New sound setup. - Overclock.net

xXDarkenSoulXx · 08-13-09

Well I'm currently saving up for a new sound system. Just want to know how much would I need to spend to have a decent 2.1 setup. ( In the $500-$600 range)

I'm currently looking at the ELT25m's paired with a Gizmo amp. Does anyone know of a better amp that doesn't cost that much more?
I also would need a sub to complete the setup.

Suggestions are highly welcomed.

**soloz2** · 08-13-09

for the price it's a pretty good amp. I had one and found you needed to spend quite a bit more to really blow it away.

Muftobration · 08-13-09

Those speakers seem good, based on reviews I just found through Google.

I would not get that amp. If you want to add a sub to complete the setup - which you do - you should get a receiver or some other kind of integrated amp (receivers are the easiest to find). I don't know much about your setup, but if you are using your computer as a source with the amp you linked to and want a subwoofer, you would have to run your PC output to a preamp and then connect the preamp to the amp as well as to a an active subwoofer or a subwoofer amp. A much easier solution is just getting an old receiver on eBay or craigslist and hooking up your PC output to that. In this scenario, you only have to send the subwoofer pre-out to the sub or sub amp and can connect the speakers directly to the receiver. Another benefit is that if the headphone out has low noise, you can use the receiver for all of your audio needs (I have some with annoying levels of noise and some with no noise at all).

Sound quality of the amp is not something you need to consider right now. The speakers are what you want to put money into, not the amp.

xXDarkenSoulXx · 08-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

for the price it's a pretty good amp. I had one and found you needed to spend quite a bit more to really blow it away.

Yep, I did quite a bit of reading before posting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muftobration

Those speakers seem good, based on reviews I just found through Google.

I would not get that amp. If you want to add a sub to complete the setup - which you do - you should get a receiver or some other kind of integrated amp (receivers are the easiest to find). I don't know much about your setup, but if you are using your computer as a source with the amp you linked to and want a subwoofer, you would have to run your PC output to a preamp and then connect the preamp to the amp as well as to a an active subwoofer or a subwoofer amp. A much easier solution is just getting an old receiver on eBay or craigslist and hooking up your PC output to that. In this scenario, you only have to send the subwoofer pre-out to the sub or sub amp and can connect the speakers directly to the receiver. Another benefit is that if the headphone out has low noise, you can use the receiver for all of your audio needs (I have some with annoying levels of noise and some with no noise at all).

Sound quality of the amp is not something you need to consider right now. The speakers are what you want to put money into, not the amp.

Here's the part that I don't understand. Why would I need a pre-amp? Sorry for my noobness

, but what does a pre-amp do first?

Wouldn't I be able to connect the output from my sound card to the amp? And if I were to get a receiver, how would I connect a sub to it? I couldn't find one with a sub out at all.

Muftobration · 08-13-09

Let's assume you were to get the amp you listed. If that is the case, I assume you would connect it to your PC using a 3.5mm to RCA cable. The problem with this situation is that you have no place to send another signal to your subwoofer; This is where the preamp comes in. You can send the signal from your PC to a preamp with a sub out and RCA out, so then you can connect the RCA cables to the amp and the sub out to a sub.

If you are looking at receivers and can't find one with a sub out, you might be looking for the wrong thing. Any receiver built in the last ten years should have a subwoofer pre-out. If it has Dolby or DTS, you can be sure it is there.

I'm sorry for the brief and slightly unhelpful reply, but I need to get somewhere. Reply with more questions and I can answer them in about two hours.

xXDarkenSoulXx · 08-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muftobration

Let's assume you were to get the amp you listed. If that is the case, I assume you would connect it to your PC using a 3.5mm to RCA cable. The problem with this situation is that you have no place to send another signal to your subwoofer; This is where the preamp comes in. You can send the signal from your PC to a preamp with a sub out and RCA out, so then you can connect the RCA cables to the amp and the sub out to a sub.

If you are looking at receivers and can't find one with a sub out, you might be looking for the wrong thing. Any receiver built in the last ten years should have a subwoofer pre-out. If it has Dolby or DTS, you can be sure it is there.

I'm sorry for the brief and slightly unhelpful reply, but I need to get somewhere. Reply with more questions and I can answer them in about two hours.

Ok. So to use the gizmo amp I would need a preamp or a dac right? So no go.

Turns out that I was looking at the vintage receivers, thats why they didn't have sub outs.

Would something like this work?

Harman Kardon 3490

**soloz2** · 08-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muftobration

Those speakers seem good, based on reviews I just found through Google.

I would not get that amp. If you want to add a sub to complete the setup - which you do - you should get a receiver or some other kind of integrated amp (receivers are the easiest to find). I don't know much about your setup, but if you are using your computer as a source with the amp you linked to and want a subwoofer, you would have to run your PC output to a preamp and then connect the preamp to the amp as well as to a an active subwoofer or a subwoofer amp. A much easier solution is just getting an old receiver on eBay or craigslist and hooking up your PC output to that. In this scenario, you only have to send the subwoofer pre-out to the sub or sub amp and can connect the speakers directly to the receiver. Another benefit is that if the headphone out has low noise, you can use the receiver for all of your audio needs (I have some with annoying levels of noise and some with no noise at all).

Sound quality of the amp is not something you need to consider right now. The speakers are what you want to put money into, not the amp.

Don't post if you don't know what you're talking about.

First of all the amp the OP is considering has a subwoofer output, so not sure what you're talking about there....

And then the little comment about not worrying about getting a good amp... ***? why not? Buy quality and only buy once.

Muftobration · 08-13-09

Whoops! I didn't see the sub output behind those speaker terminals. In that case, you will do fine with that amp. I'm sorry I missed that and gave advice as though it were absent.

I worded my last two sentences carefully because I wanted to avoid the interpretation you took. Any amp he gets that can drive the speakers properly and reliably will sound the same. I do want him to consider the build quality of the amp and whether it has enough power to drive the speakers he chooses. I do not want him to consider the sound quality of the amp. Claims of massive differences between amps are outrageously overstated on every hi-fi forum you can find and I just wanted to make sure the OP did not get sucked into that mentality. Even if the differences people claim to hear are real, they would not be noticeable at this price point.

I would still get an old stereo receiver over that amp. There will be no difference for your application and you will save money that could go into a good sub or better speakers.

**soloz2** · 08-13-09

There are SQ differences between amps, I would say more so in budget or consumer audio. However, I would choose speakers first and then find a good amp to drive the speakers you want as the largest difference will come from the speakers.

Muftobration · 08-13-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

I would choose speakers first and then find a good amp to drive the speakers you want as the largest difference will come from the speakers.

We certainly see eye-to-eye on that.

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New sound setup.

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