Best speaker cables according to redditors
We found 2,209 Reddit comments discussing the best speaker cables. We ranked the 221 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 2,209 Reddit comments discussing the best speaker cables. We ranked the 221 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
![Mediabridge 16AWG Ultra Series Speaker Cable with Dual Gold Plated Banana Tips (6 Feet) - CL2 Rated - High Strand Count Copper (OFC) Construction - Black [New & Improved Version] (Part# SWT-06B)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OPX07mV3L.jpg)
Great gift! Does it have to be Best Buy? You can often do better elsewhere or even better used.
Stereo Receiver or for music and movies/TV, an AV receiver with HDMI connections.
Then add Speaker Wire or Basic and 4 Ways to Strip Wire - wikiHow.
Home Audio Guides: Intro to home stereo systems • Zeos Tutorials, Diagrams and Videos • r/audiophile Guide to Home Audio • Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening
Home Theater Guides: r/HTBuyingGuides FAQ • How to Set Up a Basic Home Theater System - Lifewire • How to Set Up Your Home Theater Receiver • Speaker Placement for Home Theater • TV vertically centered at eye level while seated • r/hometheater
Five feet of speaker wire is not as much as it sounds and 8ga is serious overkill for that setup. You can get terminated speaker wire or an entire spool for not much more. You will hear no difference with 16ga wire and you get so much more.
People already linked the other two $150 stereo receivers from Best Buy but there's also this one that you should be able to price match to Amazon for $130 (or just buy it from Amazon).
If you don't want a gigantic amplifier I also recommend the Topping MX3 for $94 at Amazon.
You're also going to need some speaker wire which is probably overpriced at Best Buy and some type of cable to get sound from your computer to an AV receiver if you don't want to use bluetooth.
People really need to spend a little bit more money on sound in their setups. A real 5.1 surround setup can be had for <$300 and even the cheapest option will blow any soundbar out of the water.
Go with a slightly smaller TV even if it means getting a receiver and some speakers, way more immersion for your dollar than anything else. And modern stuff with CEC keeps controlling everything super simple, i dont even need my Harmony remote anymore.
In this case a $50 2.1 set of computer speakers is an improvement over the tvs built in, but not by much, and not helped any having them all on the same little shelf like that either.
EDIT: https://smile.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3800-Channel-Theater-Package/dp/B01F3ENAOU/
https://smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/
https://smile.amazon.com/Mount-MI-1214-Surround-Satellite-Capacity/dp/B003R0AXPW/
$303 with enough wire to go the long way around and speaker stands, so no drilling even. Even if you dont have the biggest TV itll make everybody want to have movie night at your place.
I'll make a list of stuff you need. For the best "bang for your buck" in the $200ish price range.
-----------------------------------------
Speaker wire. Amazon Basics makes great stuff. If you want, you can get 100 feet of it for an extra $2 I think. You can get those monoprice banana plugs if you want. They just help if you're going to be switching speakers around a lot.
Simple wire stripper. Should work just fine.
Cable to plug it in. That'll just plug the amp into a computer. And that cable is amazing quality. For real. I don't know what it is about it, but the moment I touched that cable I knew it was special. This isn't a joke either. You'll understand when you get one. Trust me.
50 watt per channel amp. This thing will be more than enough. I just like it because it is open box, so cheap. The same one new on amazon is $65. If you want to order from amazon, you can just get the smsl sa-36a. Same amp, just 20 watts per channel. Which, again, is plenty.
[Here's that cheaper smsl amp] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_U2NSBbTRHGFS5). I've got a few of them. They're great. This is what I'd go for if the other one is sold out.
Cheap but good little amp. I don't have one of these because I'm not a fan of the looks, but they get great reviews and a lot of people really like them.
---------------
Speakers:
Miccas. These things are nice for that price. In this price range, you really won't be getting anything better unless you go DIY.
Fluance SX6. These guys are big, but they throw a good amount of sound and some pretty deep bass for a pair of bookshelf speakers. Careful, they're pretty big.
Pioneer. These things are decent, but I think the Fluances would be better for this price. The SX6s throw more bass, which is good if you're not getting a sub. However, these are smaller.
Fluance signature series. I know, you said your budget is only $200, but you said if you need to spend more, then you will. These will sound better than all of the other speakers linked, however, that's not why they're here. I put them here for two reasons. The first is that they're front ported. Most people that are new to speakers might put them up against a wall or close to it, not understanding that the port needs some room to breathe. These have front ports so that's not a problem. The second reason, just look at them. If you really care about looks, these ones are the ones. They're beautiful. (My opinion obviously).
Oof almost forgot. Pleaae don't place the speakers directly on your desk.
--------------------------------
That's a lot. I'll sum it up with my opinion and why.
Amp: smsl sa36a. For close range, you don't need anything with more power. This thing will do whatever you need for bookshelf speakers.
Speakers: micca mb42x. Why? Here's why: for this price range, you won't notice a huge difference in any speakers, unless you get some bad ones. So, get the cheapest ones you can. Later on, if you can afford to upgrade them, you'll probably want to do that. Then you'll have a pair of $80 speakers that you don't need rather than a pair of 130 speakers that you don't need. Another reason I would pick the miccas is because they punch above their price range. Most people say they sound more like a pair of $125 speakers rather than a pair of $80 speakers. So, for real, they're good. Also, they're the smallest of the bunch.
Or, build a pair of C Notes and get something way better than any of these.
Hope this helps!
KEF Q100 ($250)
Micca AD250 DAC/Amp ($100)
Micca speaker wire ($20)
Dayton SUB-1000 ($120)
3.5mm to RCA cable (for sub) ($8)
Total: $498
This would be a solid, solid setup for really fantastic value.
Granted this is a TINY bit over budget but I really think a subwoofer and a center channel are important to give you the home theater experience.
This would support modern codecs, Bluetooth/AirPlay etc be able to take hdmi in from your devices then send a single hdmi to your projector to feed it video.
Later on when you have the $, buy another pair of the MB42X and use them as surrounds.
Couldn't really find what I was looking for specifically, so I scoured a few subs and saw numerous suggestions. Ended up purchasing the following items:
Dayton Speakers
Lepy Amp
RCA to AUX
Polk Subwoofer
Speaker Wire
Super happy with these purchases. All in all it costed just about 200 bucks. For me, it's all I will ever need. Crisp sounds and heavy bass when I want it. Would consider shelling out for a better amp, but the amp provided should be sufficient if you aren't blasting your music.
Additionally, if you do plan on doing an audio set up of this nature, use this image to guide you. Also note that the DAC in the image would be your RCA to AUX if you were to use the set up I posted. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Give me about an hour and I'll edit this comment with store links to what I got.
Edit: Here is the list
Total - about 40 - 50 depending on where you get your stuff.
Get an Audio Technica AT-LP60 + an amplifier + speakers + speaker wire. That's what I have and it cost me less than $180. Here's the Amazon links for everything I have:
Record player
Speakers
Pre-amp
Speaker wire
STAY AWAY FROM CROSLEYS OR ANYTHING WITH BUILT IN SPEAKERS. DO NOT BUY A RECORD PLAYER UNDER $80. IT'S WORTH IT TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND GET A SETUP THAT WILL SOUND NICE AND WON'T DESTROY YOUR RECORDS. Can't stress that enough.
If you want to use the center channel you’ll need more than a basic 2-channel amp - you’ll need a home theater receiver. Any old 5.1 system will do. You should be able to get them used for well under $100. Their main downside is their size.
You’ll also need speaker cables - 16 gauge is fine unless you want to run them over 15-20 feet or so, then 14 ga may be an improvement.
Then run an aux cord from the PC sound out to auxiliary input on the receiver. You may need an adapter like this to go from 3.5mm to RCA inputs (or something that does a similar job).
No special audio interface needed if you’re not doing surround sound. Stereo input for the left/right/center channel is fine.
IMHO: A subwoofer isn't optional when it comes to dubstep. You'll be missing all the low-end (which let's be honest, is why we're all here) if you omit a decent sub from you set up. As far as amps (I call these receivers) go, you'd probably be best off visiting your local pawn shop or anywhere you can get pre-owned electronics and picking something up. I got mine for under $100CAD and it has power to spare. For ease of set-up I'd suggest finding something with dedicated subwoofer outputs on the back. As for speakers, these or these will do right by you. Personally I use this subwoofer, and it has the juice to have my entire house shaking. Wires are pretty much standard in my experience as long as you're talking about a simple home listening system. These wires would do fine for your needs. If you want a proper listening experience dont use bluetooth speakers, and dont skimp on a subwoofer.
Hope that helps, my dude!
To build a system using the minimum recommendations from this sub, let's start with this diagram: http://i.imgur.com/Z8FMJ.png
DAC is optional, so is a subwoofer but I recommend one.
DAC: Behringer UCA202 $29.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B000KW2YEI
Amplifier: SMSL SA-50 $68.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B00F0H8TOC
Subwoofer: Dayton Audio SUB-800 $99.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B0063NU30K
Bookshelf Speakers: Micca MB42X $89.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B00E7H8GG2
Wire: 16-gauge Speaker Wire $8.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B006LW0WDQ
With DAC, this cable: Stereo Male to 2 RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B00I0HPK6O
Without DAC, this cable: Monoprice 105597 3-Feet Premium Stereo Male to 2RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B0094A1F3S
This is a great starter system, I would have loved to had something like this starting out.
All of these pieces can be upgraded, do your research. Look for sales etc. Good luck and have fun.
Soundbars are pretty awful. If you are determined to get one, just Google it and get whatever.
However, you should really consider a stereo setup instead since you have a reasonable $1,000 budget. It would be a shame to pair your high end TV with garbage audio.
Receiver
Speakers
Speaker Wire
I advocate using component bookshelves speakers with a mini amp unless space is at a big premium. They are better engineered, have better bang for your buck, and have a much cleaner sound.
You have the added bonus that the speakers are more flexible for other uses and, if you wanted to go from 2.0 to something else, it's a pretty easy upgrade, ala: you don't have to pitch the old system and get something new. I think you'd find a good 2.0 system to be much more impressive than a lot of the gamer sound systems out there.
Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers
Dayton Audio DTA-1 Digital Amplifier
Amazon Basics Speaker Cable
Another note: A system like this will sound way fuller without a boominess that you'd get from most gaming 2.1 sound systems. All of my friends that I have recommended go this route have loved it!
There is no catch and they'll work fine. $300 speaker cables are bullshit. Keep in mind you'll have to buy two for a pair of speakers. I've even used the crappy copper-clad aluminum stuff without issue.
For reference, I've used these Mediabridge cables sold through Amazon and they work fine.
BoM (Links to Canadian Amazon)
First, measure your bass shakers bottom or base. Select the closest holesaw, for mine it was 2.75".
Take the pilot drill bit and mark the center of the speaker locations. SLOWLY drill down until you breach the plywood base. Mark on the bit what the depth is. Mark on the holesaw the depth of the shakers base.
Holesaw down to just above the depth of the base. Use the screwdriver and hammer to pry and carefully remove the middle wood. Don't breach the bottom, the sound will transfer better the snugger and thicker the fit. This will determine how loud you can go before vibrations become a problem for any family/neighbors.
Install the bass shakers, use screws that won't breach.
Fasten amp to chair (Find a way, they will all be different). Wire it up using the speaker wire, sodder if you want, then electrical wrap to clean it up. + to white on the linked shakers, - to black.
Use the RCA splitter to split your subwoofer or center/sub signal. I have mine going to my 5.1 speakers and to the amp. Make sure you have a long cable. I've used a stereo 3.5mm cable.
I spliced the power cord with another one that had a compatible tip for the extra length. The linked amp's cord is too short.
The amp powers x2 of these badasses easily. Going for a third install soon on the back of the chair.
Good cable management is key, don't want to yank everything apart.
Active speakers have separate audio and power inputs. They each have a power cable going to the wall in addition to a cable going to the media device. They do not require an external amplifier.
Passive speakers only have one combined audio/power input. Most speakers are passive and require an external amplifier.
For a home theater setup, I have been recommending a 3.0 + receiver setup for years to my friends. My friend finally purchased a center channel and wishes he would have done it years ago.
Home theater receivers like this one are 4k HDR HDMI switches and amplifiers built into one. You would plug your media devices into your receiver and switch between them using the receiver instead of the TV. I do not recommend using an analog stereo amplifier in a home theater setup - buy a good current generation 5.1 receiver and you won't have to replace it unless it breaks or until HDMI goes away.
After picking up a receiver, you would need some speaker wire and then some passive speakers to pair with it (like OP). Connecting the speakers to your receiver is as simple as connecting red to red and connecting black to black.
Post script: Most media now is produced primarily with 5.1 mixing, meaning that the dialogue is engineered with the assumption that a dedicated center channel speaker is present. Your sound will be way more clear if you were to buy a receiver and stereo speakers compared to built-in TV speakers, but there is a massive massive difference once you are able to listen to the proper 5.1 sound mix when using stereo + center channel setup. Ever felt like you needed to turn up the sound to hear the talking and then turn it down once a chase/shooting scene started? That ends when the characters can talk through a center channel speaker.
As others have suggested, /r/zeos is a fantastic audio resource. I've been extremely happy with all the gear I've purchased from his recommendations.
How big is your room? What are you using this system for primarily - music, movies, video games? A mix? Are you looking for a 2.0 system (two front speakers only), a 2.1 (front speakers plus subwoofer), or something bigger (adding in another front channel speaker, subwoofer(s), etc.)? Are you located in the US or elsewhere? See below for some start-up recommendations, from a fellow newbie located in the US..
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs530bt/denon-avr-s530bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw2dvWBRBvEiwADllhn8_oJ4E863EeDHkxQq-pwS5Arqe8KszbfNru2guYIJQfnCzLYYgqUBoCwCkQAvD_BwE
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524063706&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=speaker+wire&amp;psc=1
That's really all you need to get started. There are tons of more recommendations/options out there - just throwing out what I recently learned when getting my set-up going. Good luck!
You don't need anything special https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs530bt/denon-avr-s530bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0KIMAbACJDP4B
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_vLIMAbNV7J12N
Purchase List:
Optoma HD27 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - amazing image quality and extremely bright - can almost watch the screen with all the lights on: https://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD27-1080p-Theater-Projector/dp/B01JR7G672
Homegear 100” HD Motorized 16:9 Projector Screen W/ Remote Control - works very well, packaged and arrived in great condition: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J22TNRI
Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5VJ3TM
2 ELAC B6 Debut Series 6.5" L & R Speakers by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQ06
1 ELAC C5 Debut Series 5.25" Center Speaker by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQWE
AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I8TC4E
Monoprice Affinity Premium 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YN6G9G
VideoSecu 2 Heavy duty PA DJ Club Adjustable Height Satellite Speaker Stand Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRREPG
Projector Mount - VideoSecu LCD/DLP Projector Ceiling Mount Bracket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IDC0K2
2x LED Lighting for Bar/Couch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V27VX7E
i picked up these monoprice banana plug cables not long ago and they work great. and only $11.99 for 10ft
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Affinity-Premium-Braided-Connectors/dp/B015YN6G9G/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1504733424&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=banana+plug+cables
Here are some thoughts on this.
Here are a few options to consider.
You will want something like this... You can make your own, which I recommend. As 18 gauge wire will work, but I usually use 16 gauge for all of my speakers. 16 gauge is also cheaper and you don't have to worry as much keeping your wire length short with 16 gauge.
wire gauge
Refurbished Yamaha RX-V473B 5.1 Receiver $299.95 (Free Shipping)
Monoprice Premium 5.1-Ch Home Theater System ~$270.00 w/ shipping
Monoprice speaker stand pair $15.01 (included shipping above)
100ft AmazonBasics 16-gauge speaker wire $9.43
15ft RCA Cable $9.99
Total = $604.38
So all speakers need to be 'driven' by an amplifier- meaning fed electric power to do their magic in addition to the sound signal. Powered speakers have the amp built-in so you just need to send the line-level sound (typically over RCA connectors) and the built-in amp will take care of the rest. Passive speakers, by contrast, do not have an amplifier, and expect one to drive them in addition to the sound signal. Almost always they are both carried over speaker wire like this (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503097133&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=speaker+wire&amp;psc=1).
Those Dayton speakers are passive, so you will need an amp like the one you linked. I'm not familiar enough with that amp to give an informed judgment as to whether that amp is powerful enough to drive those speakers.
Also, for background, what the pre-amp (or phono stage) is doing is converting the very weak signal coming from your turntable cartridge to the line-level signal that external amps or powered speakers would expect. It also reverses the RIAA equalization put on records to sound better- it boosts the bass an diminishes the treble compared to what's cut on the record itself (if it was pressed without equalization, the stylus would bounce around in the groove because of the bass, and the treble would be too faint to play back reliably).
Buy a U-Turn Basic, Micca MB42 speakers, Lepai amp, Pyle pre amp and some cheap speaker wire
It's over your budget but this is about as cheap as you can get while still getting new high quality gear.
I drew on your map for the hell of it :P Probably not necessary to do that to give recommendations, but it was fun. Witness!
C9 is a great TV, call it $2k.
I would get two subs. A pair of VTF-2 is fine, but go VTF-3 if you don't want to wonder if you got enough sub. I marked the corners in the image with 1/2/3/4, I'd first try opposing corners and see how that sounds and/or measures. $1150 shipped for the pair of VTF-2, $1750 shipped for the pair of VTF-3. For $600 more you get a pair of 15" subs and no wondering. I say $1750 on the sub category.
I've drawn your setup from the top, so I'll go ahead and tell you what I drew for speakers - it's probably hard to tell from the black rectangles :)
The fronts are a pair of Paradigm Premier 200B bookshelfs on short stands, so they don't look stupid up on that shelf. You might not even need the stands, if the 24" from the shelf gets the tweeters to your ear level. $1k/pair, 20% off right now so $800.
The matching 600C center channel is a BEAST and is also on sale for $800, front stage total $1600. I just can't say enough good things about this lineup, if you have a dealer nearby, go give them a listen.
The surrounds I've shown on swivel mounts turned inwards to face the seating. You can also aim them a bit out into the room for a less direct sound, but I find with modern receivers and decoders, this isn't necessary. I'd suggest a pair of Paradigm Premier 100B, $640 on sale for these, on a set of the sturdy and affordable VideoSecu side clamping mounts, $25.
Tops, again, Paradigm, this time the P65-R in-ceiling speaker. I'm actually suggesting these based on personal use. They are the flattest, best measuring speakers in my system, and never mind the aimable tweeters - these speakers are designed for good, even dispersion, and it's amazing how well they work. Aimable tweeters are there to make up for dispersion and placement shortcomings, and you will have neither if you go with the P-65Rs. Don't pay retail for these, ask the dealer for at least 20% off since you're buying a full set of speakers. If they say no, find another dealer. It's a poorly kept secret that Paradigm very seldom sells for full MSRP. Call it $500 for the pair.
For the receiver, I know people like to suggest buying a refurb from accessories4less, but I've heard too many horror stories about broken equipment and poor support. I'd suggest the X3500h from Crutchfield, a rock solid company that will have your back if anything is wrong with the gear. The receiver itself has plenty of power for my recommended speakers, and has the best version of Audyssey, XT32 - important to get the most out of your subwoofers in particular. The X2600h you mentioned only has Audyssey XT, which is rather inferior to XT 32. $600.
Totals, then, are:
65" LG C9 TV $2000
Paradigm Premier 200B Front L/R $800
Paradigm Premier 600C Center $800
Paradigm Premier 100B Surrounds $665 with mounts
Paradigm Pro P65-R Tops $500
2x Hsu VTF-3 Mk5 Subs $1750
Denon X3500h Receiver $600
Total before cables $7115
($10 subwoofer cables and any decent copper 14 gauge speaker wire are fine)
Now, all that said, I would strongly consider the 77 inch LG C9. You'd still be just under budget, and sitting as far as you will be, the extra size will really help the system come together. The only question is if you have enough vertical space over the center channel speaker. If you do, grab the 77" and don't look back :)
I also disagree on tops/Atmos not being useful if you only do sports and TV. Asides from native Atmos content, receiver upmixing with the Dolby Surround upmixer is really quite awesome. It adds an immersiveness to the sound that you just can't get with a 2d audio setup.
