ifit is then i don't need a preamp, right?

- An amp amplifies a low level ('line level') signal to be much stronger to drive speakers.

- A pre-amp is before the amplifier (hence 'pre') and is where you connect all your source devices, like a CD/DVD player, tape deck, etc. It provides all of the switching between different inputs. Nowadays, most pre-amps are also processors that contain decoders for the various formats available like Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.

- A receiver is a pre-amp/processor and an amp and a radio tuner all in one box.

 

[mercyplease]

ok,
So your saying i can't power them without a reciever.
could anybody recommend me a good reciever 2 channel that would be suitable to power the LSI 9 polk speakers. I had harman kardon in the past but i think there are better once out there already, i would like a nice and solid one thats been around for a few years thats been proven to be stable.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

You could read the reviews on Sonic T amps. They are usually favorable.

I belive the one I have has a single input. It's either RCA or stereo mini.

 

[markw]

Seems to be a bit of scope creep slipping in here.

Combining your first post and your most current, are you looking for a two channel amp that can accept a fibre optic input?

Finding a two channel receiver is no problem. Actually, if it weren't fore that pesky optical input, you could do well wit han integrated amp.

Finding two channl units that accept fibre optic inputs is a bit more difficult and expensive. You're most likely a more cost-effective solution to find that among the multi-channel receivers.

And, stating a budget to accomplish what you expect would be helpful.

 

[mercyplease]

Lets just say i would buy a used one for under $500 on ebay.
ohh, a multi channel would be fine, i only said 2 channel because of price.
what could i do with this??? would i still need a preamp??
http://cgi.ebay.com/Technics-SH-AC500D-Dolby-Digital-DTS-decoder_W0QQitemZ270051935818QQihZ017QQcategoryZ14978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Combining your first post and your most current, are you looking for a two channel amp that can accept a fibre optic input?

Finding a two channel receiver is no problem. Actually, if it weren't fore that pesky optical input, you could do well wit han integrated amp.

Finding two channl units that accept fibre optic inputs is a bit more difficult and expensive. You're most likely a more cost-effective solution to find that among the multi-channel receivers.

And, stating a budget to accomplish what you expect would be helpful.

 

[markw]

Won't work

Lets just say i would buy a used one for under $500 on ebay.
ohh, a multi channel would be fine, i only said 2 channel because of price.
what could i do with this??? would i still need a preamp??
http://cgi.ebay.com/Technics-SH-AC500D-Dolby-Digital-DTS-decoder_W0QQitemZ270051935818QQihZ017QQcategoryZ14978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's just a processor. You still need a preamp and a power amp. Again, if you want to save money, start looking at multichannel receivers.

 

[MDS]

That is a Dolby Digital processor and does not amplify anything.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If the sound card in your computer is the source for music you could just buy a pair of powered monitor speakers that have optical inputs OR you could buy a low end multi-channel receiver (but then you have to buy speakers too).

 

[mercyplease]

rite now i have roland fiber optic speakers and i'm not quiet impressed with the sound, and they are powered studio speakers like you said.
so i would like to use the polk speakers but i was thinking i could bypass the receiver part since computer would be the only sourse i want, but i figured i would use just a power amp or something to give the speakers power.

That is a Dolby Digital processor and does not amplify anything.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If the sound card in your computer is the source for music you could just buy a pair of powered monitor speakers that have optical inputs OR you could buy a low end multi-channel receiver (but then you have to buy speakers too).

 

[j_garcia]

You still need something to control the volume and accept the input. It sounds like what you need is a receiver, stereo or multichannel.

You may also look into an integrated amp - which is a stereo amp and a preamp with no processing like the PM7200 in my sig. You can pick up a used Marantz or NAD integrated for 200-300 easily, though these generally also do not have digital inputs.

 

[markw]

Caerful, J

You may also look into an integrated amp - which is a stereo amp and a preamp with no processing like the PM7200 in my sig.

Unless this has an optical input, it won't work for him.

You can pick up a used Marantz or NAD integrated for 200-300 easily, though these generally also do not have digital inputs.

Yep. Very True. Tt's that danged optical input requirement that mandates a MC receiver on him.

 

[mercyplease]

yes, it needs fiber optic. i'm not ever sure if a reciever has one, do they??

Unless this has an optical input, it won't work for him.

Yep. Very True. Tt's that danged optical input requirement that mandates a MC receiver on him.

 

[jaxvon]

yes, it needs fiber optic. i'm not ever sure if a reciever has one, do they??

Most modern multichannel receivers have optical inputs. It would be very odd for a unit to *not* have one.

 

[markw]

You seem to doubt the abilities of us to provide good answers to your questions.

yes, it needs fiber optic. i'm not ever sure if a reciever has one, do they??

If you think we're all that stupid that you have to try to second guess everything we say, then perhaps one of the local big box stores or Radio Shack would be more to your liking. You can ask them all the redundant questions you want face to face.

Now, I suggest you find out what a multi-channel (HT) receiver is. I think J Garcia went over this with you earlier this year, no? From that processor you brought up before, I kinda doubt it. Either that, ot you didn't even bother to understand what he wrote.

I think you've just about used up all of your lifelines.

 

[mercyplease]

wait a minute.....wasn't that kind of jumping the gun.
I was considering each post you guys made and i read them each carefully and i considered everything. now please don't say i don't believe you.
And as far as asking the Radio shack store, they don't know even have of what this forums thought me already, they are clueless in most cases (at least in my area)
and i know what a multichannal reciever is, I have and had at least 5 of them 3 were harman kardons and i never asked anything near this question a year ago, that an application i setup 2 months ago when i bought the roland powered studio speaker. and for your info, i think forums are to discuss things like that, correct me when i mislead you. if i did sorry,