2. amps-preamps
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Inexpensive Amp and Speakers

I'm really really new to home audio. I have done some audio stuff in my car, but nothing with home audio. I am currently just using some Cambridge SoundWorks $50 speakers haha, and I really started to notice that the sub and mids sound like crap. I checked out the Zalytron website and was thinking of getting the budget German 2-Way speakers. I would probably order all the parts and materials but put the box together myself to save some money.

Now I need a receiver and I am clueless as to what to get. The only audio place around me is Circuit City and they sell moslty crap, so I can't really demo any receivers and plus they wouldn't have the speakers I am going to use anyway. I looked a little on eBay for new and used equipment but I really didn't know what to look for. I need some suggestions on any kind of amp for around $150. It doesn't need to be anything fancy at all, because I'm ONLY going to be playing music out of my computer, so the amp just has 1 set of RCA inputs and a line-out for a sub it'd be fine. I think that about 100w per channel would be fine, but I'm not really sure how many watts those speakers can handle.

If anyone has any suggestions on other speakers and amps I could look into I'd be very greatful to hear what you have to say. I'm sure almost anything will be better than these cheap speakers I'm using now!
jcdem
ohlala
1,231 posts
 
Most amps do not have crossovers.

Tough to say whether you would like the 302s or not. Compared to their competitors, they are slow to get confused, but they do not like to be played very loud. There is also a recessed region in the lower midrange that may leave you wanting more. Are you in a position to listen to them? Anyways, I thought you were on to something by putting together a kit, but i really to not know how they would compare.

Being conservative in regards to your wish for power, I would say that as low as 75-80 watts (for a monitor) would be fine. A lot rides on the sensitivity of the speaker, though.

Putting a sub in to 15x15 room is not going to be pretty, but since you are a headbanger you may not care :) Good luck. Let us know what you decide on and how it sounds.
consttraveler
250 posts
 
If the sub is powered it probably has it's own crossover, run it off of a line out (tape, etc.) and set its' crossover a bit higher than your speakers low end. That is, if your speakers are rated to 45, set your sub at 50. Experiment.
jcdem OP
15 posts
 
Hey hey Ohlala, I can be a headbanger and have good taste too! haha. I actually do listen to some different types of music, some more instrumental stuff like NIN and lighter stuff like Radiohead.

Would a sub really be that bad in a small room? I mean, I'm not looking for a big powerful sub, maybe a 10" sub with an 75-100w amp would be good. I just don't want to get shortchanged in the low frequency area.

Oh, I also checked out some reviews on the B&W DM602 speakers and saw some on eBay and they didn't look to be too expensive. I think those would definately be a large step up from the DM302's.
ohlala
1,231 posts
 
Hey, I am with you. NIN is a personal fave.

It is not that your room is too small, what struck me was that two of the dimensions were the same (15'). You may want to do some research on room demension and bass and the integration of a sub with monitors. There has been discussion about it here and audioasylum.com. AA's FAQ, might also have some good information. IME the quality of the bass is a function of the room dimensions, the loudness & frequency of the bass and the location of the bass speaker relative to the room & all the parameters are interrelated. Bass traps also have an (positive) effect. John Risch at the FAQ at AudioAslyum has some inexpensive DYI bass trap designs and information. I think you can put a sub in your room (i did not mean to discourage you), and i think you are smart to go with a smaller one. You just may have a problem to address.

I used to own a pair of series 1 603s, and yes they are a good step up from the 302s, especially for rock music. They play louder and sound fuller. Great midrange, still a little bright and there is an area of a little muddiness in the lower midrange/upper midbass. Not too bad of a compromise, though. The series 3 may have addressed that; I don't know.
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