I'd advise against the amazon speaker wire. It's what is known as CCA or copper clade aluminum. Essentially only the outside of the wire is copper and the majority is just aluminum.
Get this instead
AmazonBasics 14-Gauge Audio Speaker Wire Cable - 99.9% Oxygen-Free Copper, 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0758CSSF2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EPguDb03DTYHC
This is it, chief
Do you already have any speakers, or do you just crank your laptop up?
I do two-room audio using one of these amps and two pairs of these speakers--the amp will drive two speakers in parallel on each channel as long as they are 8-ohm speakers. Speaker wire is pretty cheap. I have a server connected to the amp and running Subsonic in jukebox mode for actually playing the music. That way, the server can live out of the way, and I can use the Android app to queue up songs to play.
One thing you could look at is using a wireless audio transmitter or something like the Squeezebox to separate your laptop from the party.
If you actually consider getting the Lepai amp, make sure that you buy it from Parts-Express, because some other sellers don't include the power supply, which is kind of annoying to realize after you receive the amp! Also, if you consider the Dayton speakers I posted, and you listen to electronic or hip-hop music with lots of bass, you'll probably want a separate subwoofer to get enough bass for parties (that is, if your neighbors don't kill you!)
I would wait for new receivers to start including the following:
With that said, having a receiver where everything connects via HDMI makes cabling WAY, WAY NICER.
You'll need an amplifier, since those speakers are not powered.
This is a cheap amplifier, if all you want is for your setup to work.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007VMA6OU
And one of these 3.5mm to RCA cables to connect your turntable to the amp.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000Q6LSWM
And some speaker wire to connect the amp to your speakers.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006LW0W5Y
edit: listen to rpbtz's response. The sidebar has everything you need to know at this stage.
Four connecting your record player, you'll need an RCA cable with a ground cable; something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CRA-202DJ-Right-Angle-Ground-Interconnect/dp/B000PO1H80/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473063914&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=rca+cable+ground
The speakers you can connect with speaker wire like this one: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473064034&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
Just make sure you don't switch + and -
LPT: Never, ever buy those shitty Logitech/Sony/Creative/whatever 2.1 speaker systems on Amazon for your PC
Instead, buy a cheap amp, some speaker wire and head to your local Goodwill to find some bookshelf speakers.
Boom. You now have high quality sound for under $50 that will blow anything you can find at that price point on Amazon out of the water.
Every Goodwill I've been in has had bookshelf speakers for sale, and if you're real lucky you can find some excellent equipment for dirt cheap. I found a pair of these bad boys for freaking $13 last weekend
Amp:
http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-lp-2020a-tripath-class-t-hi-fi-audio-mini-amplifier-with-power-supply--310-300?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=pla
Speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&amp;srs=3097377011&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1472956289&amp;sr=8-1-catcorr&amp;keywords=bookshelf+speakers
Wire:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&amp;srs=3097377011&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1472956231&amp;sr=8-2-catcorr&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
Roughly $88 for the combo, excluding wire
edit* You'll also want one of these to connect to your computer:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=5597&amp;gclid=CPrq4dXW9M4CFdQ2gQodeugApg
Well that has a load of factors to consider, wattage passing over the wire, Radio Interference, quality of the insulation.
I'd go and get some normal 16ga speaker wire and just do all new runs.
Surely my friend.
For those wondering what you'll need to get this setup, here's the other items I chose to purchase:
Table: Audio Technia 60 non blue tooth edition
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP60-Automatic-Belt-Drive-Turntable/dp/B002GYTPAE
Speakers:
Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Pair)
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-With-4-Inch-Carbon-Fiber-Woofer-and-Silk-Dome-Tweeter-Black-Pair/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8
Speaker wire:
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-100-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8
Mini-Amplifier:
Seeduck Lepy lp 2020a Class-D Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply Lepy Amplifier LP2020A
https://www.amazon.com/Seeduck-Lepy-lp-2020a-Class-D-Hi-Fi-Audio-Mini-Amplifier-with-Power-Supply-Lepy-Amplifier-LP2020A/dp/B01HRR5AWQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8
It was about $230 all together from amazon.
No worries, buddy. Happy to help. You don't need to worry about a preamp just yet, as your turntable has one built in. Just make sure you have the selector switch on the back of the unit set to "line" rather than "phono" and you're all set. As for connecting the speakers to the receiver, I managed to find a pic of the rear connections on the U310. It looks like they use spring clips to connect, so you're going to have to use bare wire.
First thing you'll need is a spool of speaker wire. I've had good luck with the Amazon Basics stuff, and it's about as cheap as decent wire gets. You'll need to strip a bit of the jacket off of each wire on each end. I do it by hand, but you might want to try a wire stripper if you're not comfortable free-handing things. Once you've exposed the bare wire, simply give each side a quick twist to secure them into separate threads and insert each thread into the back of the speaker, depressing the spring clip to allow the wire to fit into the hole and releasing it to bite down on the wire. As for the back of the amp, the procedure's the same if it has spring clips. If it has binding posts like the SMSL I linked earlier, you'll want to unscrew them a bit, wrap the bare wire around the exposed post, and tighten the post heads back down to create a nice, tight seal.
One word of warning on the off chance you've never done anything like this before. Remember to connect your positive (red) terminals on your speakers to your positive terminals on your amp, and your negative (black) to negative. The speaker wire makes that pretty easy, as one channel is marked with a little white line so you'll always know what's going where. Additionally, make sure your amp's left output is wired to your left speaker and the right to the right. Simple stuff, but it's easy to miss if this is your first time.
Honestly, if you want a meaningfully better 2.1 setup than the Z-2300 then you should go for a pair of bookshelf speakers, a subwoofer, and an amp.
Personally, I would even go for a AV Receiver rather than an amp.
One example of a "budget" setup I would recommend costs $406 and the parts are linked below:
You can definitely save some money by buying parts used. Your local Craiglists will probably have deals on old subwoofers or AV Receivers.
$400 definitely sounds pricey, but it's no more expensive than "premium" 2.1 computer speaker sets. For example Razor charges $500 for their top of the line 2.1 speakers. Those speakers are no better than the Pro Media 2.1. They just come with pretty lights on them.
> seating for 8 persons
That means you have seating off to the side, likely diagonally, correct? What this means is that you should get bipole/dipole/radiators for your side-surrounds, and place them centered between each "row of seating" (if it's additional couches instead of seats, put them centered based on distance from furthest seating to closest seating), a pic/drawing of the room would help. Good ones that'll fit in your budget are these bipoles ($120) or its bigger brothers, this one ($150) or this one ($200, I have these, got them $100 on sale from Walmart, currently normal priced).
> I preferred the quality of Klipsch
As for your front 3 speakers, two options I have would be Klipsch, or the same company as those bipoles. For Klipsch, there are these bookshelves + matching center ($340); for Fluance, they don't have a matching center for their SX Series, so you can mix and match, or not get their SX Series, their most expensive series (Signature) bookshelves + center would be $350, so similar price to the Klipsch's, their 2^nd highest model line bookshelves + center would be $270.
For your back-surrounds, are you wall-mounting? If your are, you will want front-ported speakers. Ones that I can recommend are these Sound Appeals ($70), or actually Fluance's top 2 model lines, you can get the Signature Series ($200) or their XL7 Series ($150). You don't want dipole/dipole/radiators for back-rears, as the sound dispersion wouldn't be good (null zones or amplified zones)
Now, that brings us to the subwoofer. If you were talking like 3-4, maybe 5 people, you could just get 1 sub, however, since you are talking 8 people, you definitely want 2 subs. The reason for that is a subwoofer has sweet spots, and an 8-person seating area is definitely too large. With the speakers I recommended, if you went on the most expensive of my recommendations, that would leave us with ~$750 to play with. I would recommend two of these ($660 total)
or two of these ($740$865 total, too expensive).Now, I'm guessing you'll also need speaker wire. I'd recommend getting at least 16 gauge (lower the # the better), and if you are going in-wall, get oxygen-free. Speaker wire is cheap, here is 100ft of 14 gauge oxygen-free speaker wire. Now, I'd also suggest getting open-screw banana plugs (likely wont fit on any speakers you are wall-mounting), just to save on some frustration with connecting the speaker wire to the speakers/receiver, I bought 2 orders of these ($16 total), they connect like this. You will also want 2 subwoofer cables (RCA's with better insulation), I bought 1 order AmazonBasics in 15ft for $9 ($18 total for you), they also come in 25ft ($20 total, so better safe than sorry). If you don't know how to place a subwoofer, here is /u/zeospantera's tutorial.
FYI you need properly rated in wall speaker wire like this https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-14AWG-2-Conductor-Speaker-White/dp/B00N18VBSI
Not trying to start a fight, but maybe consider getting slightly better wire than the amazon 16awg. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N18VBSI?keywords=14awg%20speaker%20wire%20cl2%20100ft&amp;qid=1450128079&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;sr=8-1 is a good choice. This won't improve sound quality, but it's just a better constructed wire; it's 99.9% copper vs. the copper clad aluminum of the Amazon wire.
I've used 2 rolls of this and had no complaints: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N18VEJ4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm renting and I just recently upgraded to banana plugs. They are great! Mediabridge and Amazon are great resources for this. This is what I use, great quality and price.
Mediabridge Banana Plugs - 12 pair (used in conjunction with surround speaker wire, below)
Mediabridge 12AWG 6FT Speaker Cable with Banana plugs (Front LCR)
Mediabridge 14AWG 100ft speaker wire (surrounds)
Mediabridge 6ft subwoofer RCA cable
you could probably get away with 16 gauge, but just to be cautious, go for 14 gauge for a few bucks more. something like this
If you want to integrate video sources, I would recommend getting a home theater receiver. It will work fine for stereo music and offers a ton of good features.
This is a good choice: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs730h/denon-avr-s730h-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
Next you need some speakers, I’d get these Infinity R162, it’s a killer price on some great speakers. They will play loud and clear and work well for music and movies: https://www.harmanaudio.com/speakers/R162BK-Z.html
Lastly you need a sub, again Infinity has a great sale on this and i don’t think there’s anything better unless you spend quite a bit more for a RSL speedwoofer: https://www.infinityspeakers.com/reference-series-home/REFERENCE+SUB+R10.html
Speaker cables: Micca Pure Copper Speaker Wire with Gold Plated Banana Plugs, 14AWG, 6 Feet (2 Meter), Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ5HCTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_n60mDbHDDC5EV
Speaker stands: Sanus BF24B 24 Inch Speaker Stands (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JQ5N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_M60mDb568ER14
Subwoofer cable: Mediabridge ULTRA Series Subwoofer Cable (15 Feet) - Dual Shielded with Gold Plated RCA to RCA Connectors - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FVYXY0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a70mDbDG54CND
Mediabridge
Cable Matters
Micca
Depending on where you plan to place your speakers. You can buy pre made speaker cables. Both your receiver and speakers can use banana plugs.
Plus the Micca Cables are pretty
Yeah just speaker wire and an amp.
This is a good 4 channel amp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07537PW98/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
&#x200B;
and some wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LW0W5Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For cords/wires you will need a RCA to 3.5mm cable something like this to connect your amp to your pc. You will also need 3 speaker cables such as these 1 for your amp to sub and assuming your sub will have a high level input and output, you will connect the other 2 cables to the sub and out to the speakers.
You could also make your own speaker cables as well which is a little cheaper by using this
For sub wise, I would consider a Dayton audio sub 800 or 1000 as a start.
Hi!
A friend of mine recently bought the Dayton B652-AIR, which sound phenomenal for the price. They're on sale right now for $50 from Parts Express. I haven't heard the basic B652, but the reviews seem to indicate that the AIR models are worth the extra money. They have a better crossover (internal circuitry) and an upgraded tweeter that's supposed to provide smoother treble and more clarity.
Second, you're going to need an amplifier to drive those speakers. Your previous system had a built-in amp. I recommend this little guy which is a barebones amplifier that produces nice clean sound and has a very small footprint and a reasonable price.
It won't amplify your headphones, though.
Something like this receiver would cover all your bases-- provide power to your speakers and your headphones as well.
If I were you, I'd just use an analog cable to attach my source (computer?) to the receiver.
Oh, and you'll need some speaker cable to connect the speakers to the receiver.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktxsr343/onkyo-tx-sr343-5.1-ch-x-65-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
+
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Andrew-Jones-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker-Pair-/262374745318?
+
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1474621439&amp;sr=1-2
You can add a sub later on if you feel the lack. Or just go over budget: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629
Remember that speaker placement is important. Don't shove them close together below the TV or something. Get stands if you need to. They should at least be to either side of the TV.
You will need an amplifier like this.
That cable is fine, but there are cheaper alternatives on amazon (amazon basics wire I recommend for starters).
You need to hook up your PC to the amplifier through RCA or 3.5mm jack. Then hook up the speaker wire to your speakers.
We don't recommend sound bars because they are bad by design. I'd suggest getting 3.0 with a receiver. Here are the settings on the receiver you'll want to adjust: dynamic compression (makes everything closer to the same volume meaning loud explosions won't be as loud and quiet whispers won't be quiet), vocal booster, and if needed boost the center channel volume. Here's a good setup for cheap that should provide really clear dialog:
Edit: Then setup is match red on back of speaker to red on back of receiver, HDMI from tv to receiver then go through the quick setup. And if you want to keep it lower profile you could flip the speakers on their side but probably better to just buy some cheap wall mounts and mount them beside the tv since you're supposed to put them equal distance apart as they are from the listening position. Probably have it set up in 30-60 minutes.
Edit 2: encase you were wondering why sound bars are bad
College kid here, I'll try to help out.
It's generally recommended that you don't ever go for a HTIAB (home theater in a box) as they come with super shitty components and most often don't leave room to upgrade.
You'll get more flexibility and bang for your buck with bookshelves and a sub, but as you mentioned you only want a 2.0 for right now. If bass is really that important to you, I would actually recommend you get a pair of bookshelves now and invest in a sub later on. Towers are great but for a 2.0 setup you're going to want something smaller with better sound quality.
&nbsp;
---
Bookshelves: used Polk Signature S15's
>Top listing is $165 for like new speakers; S15's run for $229/pair new.
This listing in particular says "Speakers only, nothing else is included" which is odd for them to mention because I don't think these speakers normally come with any accessories. Maybe he's talking about the manual which can easily be found online. But who needs manuals anyway?
&nbsp;
Amp: SMSL SA-50
>Price fluctuates between $63 and $69. This listing is $63.
Puts out 50 wpc, will power pretty much any speaker you throw at it. I owned this myself and recommend it for a first setup. Just keep in mind you will have to upgrade to a surround receiver if you ever want to move past 2.1 in the future.
---
&nbsp;
This puts you at $228 shipped. A bit above your absolute max of $200, but this is probably your best bet. You're also going to need to buy some speaker wire. It's only like $8.
So in total, this comes to $236 shipped. A bit above your budget, but it leaves you with some kickass bookshelves as well as the ability to add a sub in the future.
Correct.
This is all you need for speaker wire for those speakers if you are not running them more than 25 ft from the amp. https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Audio-Stereo-Speaker/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=sr_1_4
RCA cables do not have to be expensive. These cables will work fine https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Stereo/dp/B01D5H8JW0/
If you have the room for it, the best deal on amplification is often to look for a used audio video receiver on your local Craigslist. People tend to upgrade AVRs that are ~ 10 years old in order to buy the latest models that support Dolby Atmos ceiling speakers. If your video card has an extra HDMI out, you can also run audio to an AVR using that instead of RCA cables.
Or did you have a separate budget for the amplifier?
You'll need an amplifier, copper speaker wire, and a cable to attach to your computer (typically 3.5 mm to RCA). Typically, you need to buy things separately.
I personally use this:
http://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Lepai-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI
with something like:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=pd_sim_e_4
and you might need
http://www.amazon.com/AH1650SR-Feet-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire/dp/B0029HO66G/ref=pd_sim_e_2
You'll need to stick some RCA males onto the ends of your speaker wire. You can buy them from Amazon, or if you're really lazy you can even buy lengths of speaker wire with them already attached.
So, based on that Montgomery Ward model number, I found this eBay listing. From the pictures, it appears to be an old style all-in-one system. The turntable is part of the receiver.
The speakers do indeed appear to be 6 ohms based on this picture.
So the only thing you need to do is get some speaker wire to hook the stereo system's "SPEAKERS" output to the inputs on the back of each speaker.
Like someone else said, you'll need cables that are RCA on one and bare wire on the other. By today's standards this is weird, but equipment of that age did use RCA connectors for speakers, so it does make sense.
So you want something like this pair of cables.
Or you could get RCA to speaker terminal adapters like this and then run regular (bare) speaker wire from those adapter to the back of the speakers. (And you can just go to a hardware store and get 18 gauge lamp cord for their electrical department and use that as speaker wire, if you want.)
EDIT: I forgot to mention. 6 ohm speakers with an amplifier that says 8 ohm minimum? Well, it's not a good combination but it's probably not too bad. Both numbers are just estimates. 4 ohm and 8 ohm speakers are the two most common types, and 6 is not as far off from 8. The risk is that your amp will overheat due to working too hard, but personally I don't think the risk is pretty small.
I’m pretty sure you can terminate speaker wire to rca. I have some older speakers that I think have a similar layout. But like people said you can also just terminate to the screws there. This might be what you want: IEC 18 AWG 1-Feet Speaker Wire Pair with RCA Males - Black/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U48NIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1tLYCb6WXJSQE
What about flat adhesive wire?
Edit: [link] (http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Super-Adhesive-Speaker-Conductor/dp/B005SUM1PO)
http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Ghost-Adhesive-Speaker-Conductor/dp/B005SUM1PO
I used that stuff once, had to paint over it to keep it stuck but it worked great, I went up and over a big vaulted opening
Hi, I actually had the exact same dilemma as you and about a month ago went for a 2.0 setup.
In the past I've tried a variety of computer speakers and nothing cut it. I never tried a soundbar, but I am super happy with my 2.0 setup.
So here is my $200 set up (big thanks to Zeos for helping me learn and pick out the parts):
$109 manufacturer refurbished Denon AVR 1513 receiver:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavr1513/denon-avr-1513-5.1ch-home-theater-receiver-3d-ready/1.html?_escaped_fragment_=specifications#!specifications
$80 Micca MB42x bookshelf speakers:
http://amzn.to/188rnsc
$9.43 Speaker wire:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=YEA53M3RQ14Z&amp;coliid=I31E8R7IOVMB4E
This is the wire stripper I bought but it is no longer available for prime so I would get a different one:
http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-2078305-Vise-Grip-5-Inch-Stripper/dp/B000JNLUQ6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394413512&amp;sr=8-13&amp;keywords=wire+stripper
Maybe get this one (but any will probably be fine):
http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-GS-40-Milwaukee-Clipper-Stripper/dp/B00004WLJX/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1396936022&amp;sr=1-11&amp;keywords=wire+stripper
Lastly, banana plugs for the wires. Optional, but nice to have ($10.96):
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109436-High-Quality-Copper-Speaker/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394413889&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=banana+plug
Total: ~ $250 with tax and shipping and whatnot.
One last piece of advice:
I originally tried the popular Lepai amp and hated it. I just couldn't get the volume I wanted from it.
I am going to be using this article plus my own personal experiences in the 7 years I have been collecting: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-turntables
Turntable: Audio-Technica ATLP120USB Direct Drive Professional USB Turntable Price $229.00 (On Sale at the time of this writing) it comes with a built in Pre-Amp so you are good to go. This is one I have been eyeballing myself.
Amplifier: Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver Price $149.95 (On sale at the time I am writing this). This is the one I personally use and I love it. It has multiple channels so you can allow for growth. For example I got a stereo cd player at the local thrift store I am trying to upgrade. I just need RCA Cables to hook it up which I do.
Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Price $49.98 (Sale at the time I am writing this)
Wire from speakers to Amp: AmazonBasics 100ft 16-Gauge Audio Stereo Speaker Wire Cable - 100 Feet Price $13.49
Headphone Adapter (Trust me you'll need this if you want to listen to music via headphones) Adapter Price: $7.99
Subtotal: $450.41 plus taxes. I think you have wiggle room on the speakers, but I searched for high rated ones. If you need help setting up your Turntable and Stereo please feel free to reach out and I can help! :D
IMO in your home, it doesn't really matter. If you're running like 200 feet, then maybe it would be an minor issue. Everyone overthinks this crap for what, a $200 pair of speakers? If you've spent $14,000 on speakers, then sure analyze the hell out of it, otherwise you'll never tell the difference. If you crack your speaker open you're going to find (assuming there's a crossover) plenty of wiring that's far thinner than speaker wire. I buy this 16g from Amazon and have no issues at all with it.
Okay, you need some speaker wire (I'd recommend 16 gauge 50 or 100 feet like this) and some RCA cables. You can probably find decent cheap RCA cables at a thrift store.
Connect the turntable RCA plugs to the PHONO input jacks on the back of the receiver and connect the ground wire to the SIGNAL GND screw beneath the PHONO jacks. The white plug is left channel and the red one is right channel. Similarly, connect the CD player with an RCA cable from the OUT jacks on the back of the CD player to the CD IN jacks on the back of the receiver. CD players don't require a ground wire.
Cut some equal lengths of speaker wire and strip about 1/2" of the plastic insulator from both ends like this. Connect the stripped part of the wire with the white stripe to the FRONT SPEAKERS red clip on the back of your receiver, and the wire without a stripe to the black clip. Connect these wires to two of the small speakers. Make sure to connect white stripe to red clip and no stripe to black clip on the backs of the speakers. You should have sound now left and right.
You can connect the other two small speakers to the SURROUND SPEAKERS clips if you want to, but those are primarily used for movies.
What does the back of your sub-woofer look like?
Edit: Here is a link to the manual
Those are passive speakers requiring separate amplification, which the Mac doesn't provide.
You could use something like the SMSL SA-50. (I need to make a macro for that sentence.):
https://smile.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC/
A cable like this from the Mac to the amp:
https://smile.amazon.com/Hosa-CMR-206-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B000068O3B
Speaker wire from the amp to the speakers:
https://smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
The turntable has a built-in preamp, so you do not need one. You will however need a receiver and speaker wire.
Or you can return the speakers and get a set of powered monitors. The powered monitors could be connected directly to the turntable. You will have to adjust the volume using the controls on the speakers.
Buy 14 or 16 AWG. It's just standard every day speaker wire you need. Nothing special. 18 would be fine too if you've already got it. If not, this is good.
If you're after fancy looking stuff, I just picked up a set of these. and they are beautiful.
Amazon Basics (http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/) and Monoprice (http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&amp;cp_id=10239) make good, cheap speaker wire.
Good choice on the speaker. Those Chanes are amazing values: http://www.cnet.com/news/the-149-chane-a1rx-c-speaker-is-almost-too-good-to-be-true/ The tower version also won a shootout among $1000 speakers with some formidable opposition.
The next step down for subwoofers is the NXG BAS 500 (IMO the best subwoofer under $300): http://www.radioshack.com/nxg-nx-bas-500-12-500-watt-powered-subwoofer/55058551.html#.VIm1SjHF_T8 review here: http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/speaker-subwoofer-reviews/67178-nxg-nx-bas-500-subwoofer-review.html
However, they sell like hot cakes and they're out of stock everywhere (Radioshack and Amazon are out of them). No idea when they'll come back into stock.
A good option for less than $200 is the BIC F12 and will save you some money: http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M
Get yourself a nice little Amp like an SMSL SA-50, a 3.5mm aux cable to connect your TV's headphone out to the amp, and some 16 gauge speaker wire to connect amp to speakers. Bob's your uncle.
IF money is type, you can go with a cheaper amp, but the first one I mentioned is nicer unit that you can keep when you upgrade to a TV with an optical out.
Smsl amp ($52). If you REALLY want to go cheap you can get search for a lepai amp on amazon. Easily distorts but it works on the tightest of budgets.
Dayton speakers ($50.) (Lesser regular b652 for only $30)
Speaker wire ($11)
Then you will need an rca cable and a way to strip the wire. Most people have one lying around but they can easily be found at any local store. This will crush a pc speaker setup and you will have much more fun. The sidebar has additional options you need to check out too. I'm not sure what will be affected by you being in the UK.
The good news is that everything is already wired for sound, the bad news is that you'll need to buy amp(s) in order to use the speakers. The cable that you're holding up is RCA and is not powerful enough to drive a speaker. You'll need something like a multi-zone amp for 6 channels if you want to use all of the speakers in the house. These are ambient house speakers and not speakers set up for a home theater though right?
An option that might work well if you like Chromecast is to buy two or three pairs of this SMSL SA50 amps with the Chromecast Audio devices. This would also allow you to control multiple zones for music using each Chromecast audio. Each Chromecast Audio connects with each amp using a 3.5mm to RCA cable and then each SMSL amp connects to the gold terminals on the wall using speaker cable.
Speakers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00081NX5U/
Amp(protect this from elements): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W9H9W42/
Wire (electrical tape ends after setup): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006LW0WDQ/
Power Supply: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XDNDPT4/
Power Cable (opt): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005J5ZL0A/
$102
Micca doesn't supply speaker wire so, yes. Get this from Best Buy if you don't want to buy this from Amazon. 14 or 16 gauge.
Do you guys think these would be a better choice? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011LXUKE0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1DCPNQKKEISZB&amp;psc=1
You would definitely need speaker wire (and wire stripper tool) to connect the Miccas to the amp, and then either an aux cable or an aux-to-rca Y-cable to connect the amp to your source (laptop, phone, etc.)
Hope this helps
No, generic is fine and I doubt they come with wire.
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=pd_sim_23_2?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=51IOxbn5fgL&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR150%2C160_&amp;refRID=1K56846XM9J6X17Y4N42
Banana Plugs are just an easier way to plug the speaker wire into the amp and speakers - making everything nice.
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109436-Copper-Speaker-Banana/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=41QxY56AvVL&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;refRID=1K56846XM9J6X17Y4N42
You can get decent bookshelf speakers, a desktop amp, and speaker wire for about $150 and it will sound far better than a soundbar
Speakers $80
Amp $47
Speaker wire $10
so any old cd/dvd player will work? all i need to do is plug in the RCA cables into the amp?
The Amp
The Speakers
wire
Those are some great speakers for that price without a doubt. Just about any speaker amp will be compatible but these are two often recommended starter amps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071FJF4FF/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501417697&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=lepai+2020a&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41odxvspp1L&amp;ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A2QLGEQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501417760&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=smsl+sa50&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41vb56ZQUZL&amp;ref=plSrch
For a desk setup you won't need too heavy of wire so this should be perfectly fine:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006LW0WDQ/ref=psdcmw_3236443011_t2_B01D5H8XOY
I used these in my cab worked like a charm:
The amp can plug into an outlet and is pretty small so it works in a bartop or full upright arcade.
If you're going to buy nice speakers and a receiver that are expensive, why cheap out on what connects them? I would personally go with a 14 gauge oxygen free copper wire and some banana plugs. Links below to the stuff I have, and I didn't think it was too expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AH0TRTW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009EADB2Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Thank y'all for the replies! I took your advice and went to an audio store. Ended up picking up a pair of Q Acoustics 2010i's and an Onkyo TX-8020 ( originally wanted to go with the yamaha suggested in the comments, but the man advised me to go for this one instead. Cheaper and has digital input so I get better quality out of it. ). As for the wires, I went with Amazon's basics for the digital cable and for the speaker wires I went with silverbacks ( hope these are aright ).
Cables :
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NH11H38/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B009RT2IAK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Thank you all for the suggestions, I appreciate it so much. The fact that y'all take the time out of your day to help me out is heartwarming <3
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009RT2IAK/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?qid=1414266105&amp;sr=1-14&amp;pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70 - something like this would do
It's unlikely Hsu would put his subs on sale. They're what he's known for. You can call and ask him. He answers his own phone, and he's a really nice guy. He might even cut you a deal, if you're buying a sub and bookshelves together. He might not, too. But, hey...might as well ask!
So you're using your phone? If you're using your phone as a source, connecting through bluetooth to your integrated amp or amp/DAC combo, then you won't need anything else. I believe the Elac integrated amp has full bluetooth support. The Emotiva TA-100 has the firmware to support bluetooth, but you have to buy a dongle for it...so, there's another $15 or so.
That should be all you need, though, to get started. There's no end to the money you can spend on audio equipment, once you've decided to develop the habit. But to make music, all you need is something to take the signal from your phone and turn it into an analog signal, something to amplify that analog signal, and something to turn the analog signal into sound.
Oh, you'll need speaker wire. At least 16 gauge...lower numbers mean thicker wire, which means better transmission, generally. But don't go crazy with super-expensive speaker wire. And you'll need a cable to run from your pre-amp out to your subwoofer.
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B00I52I2PU
You'll need 2 of those.
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Subwoofer-Cable-Feet/dp/B003FVYXY0
You'll need one of those.
I want to start a new setup from scratch, do I have everything I need? This may seem like a very elementary question but I keep learning that I need different cables for this and for that
Turntable (Includes RCA cable)
Amplifier (Built in phono pre- I don't still need a preamp, do I?)
Speakers
Speaker wire (This goes from the speaker to the amplifier? Until yesterday I thought they just used RCA cables. Are banana plugs universal for all speakers?)
RCA Cable into audio jack (For computer- is something better than this that would accomplish the same thing? RCA to usb?)
If it's an iPod you're using, you could consider using Airplay instead - This receiver is a pretty good value proposition. You could then pair these speakers with it. You'll definitely need speaker cable. You'll need to specify what sort of DVD player you've got, as well as what turntable - to then buy cables for connecting them.
Yes, I would add a sub next. That's should be a great setup for the price.
As far as connections go, yes, everything into the receiver then HDMI out to the TV. Assuming all source devices have HDMI out that's all there would be to it. Apart from that all you need is some cheap speaker wire or cables. I would go with these if your budget allows, both for simplicity and quality...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I52I2PU/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1494616110&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=speaker+cable+with+banana+plugs&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41OPX07mV3L&amp;ref=plSrch
If those are too expensive just get some bulk bare wire.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I52I2PU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I've had good experience with these cables.
edit: Nevermind. I forgot that I returned these cables for some reason other than sound quality.
I picked these up.
You can always use in-wall wire that holds the two wires in a sheath for a cleaner look, or run you choice of wire inside a conduit of some sort.
Bar n Sink on Right already plumbed/installed?
If this is a Theater Room- I make it 18-20' Long and do 2 rows of Theater Style seating with 2nd row raised (can be done with couches) ........an go Atmos........ 5.2.2 or 5.2.4 or 7.2.4.............or Upgrade later to Atmos
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/4LWhFywl.jpg)
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/bYWyf41l.jpg)
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/7LbtrbEl.jpg)
Now's the time to run your speaker wire - before sheetrock, esp if ceiling is not sheetrocked........
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-14AWG-2-Conductor-Speaker-White/dp/B00N18VBSI
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-14AWG-4-Conductor-Speaker-White/dp/B0193RRSP0
Denon S930 & the DCM speakers Sharkamino linked for R/ C/ L and Micca in wall and in ceiling for 5.1.2 Atmos , add a 2nd sub later
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs930h/denon-avr-s930h-7.2-ch-x-90-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pack-6-5-3-Way-Tower-Floor-Standing-Speakers-Home-Theater-Audio-DCM-MTX-Pair/174021794501?hash=item288481dac5:g:Ax0AAOSwSBddcosb
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-5-2-Way-Center-Channel-Home-Theater-Speaker-Stereo-Audio-DCM-MTX-TP160C-CH/174020666999
Surrounds
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8S-Speaker-Pivoting-Tweeter/dp/B003JOPWHK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Micca+in+wall&qid=1569288365&sr=8-3
Atmos
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=micca+in+ceiling&qid=1569288406&sr=8-2
You will need HDMI cables to connect your sources (Xbox, AppleTV, etc...) to your Receiver. Another HDMI cable out from your Receiver and into your TV. And speaker wire to connect your speakers to your receiver. You will need wire strippers.. And an RCA coax cable to connect your sub to receiver
EDIT: Since it sounds like you're a beginner with setting up AV equipment, read through your TV and Receiver owner's manuals. There should be diagrams and hookup instructions.
You can get Speakon to Banana Plug Cables -
https://www.amazon.com/MCSPROAUDIO-Gauge-Speaker-Cables-CABLE/dp/B01FSVOP5Q/](https://www.amazon.com/MCSPROAUDIO-Gauge-Speaker-Cables-CABLE/dp/B01FSVOP5Q/
You can also find the internal wiring of a Speakon Connector on Google Images and make your own cables -
https://www.edis-audio-visual.com/Wiki/images/c/c5/Tg-output-typical1.gif
Most Speakon connectors have Four Contacts, so they can accept two wire pairs, but you only need to use the default two connections for a single wire pair.
https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Speaker-compatible-Neutrik/dp/B00LW8VLRU/
Here are some easy to install Sewell Banana Plugs that don't require any tools to install -
https://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Direct-SW-29863-12-Deadbolt-12-Pair/dp/B007QUYQSY/
Mediabridge are also good Banana Plugs -
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-Banana-Plugs-Corrosion-Resistant-Gold-Plated/dp/B00JFC9BJU/
Depending on the distance, any 14ga or 12ga Copper speaker cable will be fine -
https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-Speaker-Wire-Audiophiles-Systems/dp/B07BBRQ5YT/
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Access-Gauge-Conductor-Speaker/dp/B001WHQ9C8/
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-113716-Conductor-CMP-Rated-Speaker/dp/B017SDE22S/
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-14AWG-2-Conductor-Speaker-White/dp/B00N18VBSI/
Receiver:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv381/yamaha-rx-v381-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Entry level 5.1:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007YLQUWK/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484011071&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=5.1+speakers&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41FlJ-oJv2L&amp;ref=plSrch
Speaker wire:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N18VEJ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484011173&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=16+gauge+speaker+wire&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51HyS4454DL&amp;ref=plSrch
Total cost: ~$373
Edit: just noticed you said the system in question was normally 350. That wasn't your budget. Doh! Anywho, this is a decent system and will run circles around what you were looking at. If you need to go cheaper you can look at soundbars of a 2.0/stereo setup.
So, if you like the convenience of the Pill, but want more ooomph, I've gotta recommend the Logitech UE Boombox. It's been discontinued, but you can get new or practically new models on eBay for 70 bucks or so.
I've owned a lot of nice Bluetooth speakers, and some decent audio gear, and pound for pound nothing really touches the thing.
I would recommend heading up your local Goodwill or other thrift store for speakers and an old receiver. With a pretty minimal amount of footwork, you can grab something that probably cost $1000 back in the day for $100.
Skip Marantz as it's really over priced at this point, but brands like Realistic, Rotel, Sansui, and Pioneer are still affordable. They look cool as shit, and have a nice distinctive sound. You can probably get a low-end 20 or 30 W per channel Realistic off craigslist or at your local thrift shop for 30 bucks.
You can then get a nice set of Boston Acoustic or Polk audio speakers for another 50 bucks. Just make sure the foam around the subwoofers is fine, and that the tweeters aren't busted. Most people are happy to hook them up for you to listen to.
If you don't want to mess with older stuff, grab one of these :
ttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hg16xbX21C1NM
And a set of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ih16xb227QN96
And two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011LXUKE0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5j16xb4JV5NZ5
Alternatively, grab the amp and wires new, and then get the speakers used off eBay or Craigslist or whatever. Speakers lose value at an alarming rate, but at the sub-$100 price point you're not really risking much.
For reference, I got a set of B+W CM2 speakers for $90 off Craigslist. They were almost $1000 new 12 years ago.
Bingo!
A few more details:
The speaker plugs on the wall are designed to accommodate banana plugs (http://www.parts-express.com/Data/Default/Images/Catalog/Original/091-1165_HR_0.jpg)
Since you will not have to run long cables, you can buy pre-terminated speaker wire like this: https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B011LXUKE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479251043
That will be a bit more expensive than bulk wire, but it will make setup much simpler.
Beyond that, feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. I love home theater stuff, and would be happy to help a newbie get setup!
That turntable already has speakers built-in. If you're going for "cheap. Not looking for great sound." why don't you just use those? Are you looking for an upgrade from the built-ins?
u/stolen_me_mes isn't correct. You don't need a preamp: the record player has a 3.5mm output, which by convention should already be "line level." Pre-amps take the very quiet "Phono" output of normal turntables and amplify it to "Line Level." Amplifiers expect a "Line Level" input. In your case the turntable already should output Line level.
You do need an amplifier to power your speakers. This one has a 3.5mm input that you can connect directly to your turntable with a headphone cable.
You will need 2 sets of speaker cables: one for each speaker. Get a cable that's long enough to go between your amplifier and the speakers. You can buy the cheapest cable available, as long as it's long enough.
10 ft monoprice
15 ft. Note: You will need to buy two of this particular item for your speakers. They are a bit deceptive in how they describe their product.
Would this Denon receiver be good for a long time? With the smsl ad18 I was gonna use these cables, but I guess they wouldnt work with that receiver.
You probably need something to connect your turntable directly to the speakers. this will work if the speakers are powered, which I think they are. Here is RCA audio to minijack:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-MUFMRCA-6-Inch-3-5mm-Female/dp/B00KTHGDCS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451355348&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=RCA+to+minijack
but it depends on what connectors are on your TT. You may need hte female plugs instead of the male.
As for the receiver/speaker setup, you need to buy speaker wire to connect them.
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451355387&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
If you only have one of these cables you can't really do much since you would need 3 more to do what you want. You'd be better off with this https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502847413&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=speaker+wire&amp;psc=1
and these strippers https://www.amazon.com/Ai-Moichien-Strippers-Precision-Stripper-Industry/dp/B0721W9LDQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502847526&amp;sr=1-2-spons&amp;keywords=wire%2Bstrippers&amp;th=1
Not really. Just don't go crazy with a crazy large gauge. Just eyeballing it, it looks like that's about 18 gauge so you could easily use 16. AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_evzQzbNN2YY4V
I think your situation is pretty similar to mine - except I am based in Europe. I also had a very small budget was terribly confused. But I went ahead and bought used speakers + stereo receiver and am pretty happy with my purchase.
This is how my setup looks like. The TV is cheap (~300€) and the audio setup cost me another 100€, including a 3.5 mm to RCA cable and 16 gauge speaker cable. I would rather go for a passive speaker because it means more control over factors like distortion. Plus, a cheap used amp/receiver can added while effectively staying within the same budget.
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-105597-3-Feet-Premium-Stereo/dp/B0094A1F3S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426022009&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=RCA+to+3.5mm+cable
and
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426021913&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=speaker+cable
The cable will allow you to hook up a computer or smartphone to the amp. The speaker wire will be used to hook your speakers to the amp.
EDIT: I put main points in bold so that people can skim through this and get the gist of what I'm saying here. Very long post, so I thought it would be merciful to do so.
&nbsp;
Alrighty, this may be long so buckle up and get ready for a journey.
&nbsp;
I don't consider myself a hardcore audiophile or an expert in turntables/records, so I did some research when I was first looking to purchase one. I was originally looking at a Crosley record player but was soon warned about how notoriously evil they are -- by the way, DO NOT GET A CROSLEY, THEY ARE TERRIBLE!!! They are notorious for putting too much pressure on vinyls with their needles and end up scratching, carving, and ruining perfectly good records (for reference, ideal tracking force is two grams while the Crosley applies five grams tracking force). The parts are cheap and outdated and the player itself is extremely unstable and will skip if there's any sort of vibrational disturbance nearby. It's not good at all.
&nbsp;
That said, I want to make sure you know what exactly you're getting into right now. When you buy a turntable, there are other things you need to buy along with it to make it function correctly. I don't know whether you're planning to get a turntable just as a gift that only your SO will use or if it's something you both will use, but it's important nonetheless to know what exactly a turntable requires to work properly. See, when people buy a turntable, a lot of people don't realize that there are three things that are needed alongside it: a pre-amp; an amplifier; and speakers. Speakers is obvious, sure, and of course you'll need something to control the volume, but a lot of people I've talked to only thought about that kind of stuff after purchasing their turntable.
&nbsp;
The reason why these things are important is because most turntables rely on an electrical current in order to transmit vinyl to audio, but the current the turntable generates on its own doesn't matter if there's nothing to turn that current into sound. Think of it like a secret code. The vinyl is the coded message, and the turntable is the tool that deciphers the code. It can't decipher the code without the correct key, though; a preamp is like the key. It takes that current the turntable generates and amplifies it so that the signal is strong enough to be decoded by the amplifier. The amplifier is what actually turns it into the sound format, and is how you control volume as well. The speakers project the deciphered sound that you get to hear and enjoy. If you only plan on buying a turntable, then you don't need to worry about these things. Otherwise, keep reading; I'm finally getting to the point so please bear with me after this terrible analogy. :P
&nbsp;
It's a lot to take into consideration when buying a turntable; when I did my research, I found that the Audio Technica LP series was pretty reliable. It's not exactly ultra high-end, but it's a great starting point for beginning collectors. There are two ATLP record players, the 60 and the 120, and some other variants that I'm not really aware of. I personally use the 120 because I thought it was funny being able to mess with the pitch settings on it, and I like the extended options the 120 has over the 60. This is just a comparison between both the 60 and 120 below if you're interested in the Audio Technica LP series:
&nbsp;
In Favor of the 120:
&nbsp;
In Favor of the 60:
&nbsp;
Something in the favor of both players, though: they both come with built-in preamps, so you won't have to worry about buying one of those. Some people don't like the sound quality of the built-in preamp, but I think it's fine and it really isn't something to worry about as a beginner. The amp and speakers matter a bit more.
&nbsp;
When I went to go find a good amp, I made the mistake of going to Best Buy. Never go to Best Buy. It's a nightmare. The guy I talked to about amplifiers promptly directed us to home sound systems that cost over $1,000 in price. I found one on Amazon for $39. Not only does it work with my turntable, it's also bluetooth so you can stream from your phone if you want to as well (I'll link it right here so you can see it). I only set the amplifier up to half volume and it fills the entire room. I thought it was a miracle how I was seeing all of these huge ass home systems and then I get this little tiny ant of an amplifier and it does just as well.
&nbsp;
Now, onto speakers. You should think about the speakers the same way as I described the amp. The biggest, most ultra high-end stuff is just not worth it when you're starting out. I use Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers, which are amazing (the link is here). It's also $60 on Amazon, so you'll be saving money there, too. Oh, and you'll need speaker wire, which is $11 on Amazon as well.
&nbsp;
The total amount of money I spent on my system was $400 (it's really $399 but I rounded up), including the Audio Technica LP120, the mini amp, and the bookshelf speakers. If you get the LP60, you'd only be spending $200 ($199 but again rounded up). My setup and recommendations aren't the most top-of-the-line stuff, sure, but this is all I can recommend to you as this is all I've ever really used. It sounds great and I wouldn't really change it for anything.
&nbsp;
I'm so sorry this is such a long read, but I went through a lot figuring this out the hard way. I got my turntable as a gift along with those speakers, but then found out that I also needed to buy an amp to actually be able to make my whole setup work, and it spawned a two week-long horror show of trying to figure out what kind of amp to get. I feel like getting a turntable or really anything on such a scale as this should be a momentous and memorable occasion to cherish forever, and shouldn't be tainted by having to go through the ringer just to get one missing piece of the puzzle. I am also a music lover and feel your first foray into vinyl shouldn't be associated with high costs but rather being able to experience it for the first time and marveling in its strangely magical quality. It's a great gesture, especially towards an SO.
&nbsp;
Now I might be over-exaggerating a bit throughout this whole thing, but I think what you're trying to do is very sweet and I thought it would be good to take it seriously. Also, reading long posts like this can be exhausting, so I thought it'd be easier to get through if I did over-exaggerate and make it a more interesting read. Thanks for reading, and I hope your SO appreciates the gift. :)
I have a speaker that needs repositioning and my cable is too short, I thought it would be easy to just go on Amazon and grab a longer cable, job done, but now I am confused as to what kind of cable I should be going for, etc.
Any standard satellite speaker (I plan to upgrade later), connecting to a Denon AVR-X500, what cable should I be getting?
Is this correct? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006LW0W5Y/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
Completely new to this hifi thing and was going to get a closed box 2.1 system for around $150 now Im thinking I will start with
$90 Micca MB42X pair
$40 Nobsound Mini TPA3116
$11 Speaker Wire
Do I need anything else to make these work? Should I consider anything else (willing to go up to $200 if its significant) ? I plan to buy a sub later down the line when my budget allows it.
I'll be honest, I haven't had time to really do an A/B test on them, and my schedule hasn't afforded me a lengthy listening session, but I am much more confident in these new cables.
I had previously been using this wire! with these banana plugs. They did the job, and I will continue to use those cables when testing equipment for functionality or if I do a temporary setup for a friend or something.
The new wire is 12 AWG single-conductor. I had considered doing 14 AWG dual-conductor (honestly just for looks), but I decided to go with the cheaper option. I may upload some pics at a later date as my setup has changed and moved around quite a bit since my first setup post.
I don't even have a setup yet, so please, someone correct me if I am leading this person astray, but from my own individual research it seems one of the better and more expandable budget setups involves...
Beyond that I'll probably try and get the Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2017 Model) when it goes on sale again (IIRC it was only $200 a month ago). That'll probably last me for quite some time. I'm not a high end user, but I've been using tv speakers my whole life so I think this will be a great upgrade path for me. Of course in total it is out of your initial budget, but you can buy them piece by piece or just continue to save until you can afford it all.
With 150 you can ditch the entire system and build your own little one
buy these speakers, [amp] (http://www.amazon.com/Topping-TP20-MK2-TA2020-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00828UTE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405116091&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=topping+amplifier), speaker wires and [this cable] (http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405116222&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=3.5mm+to+rca). It's a little more than $150 but will worth it.
edit: if you get more space in the future you just add a subwoofer.
No need for anything more than 18. Can do 16 if it makes you feel better.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ
100' is like $3 more too
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/
https://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-2020TI-Instruments-TPA3118-Amplifier/dp/B071FJF4FF/
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Audio-Stereo-Speaker/dp/B006LW0WDQ/
You can add a subwoofer at a later date.
I'm doing the exact same thing. This is my plan. (As a disclaimer, I am fairly new and a student of /r/Zeos.)
This Receiver
Front Speakers
Center Speaker
Subwoofer
If that sub is too large for the mobility you want, you could go with this, which is quite a bit smaller.
All that (with the F12) will be around $525.
If you're doing surround, which may limit mobility, I'd throw in a pair of these.
Don't forget some good quality speaker wire and banana plugs make life easier if you want to move it easily.
Correct! However, maybe consider not supporting the evil empire that is Walmart!
Edit: Amazon is actually a little cheaper
https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/
+
https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-Diamond-220-Black/dp/B00OHIZQ50
+
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/
+
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YDUZ22/
You'll also need stands so that the speakers' tweeters are at your ear's level. If the accessories going over your budget make the whole thing too expensive, you can get some slightly cheaper speakers such as these: https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/
Get a good cheap pair of bookshelf speakers (or smth more expensive) connect them to an amp and either use a splitter cable to plug it directly into mobo's integrated sound or use a usb dac (with rca cables). You will also have to spend some money on speaker wire to connect speakers to amp.
EDIT: another option is to skip amp part and get a pair of powered studio monitors.
Any brand of speaker wire with banana plugs will do. For example:
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-12AWG-Ultra-Speaker-Cable/dp/B01CYGMD4I/
Choose a gauge of wire based on distance and speaker impedance. See Table 1 at:
https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/speaker-cable-gauge
If you're in particular European markets with strange safety regulations, the terminals on the back of your amplifier may be covered with a small flat plastic cap or similar that prevents inserting a banana plug.
Hard to know where to start!
Home theater receivers contain an amplifier as well as a bunch of inputs and usually some video switching stuff. Smaller amps like the Q5 Pro are similar but don't have the video functionality or bass management. They are for use with passive speakers and active (a.k.a. "powered") subwoofers.
The Edifiers are active speakers. In other words they have their own internal amplifier(s). You can't (easily) use them with the home theater receiver, or with something like the Q5 Pro.
Active speakers are cool because they're plug-and-play, and those Edifiers apparently sound pretty nice. The downside to active speakers is that you can't easily expand them. You can't setup a surround sound system, and unless they include a subwoofer output (the Edifiers don't, unless I'm mistaken) you can't easily add a subwoofer.
> What cables (yeah... I'm still afraid of the cables for no particular reason) would I need to complete this setup?
For the Edifiers+subwoofer?
It's not going to be entirely straightforward.
First you'll need some sort of RCA or headphone splitter at your source so that the subwoofer and the Edifiers are getting the same signal.
Except now there's a problem. When you turn the volume knob on the Edifiers, the subwoofer volume won't go up and down in unison with it. So you'll have to control volume at the source... on your TV, or your laptop, or whatever your source is.
> Would the home theater receiver still be beneficial in the short term?
Not with the Edifiers.
> What cables (yeah... I'm still afraid of the cables for no particular reason) would I need to complete this setup? At this point, I wouldn't mind buying the home theater you linked if it would be a better overall choice over the SMSL Q5 Pro/AD18.
For the home theater + Polk + subwoofer setup, you'd just need some speaker wire to connect the Polks. You can buy it by the spool or just pick up one of these for each of the Polks. Buying it by the spool is a lot cheaper if you have lots of speakers, or if you have long cable runs, but that's not an issue in your case so I'd probably go with the latter choice for convenience's sake.
You'd also need a cable to get audio from your source (is it a PC?) to the receiver. Digital (optical or coaxial) is best. Or you can just route everything over HDMI..... Computer----(HDMI)-->Receiver--->(HDMI)-->Monitor.
I got the Micca's along the Q5. I used Mediabridge cables to connect the speakers. It's more expensive than regular speaker wire but the quality it's great.
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-12AWG-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B01CYGMD4I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503073084&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=mediabridge+speaker+wire
As stands I use a pair of old books and that works great for me ($1 usd solution hahaha)
Speaker cables are speaker cables and unless it's really cheap there's no difference. Either head back to Richer Sounds and get the cheapest they've got or get this. I've used both (and other even cheaper stuff) and the main thing you should worry about is what colour you prefer!
These, length you need to decide
https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-PBH-20214-Cinch-Audiokabel-Cinch-Stecker-auf/dp/B01D5H8N8K/ref=sr_1_15_sspa?keywords=subwooferkabel&amp;qid=1562883570&amp;s=ce-de&amp;sr=1-15-spons&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-Toslink-Optisches-Digital-Audiokabel-3-m-Schwarz/dp/B00L3KO3YU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=toslink+kabel&amp;qid=1562883710&amp;s=ce-de&amp;sr=1-1-spons&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-Lautsprecherkabel-mm²-Gauge-100-Transparent/dp/B01D5H8YNO/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=10+gauge+speaker+wire&amp;qid=1562883776&amp;s=ce-de&amp;sr=1-1-spons&amp;psc=1
This is optional, makes moving them to clean around your desk easier.
https://www.amazon.de/Nakamichi-Bananenstecker-Bananas-vergoldet-schwarz/dp/B00B257Z32/ref=sr_1_6?crid=U9Y500CMGKCI&amp;keywords=banana+plugs&amp;qid=1562883892&amp;s=ce-de&amp;sprefix=banana%2Celectronics%2C169&amp;sr=1-6
You do not want a surround sound for listening to music. It sounds like you may just want music playing in multiple locations at once? Maybe a few echo dots will accomplish this?
&#x200B;
If you want stereo https://www.amazon.com/Micca-OriGain-Compact-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B01LXV4O6B/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=integrated+amplifier&qid=1563468321&s=gateway&sr=8-14
&#x200B;
Or used receiver for under $100
&#x200B;
with these: https://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperOne-2-1-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B00LJX4HCY/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2Y3962S45UIV9&keywords=nht+speakers&qid=1563468383&s=gateway&sprefix=not%2Caps%2C317&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
&#x200B;
Cables https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ5HCTM/ref=twister_B07FZTB7JS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
&#x200B;
&#x200B;
Edit: NO RECIEVER/AMP OPTION: https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-2017-R-14PM-Powered-Monitor/dp/B075JRF295/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=IAJ40GS5HNR2&keywords=powered+bookshelf+speakers&pd_rd_i=B075JRF295&pd_rd_r=976d8e8f-5a7d-4eaf-9a25-945ea56cf7dd&pd_rd_w=ES2tz&pd_rd_wg=IjwCE&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=M6B9F6HZNVBK06MJQ211&qid=1563468625&refinements=p_36%3A25000-30000&rnid=386442011&s=electronics&sprefix=powered+book%2Celectronics%2C153
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=9436 and https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=14915 or buy premade for $20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ5HCTM
16 gauge is fine for those
http://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393720185&sr=8-2&keywords=rca+to+speaker+cable
Man you have a fairly dysfunctional system in that a lot of the things meant to minimize the setup are broken. With that said. Some options I thought of are:
Option a:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JYB93G Cheapest DAC you can buy. $16
https://www.amazon.com/VONOTO-Switcher-Toslink-Splitter-Converter/dp/B00PZKA5E6/ for switching between toslinks $14
https://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I/ To connect the powered monitors to the subwoofer, you can use these with the splitters below.
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-YRA-104-Dual-RCAF-Y-Cable/dp/B000068O4Y x 2
https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-feet-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00DI89IQS $10 connects from splitters to subwoofer.
That is the low cost version. You can replace the $16 dac with a micca Origin+ ($110 shipped) and then you'd also have a cost-efficient DAC/PReamp with a volume nob, and ability to switch between input sources and output sources easier. Would also increase audio quality by a bit if your input source isn't too good.
Want to add an equalizer, high pass filters, etc? Look into a Mini DSP 2 x 4. That should take care of those needs. But I don't think it would really be all that necessary. Your call, this is the cheapest way imo to do this.
Best of luck.
Speaker wire. You push the little tabs and insert bare wire into the sockets.
It also depends on what's outputting the sound. You can get RCA to speaker wire cables.
I would get a/the transducer setup first, then experiment with the vibration force on different surfaces... that might give you a feel of what chair you might need. you might already have a perfect chair in your house? experiment with mounting also... you'll figure it out. Here is another connection you might need, I forgot to mention:
http://www.amazon.com/IEC-1-Feet-Speaker-Wire-Males/dp/B003U48NIY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1408459726&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=bare+wire+to+rca
you could even MAKE the above, by cutting one end of a standard RCA cable.
RCA plugs are simple, the ring is ground (black) and the pin in the middle is the signal (red) A lot of affordable/powerful amps have bare wire out.
All kinda depends on your level of involvement. If you want to plug red plugs into red holes and white ones into white holes, then something like this is gonna probably be about as cheap as you can go. Note that whether you're running RCA or bare wire to the subwoofer, you'll probably need something like this to connect them back up.
If you're a little more comfy stripping wires and putting them where they go, something like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Amplify-Digital-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B010LSAO5Q/ref=sr_1_13?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1487571783&amp;sr=1-13&amp;keywords=amplifier&amp;refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A1267488011%2Cp_36%3A1253503011) will do the job. You hardly need any power, you just need voltage gain, so the cheapest amp you feel like implementing will probably work. I like this one because there's a volume knob and power and input connectors - easy, familiar ways of interacting with a board. If you're running RCA to the sub you'll need a 2x RCA to 3.5mm stereo adapter for input. If the sub accepts RCA you'll need this again but if it accepts wires then you just need some speaker wire (really any plastic-coated wire will work here) to connect it up. Use the diagram on the amazon page to match up left right plus and minus, because it probably will not come with instructions and they probably aren't labeled on the product.
Either way I would mount the amp with hot glue to the back of the subwoofer or set it on top. That way you can adjust it as part of the subwoofer and get the switch-on volume just right.
Yes there is a pretty easy way to do this.
As long as you're sure that all you need are the RCA and that the extra wires on this don't have to be connected for things to work. RCA Male or RCA Female
The main wires you're interested in are the Pink & White wires twisted together and the Black wire beside them.
Pink will be your Right stereo channel and White is your Left. The black wire will need to be attached to both of these as the common Ground(Connects to the metal shells of those connectors I listed via one of the wires in a split 'Y' shape)
As I said I'm not 100% on what those other wires do really but I'd guess they power some other circuitry that it used to plug into, possibly even provides power to start getting a signal from the RCA outputs at all. It's hard to say with a single picture and question to go by.
Have you really explored what you can do if you get creative with wiring? Running wires along baseboard, around door trim, etc. You can also get flat speaker wire to run under carpeting.
I'm not much more than a newbie myself.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484173113&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
I bought banana plugs for my newest speakers and AVR. However my old Onkyo surround speakers have the spring loaded clips style connection. So the banana clips wont work with them. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E0E5CIG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
So you can see the row or red and black connectors on the back of the receiver, those are labeled for the available speaker locations. Standard speaker wire can be used on those as it kinda threads through then screws down tight (banana plug connectors can also be used if purchased). The backs of the speakers have a matching red and black connection that the wire screws into as well. So each speaker will have one red and one black connection.
In my case with this specific setup I am using the amplifier in a bi-amp configuration where I am utilizing the 'Front A' connections for left and right as well as the 'bi-amp' connections. The Klipsch speakers have 2 red and 2 black plugs on the back of them for this purpose. When Bi-amp'ed the speakers are able to use the extra power that another channel may use to give more clarity and over volume.
This is a great company, I have a pair of their older speakers and they sound great.
Speakers: $344.50
http://www.amazon.com/SpeakerCraft-OE5-One-Outdoor-Speaker/dp/B0017LADVW/ref=sr_1_6?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394418175&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=speakercraft+outdoor
Amplifier: $100
http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394418458&amp;sr=8-1-spell&amp;keywords=ausiosource+amp-100
RCA Cable: $10
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YEBK66/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394418952&amp;sr=8-13&amp;keywords=rca+cable
Speaker Cable: $10
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394419011&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=speaker+cable
For Wireless music, Bluetooth receiver, $32
http://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-NFC-enabled-Bluetooth-Receiver-System/dp/B009OBCAW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394419052&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=bluetooth+music+receiver
Total Cost: $496.50
Half my stuff is wired up with this
Yup, that subwoofer cable will work.
&nbsp;
You can just buy a spool of speaker wire (like this) and that’s all you’ll need, although I recommend getting some banana plugs just to make it easier to unplug stuff if needed, but up to you.
You need regular speaker wire like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
On the middle of the rear of the SMSL are four connectors labelled + and - (to the left and right speakers respectively).
Connect the + and - marked "Left Out" to + and - on the left speaker. And + and - on "Right out" to the +/- on the right speaker.
https://smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=16+guage+lamp+cord&amp;qid=1562002552&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-9
You need speaker wire and banana plugs. $18
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=asc_df_B006LW0W5Y5439538/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;creative=394997&amp;creativeASIN=B006LW0W5Y&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=167122786755&amp;hvpos=1o1&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=7545833612316399924&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=m&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9033356&amp;hvtargid=pla-300348225057
Your setup is 3.0. The first number is speakers, the second is subwoofers.
You just cut the wire to length, strip the ends, attach the plugs, it’s easy.
https://kantoaudio.com/tech-tuesday-how-to-connect-speaker-wire-to-a-binding-post/
Have somebody QC this (perhaps from /r/audio):
Amplifier: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TUSXEY/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_b2Fmq_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&amp;pf_rd_r=RC1EHSN9BNGPF7QBEQWT&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=e26ee127-5127-5fc0-a063-c5df25bf1331&amp;pf_rd_i=537344
3.5mm to RCA adapter: https://www.amazon.com/Choseal-3-5mm-Audio-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00A7J1ANA/ref=pd_bxgy_107_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B00A7J1ANA&amp;pd_rd_r=XAFTKMHGNWE0HHB4R052&amp;pd_rd_w=BGEgf&amp;pd_rd_wg=5XYHG&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=XAFTKMHGNWE0HHB4R052
Speaker wire: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1519759916&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
What's the point of spending that much money on speaker wire as apposed to just buying, for example, Amazon Basics?
I used the following setup for a cheap 2.0 system:
Amp: Lepai lp-2020a - $30
Speakers: Micca Covo-S - $40
Speaker cable: Amazon Basic 16 gauge - $10 for 100 ft
I think they sound great for the size and cost, but this set up isn't really going to scream bass!
Nice thing about this is that you'll have components for if you want to upgrade later. You want a 5.1 setup down the road? Well turn those covo-s speakers into your rear channels. Want to just get some bigger speakers later on? Well you'll have an amp that should do fine for a simple set up.
edit: the Lepai amp can be cheaply made. I had to exchange one after 1 month because the knob was wobbling and a channel went out. However the replacement has served me well for over a year now.
edit 2: to get the most of these speakers if you're placing them on your computer desk, you'll need to have them resting on something to slightly angle them up to you. Or put them on stands/mounts closer to ear level.
The speaker cables can be simple zip cord-
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/
This receiver would fit the bill and is about as cheap as I can find from a reputable manufacturer.-
https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR373-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B06XVGCBZ4/
WAIT Your speaker cable is wrong! I'll find you one then edit in a sec
This is what you need
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
Make sure 50 feets is long enough, they do 100 as well
The 3.5 mm to RCA is fine, theres a cheaper one here http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-105597-3-Feet-Premium-Stereo/dp/B0094A1F3S
I had another look at the picture of the speakers, they have the type that unscrews so you don't need banana plugs.
You'll want to split about 5cm of that speaker cable apart from both ends, strip ~2cm of insulation off, unscrew the plastic plastic bits off the back of the speakers, feed the exposed copper into the little holes then screw them up tightly. You then have to trace the wire to the other end and connect them to the amp, connect the 3.5mm cable from your source (pc, phone w/e) to the RCA input on the amp, power it up and you're all set
Of course, you can buy the wires longer or shorter depending on your needs. And the brand doesn’t really matter.
This kind of cable for receiver -> speakers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_PHcACb67FBW98
This for receiver-> subwoofer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D5H8GYG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sIcACbEKE23WA
You will need to hook a music/sound source to the receiver. It’s up to you how you want to do that.
your receiver has a powered zone 2.. you can run 2 more speakers out of it. you can run four if you wire the speakers together (parallel), but you wont get as much power and they wont be able to be controlled independently.
if you want to control them independently you want a multizone amp and/or volume dials.
examples:
http://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Impedance-Matching-White-Ivory-Almond-Controls/dp/B004TLAGQY/
a Center is pretty crucial if you dont have a centered or somewhat centered seating sports. a Subwoofer can be lived without for some time, if necessary.
i would go with outdoor speakers on the patio, mostly because they are weather resistant and secondly, is that they are designed for open air. (although you can generally EQ that into shape)
you just need any speaker wire.
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
From what I can tell you just need some standard 16 gauge speaker wire.http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420017973&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=16+gauge+speaker+wire
Hello fellow LP120 owner!
Your new turntable comes with a built in preamp, but you still need an amp to amplify the line level audio. Records necessitate a preamp, as the audio level is quite low compared to other sources, (i.e. CD player, iPod). In addition to boosting the audio signal to something your amp can work with, the preamp also applies RIAA equalization which more or less adds back in the low end.
Some of the older amps out there have a specific PHONO input, which is designed to do the same thing a preamp does. Almost all of the new amps on the market have gotten rid of these inputs, as "no one listens to vinyl anymore". You don't need one with a PHONO input though, you just need a good 2-channel amp to power your speakers.
If you don't want to spend much, the Lepai LP 2020 is probably the best bang for your buck. I'm using it right now with these Pioneer bookshelf speakers (very similar to yours) and they sound great. I don't have a recommendation for anything more powerful, but you won't really need anything more powerful unless you go with bigger speakers down the road. Don't forget to grab some speaker wire to wire it all up.
Have fun!
If you get him bookshelf speakers like the Q Acoustics suggestion, you'll probably need something to put them on, i.e. speaker stands, unless you've got an unusual amount of room on the stand next to that enormous TV. These can range from pretty affordable to unjustifiably expensive. Just find something that seems stable that you like the looks of. Speaker stands are something you can save a ton of money buying second hand without really having to worry about them being broken or abused, but you might not like gifting something used.
Oh, and if your house is entirely new to this speakers-and-amps thing, make sure you've got some speaker wire. Don't let anyone tell you you need to spend a lot on it. Stuff like this is just fine.
One other question you had was about wall mounting and sound quality--generally speaking nice bookshelves on stands will sound better than something you'd wall mount. In part because you'll have more control over how you place them in the room, and they'll be at ear-level like they should be. And in the case of the Q Acoustics (and many other speakers), there's a port on the back of the speaker that you definitely don't want pressed up against a wall. Basically they need a little room to "breathe".
Now, if he wanted actual IN-wall speakers (where you only see the grill), that's kind a specific and very different thing than what we tend to do around here.
What a great gift idea!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2
Those speakers, with these foam pads to angle them at your ears.
https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Addicted-Isolation-Monitors-Acoustic/dp/B0757LTZJJ
Powered by this amp:
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC
You will also need some speaker wire, and a 3.5mm to RCA adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ
https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YEBK66
This setup will surpass any product sold by Logitech, Razer, or any normal set of PC speakers. You can easily add a subwoofer or upgrade the speakers themselves in the future.
https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2024A-Amplifier-Stereo-Supply/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/
For speakers, go for the Dayton B652 Airs, or check craigslist for some decent bookshelf speakers.
Exactly. A proper stereo is the solution here. Use a decent amp and speakers for the audio and pair it with an Echo Dot to control it, using the line out jack on the Dot to connect it to the amp.
If /u/Treas0n is looking for a good budget option, I'd highly recommend the Lepai amp + Dayton speaker setup. This setup is the go-to budget kit on /r/audiophile and would be plenty loud with really good sound quality. It's about $90 for the whole kit (+$30-$50 for an Echo Dot):
Lepai LP-2020TI Texas Instruments TPA3118 Hi-Fi Stereo Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supplyhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B071FJF4FF/(don't go for this one anymore, grab a tripath version)Kinter K2020A+ Limited Edition ORIGINAL Tripath TA2020-020 Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with 12V 5A Power Supply Black https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077Z7DBRT
Dayton Audio B652-AIR 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker with AMT Tweeter Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NOA58RS/
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 50 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0WDQ/
Monoprice 105597 3-Feet Premium Stereo Male to 2RCA Male 22AWG Cable - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094A1F3S/
If the OP wants even bigger sound then add a powered sub for $100 more (you may want to double up on your 16ga speaker wire for connecting the subwoofer between the stereo speakers and the amp)
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IEFWBbD0GFQVW
Does your PC have HDMI out? If yes, then [this is what you want to do] (https://www.tweaking4all.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/avreceiver_setup_with_arc-800x385.jpg). Get an entry level [AV receiver under $200] (http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/1.html) and connect it to your PC through HDMI. If your PC does not have HDMI, then it can also be connected to the receiver through digital out such as SPDIF or Coaxial. The AV receiver will have multiple inputs and outputs to connect any gaming consoles if you have any.
For budget speakers read this. You can get the Elac B6 for $280 or KEFQ100 for $300 right now. Get 16 gauge speaker wires [here] (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ) and you are all set. This set up gives you flexibility to connect additional speakers (for surround sound for movies) and/or if you want a subwoofer later.
Here is the setup I went for in a small room. This is for a desk setup in a 11x14 room. Couldn't be happier for about 250$.
Speakers: 90$
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Amp:70$
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1454215590&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=smsl+amplifier&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=zeos-20&amp;linkId=97458c4923f86af9ecf53e1a566a6fca
Sub:81$ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KGA6A8A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Wire:8.50$
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1454214218&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=speaker+wire&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=zeos-20&amp;linkId=50aa0e85d9168eed8d40f824e4203a64
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109436-Copper-Speaker-Banana/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1454214342&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=speaker+cable&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=zeos-20&amp;linkId=2fe231768f52ad0ca86e94f394a83fca
Plugs 10$
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109436-Copper-Speaker-Banana/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1454214342&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=speaker+cable&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=zeos-20&amp;linkId=2fe231768f52ad0ca86e94f394a83fca
Those are what are called "passive" speakers; they need an amplifier.
You'll also need some speaker wire and a 3.5 mm TRS to stereo RCA cable.
Use the TRS-to-RCA cable to connect the computer's "audio out" to the amplifier's "line in", and use the speaker wire to connect the speakers to the amplifier.
In simple terms this is what you will need.
Speakers -> Use Speaker Wire -> Amp
You will need an amp because the speakers are passive and need power (which your tv can't provide). I listed the usual bang for your buck recommendations. In addition it's up to you whether you want to get banana plugs or not, personally it's just easier to stick the wire straight into the speaker. The MB42 has 5-way binding posts that can accept banana plugs, spades, bare straight wire, and bare looped wire.
Now the easy part. You just have to connect your Amp to your tv. You said you only have optical or aux (no rca?). The amp I linked has the option to use either RCA or Aux input. My personal reccomendation is to use the RCA wire over the Aux, if you can.
And for price vs performance, you can't get too much better than the Micca MB42s. It's always highly recommended as one of the best bang for your buck speakers at that price level.
As others have said it makes a huge difference. I love feeling the subtle details as well like engine RPM and gear shifts in my back. It really pulls you in.
Get a butt kicker setup if you don’t like to DIY. Otherwise a cheap setup can be pieced together easily:
Shaker:
Dayton Audio BST-1 High Power Pro Tactile Bass Shaker 50 Watts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDDPJTI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Irj5BbKDNWGTP
Amp:
ONEU Mini amplifier Super Bass Hi-Fi Stereo Audio Amp Booster for Car Moto Home with DC 12V 3A Power Supply, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019MBUX40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Dsj5Bb3JGVQ77
Wire:
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 50 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Gtj5Bb7QK1K9K
Free Software:
https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/simhub-diy-sim-racing-dash.10252/
I bought this record player and I love it! Here's what you'll need along with it. http://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-2020A-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/ref=pd_sim_e_2?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=085YFTEAQ3KM2HQFK9RP
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=pd_bxgy_MI_img_y
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_y
What are the best speaker wires to use with the Wharfedale Diamond 220 bookshelf speakers? I currently have a Luxman R-115 radio receiver. I purchased wires on Amazon as suggested by the site, but now I'm wondering if I should return them if there are better alternatives.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ
Also, should I bi-wire?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0WDQ
Have you not used standard speaker wire before? Each wire contains two strands, positive and negative. You'll strip about a half inch of the plastic, then match them positive to positive, negative to negative for both of your speakers and your amp.
You cut the wire to length yourself. I change my setup a lot so I've used up over 100ft of wire, but 50ft might last you forever if you never move anything.
Amazon or Monoprice is my goto for cheap wire. You'll want a wire stripper as well.
Here's a great graphic I cooked up in MS Paint to go along with the steps below.
Not all wires are marked black / red, but they'll all have some way to identify the difference. Just double check you aren't wiring stuff backwards. I also separated the two wires in the 4th step to make it more clear, don't do that IRL.
You need this and this. (you only need a few feet of this speaker wire, but it's only sold in spools.).. The speaker with the controls will be the left speaker -- run the RCA cables from your interface into the corresponding inputs on the back of this speaker.. Then cut off the needed amount of wire from the spool, bare the ends and connect the left speaker to the right by inserted the exposed wire into the slots for "speaker out" on the left speaker and into the unmarked slots on the right speaker. I don't want to be a downer -- but if I were you, I would return the speakers and buy a pair where each speaker has dedicated controls and 1/4" inputs and pair them with an audio interface with 1/4" L/R outputs.
You're gonna need a receiver. Even if your TV does have speaker outputs the receiver is just gonna make everything easier, it'll sound better too! I live in the US so I need to convert...
Your budget is $1145
If you're completely new to this stuff, I can help lay down the basics.
A receiver is a device that 'receives' signals from audio sources, amplifies them, and sends the signal out to speakers. There are two channel receivers, which push audio to two speakers. Five channel receivers are for surround sound, and push sound to five speakers. Seven channel receivers allow for two extra surround speakers to a five channel setup. Right now, you're just looking for a stereo setup, so a two channel receiver will do the job.
This is how you set up a receiver.
On the back of a receiver, there should be a series of terminals or 'plugs', either HDMI, white and red rca jacks, or optical plugs. Next to them should be a term, something like 'DVD', 'CD', 'TV', or 'AUX'. This is to help distinguish the audio sources you are putting into the receiver. Plug your source into any one of the plugs, then turn the receiver on. On the front, there should be a dial or a button labeled "Source". This is used to select the audio source you plugged into the back. For example, if you plugged your source into 'CD', you would then find CD on the receiver display using the source button or dial. This is the jist of it. There are settings to adjust the bass, treble, balance, and other stuff on basically any receiver, so you can tune it to your liking.
Next up is setting up the speakers.
This next step requires some wire cutting, but it isn't difficult at all. I've done it with scissors. If you have ever seen stereo speakers before, you'll notice they don't have wires attached. They will have some red and black clips or screws on the back (Call them terminals). The receiver has these same things as well. Inside the terminals is bear metal, and this is where the signal is transferred. You will need to get some speaker wire and cut the tips off of each end, then attach one end to the receiver's terminals, and the other to the speaker's terminals. Speaker wire consists of two wires sealed together. One wire should have a mark along it or be colored differently, so you can make sure you match up the terminals correctly. (Black to black- Red to red) Do this for both the left and right speakers.
Most receivers can drive two pairs of speakers. (An A system and a B system.) So you will see two sets of black and red terminals. It doesn't matter which one you use, just make sure the speakers are connected to the same system, then select the system you want on the receiver.
If you're only wiring two speakers, it shouldn't be that much work at all. Ten minutes tops to get everything wired.
Now the fun part!
Choosing the system! I'm jealous as I didn't have this big a budget for my setup, you'll be in for quite the treat.
The Receiver
If I were you, I would buy a vintage receiver from the 70s. If you're into ease of access and all that I can understand, but vintage sound is really something else. It has a warm sound to it, and you usually have to pay maybe four times as much for a new receiver to get something similar. (They also look awesome.) Almost all of them have turntable amps too, so if you want to get into vinyl in the future you're basically set.
You can find them on Ebay. If you can, buy one locally off of Craigslist. Look for something by Sansui, Kenwood, Marantz, or Pioneer. Expect to pay $200-$500 for a good one.
You could also get a new one if you want bluetooth and a remote. Bear in mind it probably won't sound as good as the older stuff. Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Sony are generally the cheaper of the bunch. Denon and Marantz tend to be higher quality.
I would strongly recommend buying vintage if you're not doing a home theater. You'll get diminishing returns paying the same amount for a modern receiver. You'll probably just get more channels and surround decoders which you aren't going to use anyways.
The Speakers
In this price range, I would look at these companies for speakers: PSB, KEF, Bowers and Wilkins, and Martin Logan to name a few. They make excellent products and I think their field fits snugly into your budget.
My recommendations:
PSB Imagine Bs. $880 pr (Ebay)
KEF q350 $650 pr
Martin Logan Motion 15 ~$350 ea
What I think you should do is let the speakers drive your budget. Choose a pair then use whatever you have left on the receiver.
&#x200B;
If I were to suggest a full setup for you, I would get the PSB Imagine Bs and a Kenwood KR-6030 with some Amazon Basics wire. (I literally just slapped this together.)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-PSB-Imagine-B-Dark-Cherry/112709601866?hash=item1a3e040a4a:g:b-UAAOSwEVpboe5G:rk:2:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/JUST-SERVICED-VINTAGE-KENWOOD-KR-6030-AM-FM-STEREO-RECEIVER-EXCELLENT-SHAPE/163318231169?hash=item2606867081:g:iNMAAOSwkwdbqqiF:rk:1:pf:0
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=sr_1_3_acs_sk_pb_1_sl_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539928099&sr=8-3-acs&keywords=speaker+wire
&#x200B;
Happy hunting!
I'm no audiophile but your average speaker wire will do to connect the Amp to the speakers. The record player>preamp>Amp can be done with RCA audio cables. The same kind youd use for the back of your tv before Hdmi.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D5H8P0G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_HdQ6Bb96MT9KX
RCA cables
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_WeQ6Bb02GKQC6
Speaker wire
You can pick them up at any store that sells electronics really. Walmart, target, ect ect
They usually don't include the wire for connecting them, you just need some speaker wire. You can also get banana plugs to make plugging the wire in easier but that's optional
Here's a fairly easy-to-read guide on speaker placement for home theater.
And here's an exhaustive resource on acoustic treatment from Ethan Winer. He is (I believe) one of the more serious experts in the audio community.
I love the look of the room and setup, but I agree with other people on swapping the lava lamp (as cool as it is), and the TV to help center the display between your speakers. Something about the low vaulted ceiling and basic but neat appearance of your system is pretty bitchin'. Nice stuff.
Also, about your cables... I say sell them for whatever somebody will pay and do yourself a favor.
Happy listening!
From Zeos' guide, I'd go with this:
Cable
Amp
Wiring
Speakers
It may look overwhelming, but this is very easy to hook up, just be careful and check your work before plugging in the power.
Mediabridge 12AWG Ultra Series Speaker Cable - Gold Plated Banana Tips (6 FT) - CL2 99.9% Oxygen Free - Black (SWT-12B-06B) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CYGMD4I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oS.vDb1CZ7MTV
I'm rewriting my reply here to better fit your budget. Here are two possible configurations I would recommend from Ascend + Rythmik. I recommend these brands because I've gone through many speaker and subwoofer brands costing twice as much as these, which sound only half as good as Ascend and Rythmik.
2.1 Music Optimized System (but also great for home theater) - $2980:
This music-optimized configuration will give you an incredible music experience, very near the pinnacle of what is even possible: This will get you 80-90% of the way to the music sound quality of a configurations costing 10x as much.
It will also be excellent for home theater, and without question will put any sound bar (at any price) to shame. The only reason the alternate configuration below is better for home theater is: it will go louder (you can play at 'reference' levels, matching the SPL of a real movie theater), and it does surround sound.
Note that I personally have the above configuration (minus this particular Denon model), and can attest that it is absolutely incredible. It sounds 80-90% as good as a system with Ascend's flagship tower speakers (which I also have) for half the price.
7.1 Home Theater Optimized System (but also great for music) - $2986:
This 7.1 surround configuration is optimized for home theater, but will still sound very satisfying for music in both stereo and surround modes. It should be able to reach "reference level" SPL (very loud) for movies in a medium room, and cover the entire audible frequency spectrum.
There are many people who just have a stereo pair of CMT-240SE + a subwoofer, and rave about how much better they sound than speakers twice their cost.
I would recommend going with the TP-24 stands to properly elevate the front LR speakers, since they were specifically designed for the CMT-340 mini-tower speakers (they look quite nice together), but it does bring the order over-budget to $3166. If your $3k limit is absolutely firm, I would recommend either (1) improvising your own stands, or (2) going for a 5.1 setup instead to save money (you can later buy more surrounds if you like).
I have these cables and these speaker feet. I recommend both.
I listen to just about everything, from classic rock to Shostakovitch to Dwight Yoakam to Kendrick Lamar. The HSUs sound great with all of it.
How would I remove the plugs? I don't have a wire stripper or other tools to cut it. These are the cables I have.
I'm using the RB42s with an SMSL AD18 DAC+Amp. I'm using these speaker cables. Desktop use, with a computer. I'm also using an old sub from a Logitech speaker set to pad out the low end, but the speakers sound great on their own.
I have the RP-160m with the NAD C316BEE . I have never tried the rp-600m but I think they could work well with that amplifier.
You need speakers cables like these: cable
This should be fine, unless you're doing super long (50+ ft) runs, or running the speaker cable in the walls (in which case you need a CL2 rated cable.)
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B01D5H8XOY/ref=pd_lpo_23_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=V9JPF5EAG00652NPR2J4
both speakers are good and you'll be happy whichever pair you get. that being said, the Diamonds have better bass, so it's up to you if you're willing to sacrifice size for more bass
in addition, you'll need a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable and some speaker wire. buy the cheapest option, wires are wires and don't matter that much
unless you have a $5000 end-game setup, maybe then it's worth it to get nicer cables
Hey cool, should be pretty easy to set up.
On the back of your receiver is an input probably marked "phono"; you connect your turntable to that using an RCA cable. Those are easy to find in different lengths / prices. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-40465-Value-Audio/dp/B0019MCI94/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510243440&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=rca+audio+cable
Speakers connect to your stereo using speaker wire. No need to buy the $200 variety! There are various types of connectors on the back of receivers. Very common is a post that is something like a screw, with a black cap on it that turns. Your goal is to wrap the stripped end of the speaker wire around the metal post (metal wire needs to connect metal post), and clamp it down using the black cap. (If this makes sense....)
Speaker wire is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B01D5H8XOY/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510243561&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
You need a cable like this to hook the amp to a PC. You then need regular speaker wire to connect Q100 to the amp. You can buy speaker wire at a normal home supply store. You could probably find it locally. 14 gauge is usually a good size to use for most things.
amazon link for speaker wire
This sub doesn't like to recommend soundbars because they generally offer poor sound relative to their cost.
Instead, consider starting with a basic home theater system that you can easily add on to later.
I'd recommend:
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers - $89.95
Denon AVR-S510BT Factory Refurbished Receiver - $129.99
50ft of 14-Gauge Speaker Wire (to connect the speakers to the receiver) - $10.99
HDMI cables (to connect TV and Blu-ray player/PS3/whatever to receiver) - $9.99
Total: $240.92
Speaker wire for the speakers, digital coaxial or subwoofer cables for the sub.
It looks like binding posts for banana plugs for the speaker connections on the wall plate.
Amazon and monoprice are good places for speaker wire as well.
Banana plugs -5 pairs
Subwoofer Cable -8ft. There are plenty out there for cheap. Just search subwoofer cable.
50ft 14 GA speakerwire. The speaker wire connects to the bananaplugs.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B01D5H8XOY/ref=pd_day0_hl_23_3/137-2294305-1031853?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01D5H8XOY&pd_rd_r=91666369-31a2-11e9-aa96-e74d7a705039&pd_rd_w=gdC10&pd_rd_wg=9euOZ&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=35H4KAKSDMGCQ6WZXP3H&psc=1&refRID=35H4KAKSDMGCQ6WZXP3H
&#x200B;
you wanna have the wire thicker so that it transmits clearly further. There's a graphic on r/zeos but I don't remember the details. Yes that receiver is great. I just suggested Craigslist cause you can get epic deals. I got mine for $30 and is a yamaha. No HDMI though, older model.
You need speaker wire and an amplifier that outputs to speakers. Like [this](SMSL SA50 50Wx2 TDA7492 Class D Amplifier + Power Adapter (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.vhIzbGPCW0Q4) and [this](AmazonBasics 14-Gauge Speaker Wire - 50 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D5H8XOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VzhIzbT3TGHMM). I suggest looking over the recommendations at r/budgetaudiophile.
You will just need basic speaker wire. Something like this should work just fine: https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B01D5H8XOY
If going in-wall, you will need CL2: https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Oxygen/dp/B0758CSSF2
If you have electrical wire laying around at home, that will work just fine too. Just use something thicker than 18AWG.
Yes you should be able to wall-mount the speakers - no problem. Try to keep the tweeters at ear level when seated (~40" off the floor). Surrounds can go a bit higher - I wouldn't exceed 1 foot above ear level though. Center channel will likely go on a console or mounted above the TV I assume - just angle it slightly so it fires at ears.
What you described is exactly how it should be connected.
EDIT: You will also need an RCA cable for the subwoofer - https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-Subwoofer-Cable-25-Feet/dp/B01D5H8HR2/
This may be a good read for you: https://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/basic-home-theater-setup-guide
I would suggest newer speaker wire too... pick up a decent 20-50 foot / 10-20 meter roll of 14 or 16 gauge OFC wire, and get rid of that other stuff.
Perhaps some electrical tape or wire nuts too, if you have to splice into your exisiting "through the box" wiring.
Correct, you gotta get wire separately because based on where it's run (inside a wall or an outside install) the jacket covering the wire will be flame retardant or be robust enough to put up with the elements.
If you're just running the wires inside and hiding them along baseboards or inside a wire channel this spool will work just fine for you. The bare wire can be fed into the receiver speaker terminals with no real need for banana plugs or other items.
It depends on the length of the run you are planning. For anything less than 5ft of distance you need 14gage speaker wire. It's usually pretty cheap and you can get it anywhere. Just run it through the nuts on the speakers and connect to the terminals on the amp. There are plenty of videos on youtube. I'd recommend https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01D5H8XOY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1517874911&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=speaker+wire+14+gauge&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51RVOfFV3rL&amp;ref=plSrch for it's simplicity.
Here's what I would do if I was purchasing right now, this is assuming the room isn't huge and you aren't sitting a mile away from the TV. Some of these are some decent sales.
TV: 55" TCL TV ($380)
AVR: Denon S530BT ($150)
Sub: HSU VTF-1 MK3 ($430 with shipping)
L/R: ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 ($250)
Center: ELAC Debut 2.0 C5.2 ($190)
Surround L/R: Micca Covo-S ($45)
Speaker Wire: Amazon Basics 14 Gauge ($16)
&#x200B;
Total: $1461
&#x200B;
Probably will go a bit over $1500 with tax, but I think this would be an extremely impressive first home theater and is what I would do if I was starting fresh with that budget.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B01D5H8YNO/ref=asc_df_B01D5H8XOY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167141218295&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16384551313389810925&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019693&hvtargid=pla-352735551767&th=1
Like this one? Can you get an electric shock from touching the copper wire inside? My cat sometimes likes to chew on stuff. I guess I can use some kind of cable cover anyways.
Just to be curious: When should you buy lower or higher gauge wiring?
Thanks for the reply!
So I don't need to go down to 12 gauge, right?
Secondly, I do need copper wire as opposed to copper-coated aluminum wire like this, right?
Thinking of getting this one. It's CL3 and FT4 (CM in the USA) rated.
So would either of these do?
https://www.amazon.com.au/AmazonBasics-14-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-2-08/dp/B01D5H8YNO/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=amazon+basics+14+gauge&amp;qid=1574064603&amp;sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com.au/AmazonBasics-Speaker-Wire-14-Gauge-Oxygen-Free/dp/B0758CSSF2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=amazon+basics+14+gauge&amp;qid=1574064639&amp;sr=8-1
Thanks again for all the advice. I had a question about wiring. I'll be using the highly rated speaker wires below. I bought two sets (4 total pairs). I plan on using 1 pair to connect the L and R. The second pair was intended for center. However, I'm not sure I can split the pair so that I can use the 2 center speakers in series as you described? It sounds like it would need three separate wires. Does it matter whether I use the black or red wire for the 'red to black' in between speakers?
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-Copper-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B06ZZ5HCTM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
In a smaller viewing area, like I think you're describing, small speakers like the passive MB42X ($79.99) will be adequate and 100% better than TV speakers. Add in a small amp (no DAC, just let the TV do that for now) for $79.99 and you're set at about $160.00. Use the left over cash for decent speaker wire and some isolation pads.
In the future, shift the whole rig to another TV or a PC or use the little speakers for a rear surround setup.
MB42X
A250
Micca 6' Speaker Wire
Micca Isolation Pads
This is a copy and paste from /r/audiophile, was looking at getting your guys' and gals' opinions on my proposed setup for my boyfriend. Thanks!
&#x200B;
&#x200B;
Hello guys! I am thinking about these products combined together for a nice addition to my front room. What do you guys think?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J67V2EU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007IWKX14&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwpuresimula-20&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-USB/dp/B00GA9COMM/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536993262&sr=1-2&keywords=audio%2Btechnica%2Blp120&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B00669L3HS
https://www.amazon.com/Gemtune-APPJ-PA1501A-amplifier-6AD10/dp/B00X5ECQ4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497619940&sr=8-8&keywords=gemtune&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=406beef5e99b3883668a4e2f6d3fb5de
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-Copper-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B06ZZ5HCTM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06ZZ5HCTM&pd_rd_r=Z918ZFQMNQY2D2M2B4ED&pd_rd_w=QRQfu&pd_rd_wg=dLLqn&psc=1&refRID=Z918ZFQMNQY2D2M2B4ED&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=8b6724c04e95dffa0c782d0341bf1d0c
edit: or should I switch the amp out with this one? https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-98E-silver-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00NBGECXG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1454215590&sr=8-2&keywords=smsl+amplifier&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=6da1aff594cf85eb16f81524d9470929
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ameriwood-Home-Carson-TV-Stand-for-TVs-up-to-65-Golden-Oak/937093507
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0758CSSF2/ref=twister_B076H7HV8B?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.idjnow.com/26-high-studio-monitor-speaker-stand-set.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwq4fsBRBnEiwANTahcM9BgjfW0PQne1oOoQzOVGafHG36gn9EF1p1HRG6QD371Gd0TafhPhoCblQQAvD_BwE
Thanks for the input. So if I were to go with the MX3, does it connect to pc via usb? Then connect the 3.5m to rca from the MX3 to the sub and this from the XM3 to the Micas?
I am new, no idea how most of this stuff works.
I was in a similar situation and ended up getting a pair of KEF Q150's with a Yamaha RX-V385 receiver. The Yamaha isn't on sale anymore but the KEF's are still at $398 from $650.
When I bargained with 2001 Audio Video, they offered me the KEF's for $350 (from the sale price of $398) and the Yamaha 385 for $280 (from the sale price of $299). And the KEF's come with a free pair of bluetooth headphones.
Visions will give you a good discount as well, but they'll try and push their house brand Soundstage first.
You'll get a better deal bargaining at one of those places versus buying from Amazon.
I just have the 2.0 setup right now but I'm happy with the KEF's and the receiver leaves lots of room to upgrade in the future.
And I got these wires to connect, and then these HDMI to connect the receiver with everything else
I vote for OPTION 2. Seems like you get more for your money with the sub. You could trim a bit off these totals by going with less expensive cables. 14-Gauge, 99.9% Oxygen-Free Copper + Banana Plugs = $37.72
What do I need to get this setup working with my desktop PC?
(https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2)
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015A8Y5M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AED492BX4II6G&amp;psc=1)
Do I need anything else to get this to work for my PC? An AUX cable? Amp? Additional cables? Receiver?
Thanks.
Depends on whether you purchase powered or passive speakers. Powered speakers do not require an external amp, passive speakers do.
Budget recommendation:
Micca MB42X Speakers
SMSL SA-50 Amplifier
You need this cable to connect the PC audio to the amp.
And this speaker wire to go from the amp to the speakers.
Plug the 3.5mm into the audio port on the back of the PC. Plug the red and white RCA plugs into the "Audio In" ports on the back of the amp.
Place the speakers and amp where you want them and measure how much speaker wire you need. Cut two pieces of speaker wire the appropriate length for each speaker (4 pieces in total).
You'll have to strip the insulation off the speaker wire. Very simple, you can just cut around the wire with a razor blade. Strip about 1/2" of insulation off each end of each length of speaker wire. Twist the ends tightly to prevent stray wire strands (the ends really should be tinned, but that isn't imperative).
Now you'll unscrew the plastic nut on the connections on the back of the amp and on each speaker. Just loosen it far enough to expose the small hole drilled through the side of the post. Insert the speaker wires, then tighten down the nuts. They need to be pretty snug. You don't want any movement of the speaker wire in the holes in the connectors. The wire you put in the black post on the speaker goes in the black post on the amp, and likewise for the reds. The connectors on the amp are labeled "R" and "L." Self-explanatory, left speaker wires go in the connectors marked "L," etc.
Turn the volume knob on the amp to zero, turn on the amp, then increase the volume. Leave Windows volume at 100, use the amp to control volume.
If you don't want to mess with cutting speaker wire, you can purchase premade cables like these: http://www.amazon.com/Silverback-Speaker-Sewell-Banana-Strand/dp/B009RT2IAK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452657250&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=speaker+cables
Those have banana plugs installed, so all you have to do is plug them into the ends of the connector posts like a standard audio jack. Do whatever you are most comfortable with, but cutting your own speaker wire is dead simple, and you get 50 feet of it for $8, as opposed to $35 for the premade cables (you'll need two, as they are sold individually).
3.5mm (from PC) to RCA (SMSL), Speaker wire from SMSL to Teacs
To start you need an integrated amplifier. Here's the one recommended in the purchase help thread. This unit will provide power to the speakers so they can play back audio.
Next you need a cable that runs from your phone's headphone jack (assuming it has one) to the amp. Here you go.
Now you need to connect the amp to the speakers. Since you have a sub, you will run speaker cable from the amp to the sub, and then from the sub to each of the speakers. Here's 50 ft of speaker cable which should be more than enough to get the job done. You'll also need a wire stripper tool to remove the casing at each of the cabling, here you go. Would also recommend some banana plugs to make things easier but they aren't required.
This gets you live audio to your speakers. Had you done some research ahead of time you probably would have landed on buying active speakers instead, which would have saved you the need for all of this equipment except the $7 audio cable.
Hey Guys, I'm trying to create a some-what cheap and MODERN set up for myself with multiple use (but limited channels in the receiver, so I found a receiver with Bluetooth option) and high convenience... Am I missing anything? Or is there anything I should add?
Cheap Bluetooth w/ Limited Channels Receiver
Turntable, and I really love this one.... Really Jacks Up Price
Speakers that come with wire, but adding a spool from amazon anyways...
Wire and Plugs
Do I need anything else? Hi-Fi amp or something? The turntable comes with a phono-preamp and the speakers look decent and are at my price range. Any tips on how to set this up as well? Including the best way to use the plugs or if I should get different plugs.
With the current prices of this post, the overall price is... $462.88 USD and W/O the turntable, it is $213.88 XD
Replacement Turntable that is affordable which puts the new price at $298.88
First of all: visit r/zeos for general beginner guidelines
Second: Those are passive speaker, so they need to be powered through an amplifier. What you need is
There is no real trick in connecting. Just make sure that the same colored ends are connected with the same wire and the different wire ends don't touch. Otherwise, if it sits tight, you have propably done it right
Does the wire matter much? For example the one you linked is just under $20, yet I found this one that's under $9.
I am using onboard sound, so I will pick up that DAC as well. Thanks so damn much man, I'm eager to start having ear sex with my new speakers.
i have this speaker wire: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LW0WDQ/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=B0029HHIDY&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=07HPVE7VWF38MDQEXMMW
do you just mean whichever side of the wire i put into one color hole, i put into the corresponding hole on the other device?
Here's what I'm looking to buy to upgrade my computer speakers. I'm a complete noob. is there anything missing? any obvious slight upgrade ~$50+?
do I need banana plugs?
RCA stereo breakout cable
Lepy LP-2020A
Speaker cable
Micca MB42X
>Hmm.. here are the plugs: Monoprice 24k Gold Plated Speaker Banana Plugs, Closed Screw Type (5 Pairs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_86k8QtboC1QsA
Yup, those are mine as well.
>And here is my wire: C&amp;E 100 Feet 14AWG Enhanced Loud Oxygen-Free Copper Speaker Wire Cable, CNE62761 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EADB2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Sy9NGh8nFOROC
Same type of wire as well just 12AWG(14 is fine though.)
>Do I have to fan it out so it's really spread out ? Like no wires bunched together ?
Exactly. Plus make sure you're threading the 2 parts together gently with your fingers at first then apply more force once you get past the threads to the flat part with the wire. I check them once a month or so to make sure they haven't loosened up which is common for banana plugs. Not a big deal. Just tighten them down and go back to business.
Hmm.. here are the plugs: Monoprice 24k Gold Plated Speaker Banana Plugs, Closed Screw Type (5 Pairs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_86k8QtboC1QsA
And here is my wire: C&E 100 Feet 14AWG Enhanced Loud Oxygen-Free Copper Speaker Wire Cable, CNE62761 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EADB2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Sy9NGh8nFOROC
Do I have to fan it out so it's really spread out ? Like no wires bunched together ?
I have the HFBP's which looks to me like basically the same thing but the newer model.
I just measured the template and used some wood screws and screwed the one side into a stud and the other side into drywall. It mounts up fine. and there is enough room for cable to come thru.
I drilled holes and fished the cable, but there was not enough room for banana plugs so I just did it the old fashioned way. You can no doubt have enough room to have the speaker wire hanging out and running down the wall or whatever if you need to unless you are using huge wire. I am using the 14 gauge here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009EADB2Q/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B009EADB2Q&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wwwpuresimula-20&amp;linkId=LV2QXWCDCHPSA43L
rca to jack (there are cheaper ones that will get the job done just go the nearest computer shop): https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Stereo/dp/B01D5H8KO2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=rca+to+jack&amp;qid=1567726977&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3
Speaker wire they sell it "raw" like with no plugs at the end of the sides. You can buy with the plugs already installed to make things easier but it will be a bit more expensive: https://www.amazon.com/Silverback-Strand-Speaker-Banana-Plugs/dp/B009RT2IAK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=speaker+wire+banana&amp;qid=1567727489&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3
So, maybe a setup like this, with RCA from the TV:
http://smile.amazon.com/Pyle-PCA1-30-Watt-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B0012KZNP4
..then these cables from the amp to the binding posts (I guess we would strip one end for bare wire to insert into the amp):
http://smile.amazon.com/Silverback-Speaker-Sewell-Banana-Strand/dp/B009RT2IAK
As for other plates in the house, there's only cat5 and coax in other rooms. So, I'm not sure what the component ones are for. We have a video system to buzz people in at the front door, but that's the only other thing I know of. Really only concerned with the audio though. :)
Am I getting close? Thanks so much!
I tested it with my brothers amp and his normal red and black banana plug wires (like the ones linked) and it worked great. This was off of his 200 W amp. Does that help?
I think that means that they would work with most modern amps. Right?
I got these of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009RT2IAK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
They are super heavy and look sturdy.
I really like the Silverback cables by Sewill on Amazon
[Budget: Below 1k.]
Hello, everyone! I never really thought I would ever get into vinyl at all, but after acquiring a few choice albums I really enjoy listening to, I figured I would start the journey! I've been doing some research, and I was wondering how these pieces work out for starting out (Wanted to remain under $1k for the entire thing.).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GA9COMM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (Audio Technica AT-LP120)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NCD2S4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (Pioneer SP-FS52 Speakers)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EE18O7W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009RT2IAK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (And some Banana Plugs to connect it all, of course.)
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Actually I do not think it will not with the wire you need to connect the Adapter box to the TP60. If you look at a picture of the back of the adapter box you will see four points of connection, two right and two left, those correspond the the two right outputs and two left outputs on the amp. So you will need to buy two of these cables
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B00I52I2PU/ref=pd_sim_23_3?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=41OPX07mV3L&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;refRID=1D75WSVBRK461ATGM526
So would this one work for the sub? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D5H8P0G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8lpgAb4K6M7B1
And then something like this for each speaker? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I52I2PU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ippgAbVW1K907
Is there a cheaper option/alternative for the already pre-made speaker wires? And any HDMI works on the TV to receiver connection right?
Good to know, thanks. Would speaker wire like this work?
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B00I52I2PU/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411974883&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=speaker+cable+with+banana+plugs
Do they have any speaker wire with banana clips already installed on one side? I connect the other, stripped side to the amp correct? Then I'm also planning on purchasing a RCA to 3.5mm jack cable and connecting it straight into my external DAC since I'll be using that for my headphones anyways.
How about this amp with 2 sets of these cables
Would I need anything else?
Something like this is probably what you're interested in. I was going to just buy cable and do it myself but honestly my speakers are only going to be a couple feet from my tt so I'll gladly pay $20 for fitted cables.
Can anyone recommend an amp for a 2.1 set up? (Between 75-150 dollars). I originally purchased http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 but realized I couldn't add a sub later down the line.
Also, will I also need 1 3.5 to RCA cable? I purchased 2 of http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-Series-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B00I52I2PU?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 but assume I will still need the RCA as well.
Need to get some new wire for these dudes, any specific gauge you recommend? I was planning on something like this https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Plated-Banana/dp/B00I52I2PU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478023780&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=speaker+wire+with+banana+plugs
Thanks for the reply!
&nbsp;
Got these as well: 2male-2male RCA cable and two Mediabridge Speaker Cable vs wire.
&nbsp;
Should this do the trick?
Current items I am planning on buying for my first speaker set up.
Speakers, Amp, and 2x Cables. So two questions does the current set up I am planning on buying all work together? Second, for connecting my computer/phone to my Amp should I use the optical port on my computer or just stick with the 3.5mm jack?
Ok. So no special tips or anything. I haven't hooked any of these up in over a decade.
&#x200B;
So these should work
RCA - Looking at the Denon it shows only one port for the sub. So should I get 1 male to 2 male/
Edit: I see now I need to go single to single.
Speaker
I prefer wire with a jacket on it if you are running it in the wall. If you are just tucking in the baseboard find one without the jacket so it is easier to tuck down in there. Very little difference in price between 16 and 18 awg. I went 16awg for my family room. Just look in the description and stay away from CCA (copper clad aluminum) they try to hide it sometimes to trick people.
Mediabridge 16AWG 2-Conductor Speaker Wire (100 Feet, White) - 99.9% Oxygen Free Copper - ETL Listed & CL2 Rated for In-Wall Use (Part# SW-16X2-100-WH ) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N18VEJ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9k8ZAbSGAD818
C&E 100 Feet 18AWG CL2 Rated 2-Conductor Loud Speaker Cable (For In-Wall Installation) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EADD06/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1n8ZAbNCHJXCP
Also these are the wires I ordered. Are these ok?
Nice van!
Don't be too intimidated with adding a house battery. You can do it.
Very in-depth guide for adding a house battery with solenoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zrwHyy4qyY
This is the battery I used, it ROCKS. (smaller and cheaper options from same company available)
Other items I used...
Hi, I bought the Micca MB42X and SMSl SA-60 recommended up in the OP and got these for speaker wire. I played some songs from my phone through an AUX cord to test them out and can barely hear any sound coming out. Aux cord is fine, tested it on a pair of speakers I already had.
If I hear any sound at all, it's a soft crackle and whisper quiet volume of the song I'm playing coming out of the Miccas. Fucked around with the knob, turning it up does nothing.
Is there anything I'm just naive about? Thanks in advance for any help.
You will need an amp like the SMSL Q5 Pro. I've tried lesser amps like the SMSL SA-60 but didn't care for them. So you would need the SMSL Q5 Pro, the MB42X speakers and some speaker wire. Keep in mind that the speaker wire comes in different lengths.
Last question.. I promise! Thanks again.
Since the wire has already been run to the rear speaker mounts, can I just use cables such as these to connect everything (front speakers and face plate to receiver)?
I'd rather pay a little more for simplicity and ease of set up personally. I guess I'd need 2 of those cables then, correct? 1 for each speaker? I think I'll be good to go after this!
EDIT: These should be fine, right? $2 less, and are 10-feet long in case I need longer in the future.
I just ordered these items to build a surround sound system for my living room.
Klipsch - Quintet V 5.0 - On Sale at Newegg for 249.99, Regularly 599.99
Polk 10" Powered Subwoofer On sale at Amazon for $77, regularly $239
Pioneer VSX-530-K 5.1 Receiver On sale at Amazon for 189.99 regularly 279.99.
100 ft 16 gauge speaker wire $10.99 at Amazon
All in all, I bought $1130 worth of audio equipment for $527 dollars.
Unfortunately £100 is just around the lower limit of the very-entry level, not really mid-range if we're going to be honest.
The easy solution is M-audio AV-40s. They are 'powered monitors' so the amplifier is inside, all you have to do is feed them signal.
Alternatively, you could go for "passive" bookshelf loudspeakers and an amplifier. The advantage to this route is that you can upgrade the speakers or amp separately (edit: also each individual component is probably at least a bit better than the av40s, and if anything ever fails it can be replaced separately; it's just more flexible overall). There's some extra work involved but it's not difficult..
These Wharfedale 9.0 should be good for the price (the Diamond 9.1 were reviewed by Stereophile and they measure well for the price).
You'll need an amp, speaker wire, and some banana plugs are helpful. Oh, and probably a 3.5mm stereo to 2RCA cable to connect your 3.5mm source(s) to the amp.
How much better are either of these compared to tiny computer speakers like Logitech or Creative etc.? Much better.
For an accurate recommendation, it would be useful to know what you want to use them for. They seem to be a mix between a PA speaker and a Hi-Fi speaker.
For an amp, depending on the use, you can have pretty much anything. You could probably get away with this although for these I would reccomend something more powerful like this. Please note that I live in the UK not USA so my reccomendations come from this useful guide in r/zeos.
Generally you will want to make the most out of your speakers so a PA amplifier would be the way to go. Connecting this is easy. very easy. On the back of your speaker, there is two different ways to get signal to it. The first jack (the larger one at the top) is a quarter inch jack. This is the better option although it is only usually featured on PA amp's and it is generally more expensive. Here is one of them cables; you will need two if you want both speakers. The other option is just general speaker wire. This is an example. Of cores it's not the best, you really should look for a higher gauge although it will work.
I will probably get flak for doing this but here you go:
Sony SSB1000 ($55) These speakers are pretty good for how cheap they are. Much better than the Micca Covos.
SMSL-SA-50 ($68) I have this amp and it is awesome how much it puts out. I see the people all the time recommend the Lepai LP-2020 for cheap setups but ignore that amp. Get this one.
There you have it. Cheap setup that is entirely expandable. Get some Banana plugs and some cheap speaker wire.
Later on if you save your pennies you can buy something like the dayton sub for about 100 bucks and will fit nicely with that setup.
Hey reddit I'm looking at getting a nice little starter set up going. My budget is £300, i'm looking at getting:
Pro-Jec Elemental: £159
Behringer PP400 Microphono Ultra Compact Phono Preamp assorted colour: £20.29
Roth Audio OLI RA1 2 Way Pair Of Bookshelf Design Speakers - White: £79
LEPY 2024A Plus Amplifier: £13.45
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire 1.3 mm² / 100 Feet: £9.49
Total: £281.63
Would this be a good set up to be able to replace things as I go and as my collection grows? I'm totally new to this so any advice would be wonderful!
Just wondering if anyone can approve(or improve) the following list for my PC set up before i place the order. My budget is $200 for a 2.0 system. I will be purchasing a sub in the future to upgrade to 2.1.
Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface, $29
Speakers: Micca MB42X, $80
Amp: MUSE M50 EX, $68
Wiring: AmazonBasics 16-gauge Speaker Wire, $7
Total: $184.00 USD
Got some RCA wires that I will be using.
Please let me know your feedback or if there are cheaper options I can go with.
Thank you in advance
I thought about that ....lol.
Yes his recommendation was 1 or 2 8' subs. Way too small.
Regarding wiring will this be ok for the sub and for the speakers?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006LW0W5Y/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003FVYXY0/ref=ox_sc_act_image_5?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=A1DCPNQKKEISZB
Do you know the best place that I could try and sell my soundbar other then eBay or craigslist. I would love to get this system going.
Is using a plug the only way to connect the Micca? I also can't seem to find a picture of the back of the Fluance speakers, are those able to be used with plugs?
I'm going to assume that the amazon basic wire that you linked in OP is good.
Ended up getting something completely different.
Got this receiver from amazon:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B010BHSXYQ
although for 550$
I also got this full audio set from shop.ca:
http://www.shop.ca/c/jbl-nightlife-home-theatre-speaker-package-nightlife-Nightlife-Speaker-Package-24866196
Price shown there (but it's out of stock now of course).
After further research, I also had to get the following cables to set it all up:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B006LW0W5Y
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005LJQMZC
And an HDMI cable
It's very different than everything here, but yeah the deals in my main post ended up running out so I had to find something else. I believe those were good deals and I'm really enjoying the setup now.
But yeah I'm not really an audiophile either so I can't really help you much more than tell you what I got, which isn't really on sale anymore so not worth getting maybe? Although this receiver is amazing so far, even if I have nothing to compare it against.
Hey,
So you now have gain controls both on the speakers and the software/hardware. In your case I think the main gain on the mixtrack pro is a software control (are you using traktor, vdj, serato?). Generally speaking, the channel gains should be all the way up, the master gain should be anywhere between half and full, and then your speakers/amp should be however loud you are comfortable with. I assume you just have a RCA cable between the RCA output on the controller and the RCA input on the speaker. It should be just as loud as any other source like pc/phone/ipod. No reason why you need new speakers.
About the gear you linked: you don't need a phono preamp since you don't have a turntable. If you want to "upgrade" you should be getting new speakers, which I didn't see you post. The speaker wires you posted are not speaker wires, they are for line level - the type of cables you should be using to connect between the controller and speakers/amps/whatever. The speaker wire you would use is this type of stuff:
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ
I'd try to figure out what's wrong with your current setup if your speakers work with a computer/phone/ipod. Post what software you're using and exactly how you have the mixtrack and speakers connected.
Also, if you're using (or using a plugin for) amazon affiliate URLs, reddit will automatically tag your post as spam and we have to fish it out of the spam filter. Just a FYI.
Hardware in my shopping cart and about to pull the trigger (using your referral links) just want to confirm I have everything I need. I'm planning on the SD793-II, SA50, MB42x, and Martin Logan 300.
I see from the pictures and your video review, the SD793 doesn't use USB, so I need to use the SPDIF out on my motherboard. The cable you link to in the description of the video appears to have a square with one beveled side connection rather than the round plug on both my motherboard and the DAC, so I want this cable, right?
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-29115-Meters-Velocity-Digital/dp/B0002J2B8I/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1409014620&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=spdif+cable
Then I just need generic male/male RCA cable, speaker wire, and a 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter?
http://www.amazon.com/Male-High-Quality-Audio-Cable/dp/B000I1IG8Y/ref=pd_tcs_subst_e_3?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=1683ZH8R85EQNR32BSRZ
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=lp_597566_1_9?s=audio-video-accessories&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1409014042&amp;sr=1-9
Do you have specific brands/cables you suggest? It seems every review of 1/4" to 3.5mm adapters I look at says they are flimsy crap that fails right away. Surely there is a cheap option for such a simple part that won't crap out right away?
Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the help!
Yep, you'll need two sets of 3.5mm to rca one for the speaker output of the audio card to the amp and the other from the subwoofer output of the card to the subwoofer. After that you'll need speaker cable to connect from the amp to the speakers...should be good to go after that.
It's just generic speaker wire. You can buy that anywhere.
Here's 50ft for 7$
http://www.amazon.com/Tripath-TPA3123-Stereo-Amplifier-Supply/dp/B008YBC172/
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_cp_?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=00ZEHJB28QVA5HH77V45
http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-MX28-Mini-Mix-VI/dp/B0002CZQJ6/ref=pd_cp_MI_3
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-CPR202-Dual-Inch/dp/B000068O17/ref=pd_bxgy_MI_text_z Times 3
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0WDQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=1A2VT6HEN2RHR2SAHW4V
Let's see, that's $9.47, plus $24.18, plus $66.99, plus $73.45, plus $126.99 = $293.02 presuming you have your old PS3 cables.
Spend the extra $50.01 - you won't regret it. If you can't possibly do it, then substitute the Pioneers with Micca MB42X's at $79.95 dropping the total to $245.98
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
That would leave you with $5 for beer.
EDIT: Sorry I have to take that beer away. I forgot you need to get your PS3 audio to the mixer. Add one more 1/4" to RCA cable for $8.06 more.
Assuming everything works, all you need is speaker wire and an RCA cable going from your TV's audio out (which it hopefully has- if it doesn't but has a headphone jack, that will also work) to one of the inputs on the receiver. What model TV do you have?
Ok m8, so after researching more, looks like MB42X is one of the best one out there and the bad review is from people who don't have subwoofer and they expect lower frequency from this speaker since I'm already going to get a Dayton 1000 sub, I believe MB42X is going to perfect for me. especially reviews say it performs really good on mid-range which is important for me since I watch a lot of movies. so here is my final list, can you tell me if I'm missing something like if the banana plug is correct (and how many of them I need?), and do I need the cable (no cable comes with the speaker?) and check for the AMP if it's good enough.
I'm assuming, based on your other responses (and because you haven't specified) that you're hooking this up to a computer exclusively, and that you have limited desk space (meaning that standard bookshelf speakers won't fit). Also, I'm going to assume that you don't have SPDIF or optical connections, since you haven't said that you do.
My suggestion, then, would be:
At their price and size, the Miccas are great speakers.
The Nobsound was reviewed by Zeos a while back, and he was pleasantly surprised. Note that you can attach the amp to your computer using USB, the 3.5mm jack, or bluetooth.
The speaker wire is there just to remind you to factor that into your cost. You may already have some laying around, or you can probably find some cheaper than that, or in shorter lengths.
Optional:
I dunno, I kinda feel like you're in the wrong place if $10 is expensive to you when getting your speakers setup.
Really not being snooty here, but if you don't care about the setup and you just want them "working" then just get the cheapest speaker cable you can possible find. I'm sure with some minor creativity you should be able to pick up some free cable from a scrappy that would technically do to the job.
Or again, either of the sets you linked to would work or something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Audio-Stereo-Speaker/dp/B006LW0WDQ
These + this, this thing, and some of this.
Here's how a 5.1 system is laid out: http://i.imgur.com/3BhVo.jpg
If the room with 5 speakers has that general configuration, you're good to go on a receiver.
I'm not sure what you mean by "what ports are those..." The first picture you took is of speaker terminals, which you would hook up to the receiver with speaker wire. Almost any 16 gauge wire will do.
Hope that answers your question!
Ask the current owner if they will leave the TV mount for you, you can even offer to pay/buy them another one if they decline. With that already in place you could probably lift it yourself, if you get an LED LCD, or find someone to help lift it, no skills required.
Speakers are incredibly easy to hookup, you just cut wire to length, pull the two ends apart a bit, strip the ends, stick it in the holes, and tighten. A youtube video and a few practice strips will make it a breeze in no time even if you've never used tools. You'll need these wire cutters, and optionally these auto-strippers, and some wire.
As far as your setup goes you could get the following, or anything similar:
TV $785 - 50" Samsung LED
Receiver $310 - Denon AVR1913
Subwoofer $280 - Newegg has the Klipsch RW-12D for $280 until 5/22.
L/R speakers ~$300- Polk or Pioneer towers from Newegg
Center ~$150- A matching Polk or Pioneer center from Newegg
Surrounds - none yet; the wiring would require some drilling to conceal, if you have a crawl space going under the floor would probably be your best bet.
Adjust as needed to fit your budget or to get any features you want; pushing closer to $2000 and installing it yourself would be best.
EDIT: I forgot to add that tower speakers just stand on the floor, no mounting required. The center channel will just sit on the top shelf of whatever entertainment center you have under the TV, put it flush with the front edge of that. You will also need a single RCA cable to connect the subwoofer to the receiver, you may have one already, any RCA cable will work, or you can buy a 10ft+ one for ~$8.
Probably the Black RCA Jacks. The Red & White are normally for components. Traditionally speaker cables are Red & Black. You can use any small speaker but you'll need RCA to bare wire cables.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U46G8I
Would this work?
https://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I
RCA, not banana. Use something like this http://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405627695&amp;sr=1-1
I don't see any significant reason why you shouldn't be able to use the Polk T15 speakers to substitute for the Logitech sides.
My only questions would be relative efficiency and crossover frequency. Will the Polk replacements be louder (or softer) than the original Logitech sides (relative to the subwoofer) And will the sides to subwoofer crossover frequency be compatible with the low-end response of the Polk sides? But these may be minor issues and IMHO it would be worth the experiment.
Yes you can use any RCA audio cable and chop off one end to terminate to the Polk speakers. But you might get better performance from a slightly more beefy cable made for passive speaker connections. Perhaps something like:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U46G8I
I have a Jolida tube amp and a pair of Heresy iii speakers lately been obsessing over what subwoofer to add. Because both my wife and I hate big subwoofer boxes sticking out in the room I have been looking at slim models and ones that are reviewed well and go below 30HZ an awful small list.
The one I like PSB Subseries 150 has one LFE input and I already have a Y cable from an old Home Theater setup but the Jolida has no line output at all!
Would something like this work at all?
Speaker wire to rca:
https://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I/ref=pd_sim_23_1/139-9690522-5875109?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B003U46G8I&amp;pd_rd_r=483a352f-3166-11e9-9bfd-ad0a97d0ca89&amp;pd_rd_w=caKuE&amp;pd_rd_wg=S3ELR&amp;pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&amp;pf_rd_r=ZCRMZJ2TXPHXHM34QW8A&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=ZCRMZJ2TXPHXHM34QW8A
Cables like this
Keep in mind, receivers that used these RCA plugs for the speakers generally didn't output much power, so if you have larger power hungry speakers, it might not sound good.
Only one jack usually means its a Mono setup as well. I have seen a few "console" stereos that have one internal speaker and you plug a 2nd speaker in for Stereo, but that's not terribly common.
Thanks for the reply!
After reading your comment and the manual, I had created this configuration: Right speaker plugged into right outputs of channel A on receiver, cable from left outputs of channel A on receiver plugged into Right inputs on sub , cable running from left inputs on sub to left speaker. However, this resulted in the left speaker not playing sound, and while the sub worked, it seemed very weak (all cables are speaker cables, no RCA). Did I do this right? I was confused by your comment and the manual because there are nothing is labeled as "output" on the back of the sub, so i didn't see how anything of those would send sound to the second speaker.
Here are the parts of the manual that seem relevant but I don't see how these options would work:
> If your amplifier only has one set of outputs you may
connect your amplifier to your speakers as normal and
run an additional set of cables from your speakers to the
subwoofer’s 'Speaker Level Input' binding posts.
How would I run cables from speakers to subs when there are no outputs on the speakers and the inputs are already taken up by the cable coming from the receiver?
> It is also possible to connect the left and right outputs of
your amp to the left and right 'Speaker Level Input' of the
subwoofer and run additional cables from your subwoofer
to the speakers.
This is what I described above, which didn't work. Unless I put 2 cables into each red/black terminal, I don't see how this works either.
What am I missing?
EDIT: Or should I buy something like this, which would free up the speaker level inputs on the sub to run to my speakers?
Help With Setup Please
Hey there, hoping this would be a good place to ask for help with my setup. I just recently got a used Klipsch subwoofer. The line-in is 1 L/R rca input. I also have a pair of desktop speakers with speaker wire inputs on the back, and a turntable with a rca output. Not if I were to buy speaker wire with rca male ends ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U46G8I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_erLPDbF4WPEYS ) and this AV splitter ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0767DRZF5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DxLPDbX72ZRSH ) would I then be able to play the audio from the turntable to the speakers and subwoofer? If not, then how?
IEC 18 AWG 6' Speaker Wire Pair with RCA Males - Black/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U46G8I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rVWMDb15G45FB
Sharper image probably just used rcas instead of speaker connectors to make the connections easier.
You can use something like this, no work required: https://www.amazon.com/IEC-Speaker-Wire-Pair-Males/dp/B003U46G8I
or
You can solder something like this on to some regular speaker wire: https://www.amazon.com/Pink-Lizard-Audio-Adapter-Connector/dp/B01INFY4UK/ref=sr_1_54?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1482734318&sr=1-54
Rca is really just very thin Guage standard twist wire but in a user friendly form factor. You can freely switch back and forth but just be wary of how thin your rca wire is if it's for LF which takes the most power and necessitates thicker wires for longer runs.
I had the Logitech Z4s as surrounds then heights for a while by simply plugging the rca head into a converter like this:
Check this out at Amazon.com - IEC 18 AWG 1-Feet Speaker Wire Pair with RCA Males - Black/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U48NIY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_CajDDb0YG18Z6
Or the female version, I'm not sure what you need.
But basically all drivers are just an ac lead (+) and a ground lead (-)
If you go to a thrift store and find a htib sub you can piece it apart and use it as a mono amp too.
In fact you can use pretty much any speaker with it as long as you have the controller unit or it's built into the Amp.
RCA otherwise known as composite is typically used for lone level pre amp connections but it's often used also to make more user friendly htib connectors since it's an open standard and then there are the asshole companies that use their own proprietary connectors.
Hello there, trying to hook up an RCA sub (RT2250B) to a Sony STR-DH500 receiver.
The only sub output is RCA, and the only sub's I have use regular speaker wire.
I have hooked up my sub to the regular surround outputs for now (increased wear on the other speakers?), but I would like to know how I can hook it in properly.
I have some RCA cords from an old speaker system that I stripped to try and connect it, but it didn't work. I suppose there is to much resistance in those wires?
I think I need something like this, but that is basically what I made with the old systems RCA cables.
Thanks!
P.S.- Completely open to suggestions on upgrades, like getting this Lepy 2020A, I suppose I can hook up my current speakers to this also?
https://www.amazon.com/IEC-1-Feet-Speaker-Wire-Males/dp/B003U48NIY
The cables aren’t those exactly, but something like that
What do you consider cheap? Unless I'm missing something, you need an audio receiver/amp to power the speakers and transmit the audio signal from the Chromecast.
Edit: You'll also need something like 3 of these or buy 2 males RCA to male RCA cables, cut them in half and strip the cut ends. The receiver you need will need to support at least 6 channels but since receivers are typically 2, 5.1, 7.2, etc. you'll need a 7.2 channel receiver. You'll also need to look up the wattages of your speakers and look at the per channel wattage specification of the receiver you are buying, not just total wattage. The cheapest you are looking at is probably $300. If you want something with a decent brand behind it, probably $400 unless you find a sale. Yamaha, Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon, Marantz, and Sony all make good stuff. Sony makes some crap too so watch out. I'd try to stick to Yamaha, Onkyo, or Denon in the lower priced space.
Yes, they are 6.5 inch.
I think I've come to the decision that I'm only going with one pair of speakers. I think it will be better to invest the extra money in only one pair.
I've never heard of incriminator audio before, I'll have to do some research.
Also, as for the speaker wire that I will be using. Would 16awg be okay?
I have some 100ft of this
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B0044YPN0A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457406084&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
This should work nicely then. http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-16AWG-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B0044YPN0A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420464626&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=speaker+wire When wiring the speakers up, just make sure you go red port to red port and black to black.
Use the Front Left, Center and Front right outputs on your stereo. Once you're all done wiring, play with the settings on your receiver to just use those three speakers, so you're not loosing any sound on 5.1 DVD/CDs.
I have decided to buy the banana plugs and jacks from amazon can anyone here verify that I am going to buy the correct ones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BKW2K2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;smid=A28128AMZ00PEQ
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FYAQYO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&amp;smid=A3S5JX6S4LCKI6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044YPN0A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&amp;smid=A1DCPNQKKEISZB
Also, will this meter be ok to measure the current?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVYGZA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I tried finding the fuse but I was unable, can anyone post a link to where you got yours. Finally, I was wondering if has anyone experimented with HD-TDCS
Yes, the physical arrangements are another thing, i.e., where do you put the relay? And how do you run the millivolt wires to the relay?. There is no general answer. Potential solutions are very specific to your particular situation.
Putting the relay module inside the fireplace box might simplify things in some cases but that is not recommended due to temperature issues.
The millivolt wires can be spliced to make them longer and they can be very thin wires because they carry tiny voltages and currents. They could be hidden behind baseboard moldings, for example. Extremely flat wires are another possibility: https://amazon.com/Sewell-Direct-SW-29821-Conductor-100-Feet/dp/B005SUM1PO/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483285611
If you can get access to the millivolt wires at the fireplace you cut cut them and splice in another pair for wires (with wire nuts for example). Then run the new wire pair to the relay. The existing wires and switch would still be there and would still turn the FP on -- or disconnect them and use the relay only.
> I'd also like to have 5.1 sound but making holes in the walls is out of the question so I'd prefer a wireless system but I never see any of the enthusiasts here and elsewhere talk about the Bluetooth systems available which has led me to believe they might be shit quality.
because bluetooth is for some music speakers w/ a phone not for home theater systems
you will need to either cut the walls open on run it exposed. other options include wiremold or ghost wire
https://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Ghost-Adhesive-Speaker-Conductor/dp/B005SUM1PO
Flat, paintable speaker wires
Does this equipment list work together?
I'd like to play sound from my computer and my TV to the same pair of speakers. I'm mostly worried that the receiver is correct for this and has enough power for the speakers.
To connect the speakers to the subwoofer you can use any standard speaker wire. One Example. They come in different lengths and colours so just go with whatever suits your setup best. You can buy one reel and cut whatever lengths you need.
The picture of the TV is showing an AV input. This is not where you connect the speakers to the TV. You need to look for an audio output port. Sometime it will have just a headphones port but that will work as well. If it is just a headphone socket you'll need a 3.5mm to RCA Phono cable. One Example.
These are all fairly standard cables that can be found in any electronics or computer store. Even some supermarkets would carry these.
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464125589&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=16+gauge+speaker+wire
this is what I use
wharfedales5.1 , yamaha . Think Yamaha an whalfedale are a great match , both have a natural sound , see better reviews and specifications here and here don’t forget speaker wire
Any standard 16 gauge speaker wire should do. It comes in rolls of 50ft, 100ft, or even shorter. You can purchase it from Amazon even. Like so:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
Recently bought all of these for my setup:
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B4Q5587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_npDqDb6JW8GTR
Dayton Audio SUB-1000
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063NU3AA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Yamaha R-S202BL
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
AmazonBasics 100ft 16-Gauge Wires
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
AmazonBasics Speaker Connector
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQHBQXF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I hooked up the system without the sub first and everything sounded great. When my sub came in, I used the high end input/output hookups on the sub and tried to dial everything in. However, now my speakers sound a little off from what I remember (even after disconnecting the sub and rewiring as I originally had it).
Is there anything wrong with my equipment power wise that could damage other equipment? Could I be wiring components together wrong? I'm new to high end equipment and trying to learn/research as I go (even a simple "everything looks right" is beyond helpful).
u/Umlautica has helped me so far with the sub phase and making sure everything is hooked up to the same polarity, but it's still sounding a bit off
Simple question, hopefully.
FAQ Suggets... Amazon Basics 16AWG Speaker Wire.
How do ya'll feel about Monoprice 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire with Gold Plated Banana Plug?
Are you sure about the equipment? The R-S300 is a stereo receiver not an amp. At least that's what I am seeing. It is a basic stereo receiver that you can connect two sets of speakers to, one set for a CD player and the other for a turntable or tape deck. All you need is regular 16 gauge speaker wire (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y).
Here is the manual for that receiver. Just check it out and you should be good to go. (https://pdf.crutchfieldonline.com/ImageBank/v20101114104300/Manuals/022/022RS300.PDF)
Get a basic 5.0 system, then add a sub. This should be good value for music and movies. I'm partial to Denon/Marantz for their musical audio quality, but some other folks on this sub may know a cheaper receiver that still sounds good. The speakers are definitely the best bang for your buck, but you could get higher quality speakers for music if you did a 2.1 instead of surround sound. Based on the 4K TV, I'm assuming you're going to be watching movies/tv more than you listen to music.
Boom! Slightly overbudget but you get a good 5.0 surround sound, 4K/HDR compatible receiver, and you can throw in a BIC F12 subwoofer for $200 or a Polk PSW10 for $100 when you save the cash
They probably paid too much for Monster cables
For the people that dont know, Monster is horendously over priced
Monster vs normal
Looking at an entry level computer speaker setup, mix of gaming and music, maybe some movies but not a priority.
Budget was 100$ but I blew through that my first hour of reading Zeos' guides. New budget is 200$ or as close to that as possible with great sound.
I live in a more remote state with very sparse options on craigslist, and I've only had bad experiences with eBay.
Questions:
Utilizing this sale, I'm hoping to upgrade from my built-in TCL TV speakers. Any thoughts or input on this setup before I buy?
Receiver:
DENON AVR-S640H
Speakers:
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
Center:
ELAC Debut 2.0 C5.2 Center Speaker
Subwoofer:
BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
Speaker Wire: AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet
Things I'm not sure about yet...
Speaker stands? Center speaker stand/raiser? Any wires for sub to connect to receiver (or anything else I'm missing)?
Here is a picture of the room. TV is a touch higher than usually recommended because I wanted the ability to see it over the top of my monitor as I work. Thank you!
So after watching reviews I will need to buy longer cables will this cables work fine?
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_InY3BbFEFP46X
FosPower (10 Feet) 24K Gold Plated Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable (S/PDIF) - [Zero RFI & EMI Interference] Metal Connectors & Ultra Durable Nylon Braided Jacket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T6OVQYU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XnY3BbFEKAX5P
Edit: Also I would like to run the speaker wire through my ceiling tiles that would be no problem?
Speakers
Wall-mount
Wire
Amp
So something like this and I should be all set ?:
1.Speaker Wire
2.3.5mm to 2RCA
3.Lepai 2020A
4.Insignia Bookshelf Speakers
___
Thanks a lot!
for example: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550053284&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=speaker+wire&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51nHodxMogL&amp;ref=plSrch
you usually clamp them underneath those red/black caps. however, i’m seeing holes there so with some extra effort you could use these too.
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109436-Plated-Speaker-Banana/dp/B0097JLQVC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550053390&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=speaker+wire+banana+plug&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41FhV2Rcd6L&amp;ref=plSrch
you clamp the cable into these plugs and then plug them into your speaker. looks very nice imo
New to this! I recently got this big ass speaker for free while moving, and I'm trying to get it set up. Problem is that I don't have any idea what I'm doing. I also have no details about the speaker itself in terms of impedance or really anything.
I'm pretty sure I need a power amp (like this?) to power it (connected using standard speaker wire and maybe banana plugs), and I'm also wondering if I should get something like this Monoprice hybrid tube amp to serve as a preamp.
Am I on the right track?
I checked my motherboard to make sure it can take aux cable and seem it does. I found a good one. Aux to RCA Now for open cables. would that be one for a example?
Also I am not sure how to power that amp...do I need to buy power supply for it, or it come with it?
Here's a system build for you that is as cheap as I would recommend:
https://www.amazon.com/Project-Essential-II-Turntable-Matte/dp/B00DKSUHO8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492784630&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=project+essential+ii
https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX8020-TX-8020-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492784690&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=stereo+amplifier
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492784706&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=pioneer+andrew+jones
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492784905&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
Do NOT get a Crosley or an Audio Technica LP60. UTurn Orbit and the AT LP120 are OK alternatives. Or just go used via your local Craigslist.
I'm a little confused if you're saying $500 for speakers alone, or the set up. Heres a list I put together for a friend who had the same budget. Hope this helps.
($200) http://amzn.com/B00B981F38
($10) http://amzn.com/B006LW0W5Y
($12) http://amzn.com/B005EZTUMU
($130) http://amzn.com/B00067OS0A
($130) http://amzn.com/B004LRPXAU
Edit: If you go this route, don't forget these.
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Series-Subwoofer-Cable/dp/B003FVYXY0/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y
http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Series-Y-Adapter-Inches/dp/B004EBX5GW/ref=pd_sim_e_4?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=0HP63MCWR61GRJ58Y5BY
I disconnected the speakers then extended the wires with crimps so that I kept the original wires and crimps intact. Speaker posts use crimp type male connections so was easy to make the connections.
Very important to use two way speakers with the crossover board taken out of the circuit. My speakers had connections to the crossover using same crimp connectors so I wired straight on to them.
Ensure you get the Woofer and Tweeter pairs the right way around. I confused them the first time and the sound was distorted, flipped them around and Bingo!
Vimmor 4-Pack 4mm Banana Plug... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KLRH5GM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006LW0W5Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Terminals Crimping Tool with... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RXR25JG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
>My concern would be the ease at which they adjust. If the stands are somewhere less than accessible, or are difficult to adjust, it would defeat the point of this use case.
Usually with stereo or surround sound speakers/woofers, they have an ideal position relative to the listener.
The challenge is usually with getting the wires and power to those position to allow ideal placement. Once there, there isn't a great need to fiddle with the speaker position too much afterwards.
I think it's more important that a speaker stand/mount be sturdy and stable than be easily adjustable. IMO, just something that'll let you place the speakers at the right distance from you at the right height, and maybe help manage wires would do.
If you have walls (and you're able to drill into those walls), speaker wall mounts are an affordable option.
If you have space around your desk, a speaker stand is a good way to go also.
Otherwise, if you have the room, you can add drawers/file cabinets to the sides of your desk to extend your desktop a bit, or get a bigger desk like you mentioned.
I would also suggest picking up some speaker wires.
This was a super cheap build and the prices have changed since I made mine, nor is it the best but: Dayton pucks 16ohm - USB DAC 3.5 - Cheap amplifier - 12v Power Brick - 3.5mm to RCA cable - 16awg speaker wire
You'll also need some small wood screws to attach the pucks to the chair, zip ties, and a couple of wire nuts or you can solder the wires together. If your computer has a front headphone jack that can be its own output independent from the rear jack (like most Realtek onboard audio) you can omit the USB DAC.
You will want to wire up the pucks in PARALLEL (see example 3) so the amplifier only sees an 8ohm load.
I don't know about an amp for the Aura since I don't use them and you'd have issues running one amp for different powered transducers, they all need to have the same wattage
They're somewhat expensive online. If you could check your local craiglist or thrift store you could perhaps score something. 18-16 Gauge wire would be fine.
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1453430042&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=speaker+wire
And since you are using the stock head unit (just as I am, no worries), you are going to want to tap into probably your rear speakers for a signal, so you are going to need some 16-18 gauge speaker wire and some crimp caps (or solder them to connect), a wire stripper/cutter (though ultimately an X-acto blade would work, just be creative), and probably some screw drivers to take off and pop off some trim panels to access your rear speaker's positive and negative wires (the alternative is to take apart your dashboard, find I wiring diagram, and splice into the speaker power there and run the cables to the back of your truck...)
I personally have used the Amazon Basics speaker cable in a bunch of projects (mostly indoor, but I've got like 70 feet of it running from the front of my car to my trunk and back, a few times over) and it works just fine for me... It was really cheap and held up, stripped, and cut, all quite nicely...
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y
It IS CCA, but unless you're really going for Audiophile sound or pushing alot of power, you won't notice a difference in sound. I would probably order 100 feet because it's alot easier having too much wire for 3 extra bucks, than not having enough...
I've got no clue - trying to keep it under $150. Pref bluetooth but plugging in an Echo would take care of that.
IDK whether to go standalone phono+Amp or receiver combo. Hard for me to distinguish which is best value. Amazon has used like-new plutos for ~$75
The speakers I have are binding post so I think banana plugs would work best, but does that mean banana plugs on one and and bare wire to plug into the amp/receiver on the other end?
Example: AmazonBasics Speaker Cable with Gold-Plated Banana Tips
How does this compare to some of the 2.1 Sony / Yamaha units in the sub-200 range?
Denon AV Receiver Audio & Video Component Receiver BLACK (AVRS540BT) - 199
ok i found those in the italian store, can you check if they are the same?
https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B07FKJDTPY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A11IL2PNWYJU7H&psc=1
https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01D5H8KO2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A11IL2PNWYJU7H&psc=1
&#x200B;
btw the micca mb42x are not sent in my country
https://imgur.com/a/YlXD0FC
Extreme rookie question and need some help! I recently bought a set of Polk Audio R10 speakrs from a friend and have a Yamaha RX-V473 receiver, and thought I could simply connect the two with a set of banana plugs. I bought these cables off of Amazon, but the banana plugs won't fit into either the speaker or the receiver.
Did I just stupidly order the wrong plug size or something? I had thought banana plugs were all one size, but apparently that's not the case.
Regular speaker wire.
I'd get some purty ones like this :)
https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-113913-Affinity-Premium-Braided/dp/B015YN6G9G/ref=pd_sbs_23_2/138-5214543-9122431?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B015YN6G9G&amp;pd_rd_r=83337871-6b8d-11e9-b12e-253105b62179&amp;pd_rd_w=zbeMy&amp;pd_rd_wg=ywU3T&amp;pf_rd_p=5dcda75b-8643-4da3-9bb1-5c0233790500&amp;pf_rd_r=KV4279QXVCYB9NNXQQHZ&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=KV4279QXVCYB9NNXQQHZ
https://www.amazon.com/Amplifier-TPA3116D2-Channel-Adjustment-Amplifiers/dp/B07Q2VN7RL - SMSL SA100, 50 watts per channel, and you can stream music via Bluetooth from your phone. It's about as bare bones as it gets but it should do the job just fine. It literally has just one RCA aux in.
For speaker cables, maybe Monoprice https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13913 or maybe something like https://www.amazon.com/Silverback-Strand-Speaker-Banana-Plugs/dp/B009RT2IAK
Or if you want to go as basic as possible, something like https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Oxygen-Free/dp/B079VJXN1Z/ - banana plugs are not necessary, and that 30 feet will get you two 15 foot speaker cables.
There's nothing fancy about speaker wire, just buy the cheapest spool of speaker wire you can find. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_ISi3xbMYN53WN
I got you.
Here's your shopping list, mind you this is if you're doing a projector setup, which I would recommend:
Pioneer Elite AV Receiver: Pioneer VSX-LX303 9.2 Channel 4k UltraHD Network A/V Receiver Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRMX1W1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UMIwDbQM7B540
Klipsch RP-500 M bookshelf speakers (pair) x2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RG8FC92/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mOIwDbKCJDPH5
Klipsch Wireless 10" subwoofer x2: Klipsch R-10SWi 10" Wireless Subwoofer - Brushed Black Vinyl https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQFIP9F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zPIwDb259BH0C
Klipsch R-52C center channel: Klipsch R-52C Powerful detailed Center Channel Home Speaker - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FK41FGL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-PIwDbH0S8PWA
100 ft. Speaker cable, x2 just in case: AmazonBasics 14-Gauge Audio Stereo Speaker Wire Cable - 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D5H8YNO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NQIwDb0N0EAFP
Banana plugs for your cable: Monoprice 24k Gold Plated Speaker Banana Plugs, Closed Screw Type (20 Pairs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072J5TYDY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uRIwDbMPRHTTQ
1080P projector: Optoma HD27e 3400 Lumens 1080p Home Theater Projector (Renewed) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBSBH76/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0RIwDbZB366SP
100" screen: Elite Screens Manual B, 100-INCH 16:9, Manual Pull Down Projector Screen 4K / 8K Ultra HDR 3D Ready with Slow Retract Mechanism, 2-YEAR WARRANTY, M100H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008XGTXWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nSIwDbK0H9ENT
Mount if you need it/even can mount it: VIVO Universal Adjustable White Ceiling Projector | Projection Mount Extending Arms Mounting Bracket (MOUNT-VP01W) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01013QA86/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JSIwDbS90NGNW
And lastly fiber optic cable for your projector: ATZEBE Fiber Optic HDMI Cable 50ft, 4K Optical HDMI Cable Supports 4K@60Hz, 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0, HDR, Dolby Vision, HDCP2.2, ARC, 3D, High Speed 18Gbps, Slim and Flexible Active HDMI Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KG7C25W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aTIwDb44W24VG