Powered Audio Speakers

i basically want to get around buying a receiver and still get optical sound. my current set up is that i have a ps3 with hdmi that plugs into my tv, and a cable box with hdmi that plugs into my tv. can i use that optical audio out in the back to plug into separately powered speakers (like speakers made for a computer, like those that klipsch makes) and get surround sound or do i need a receiver?

No, you do not need a receiver if you use powered speakers (unless they have a separate unit with a surround decoder and an Optical input). You need a preamp/processor. A receiver is a combination of a preamp/processor, amplifiers and a radio tuner in one box. When you start going up the food chain in home theater systems, you start buying the units as separate products.

You may WANT to buy a receiver since separate preamp/processors tend to run considerably more money because they are less compromised and more performance oriented. Also, many receivers have preamp outputs that allow you to bypass the internal amps and use better offboard amps or powered loudspeakers.

Now...should you do this? My vote is no unless you have a pretty substantial budget and can afford to buy a real active monitoring system (ala PMC...think many thousands of dollars). Computer speakers are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to home theater sound. You would be better off buying a Klipsch passive speaker system (I've sold lots of their Reference Cinema 10 packages) and a receiver than computer speakers. Even Klipsch's computer speakers...which happen to be the best of the breed...are a step down in sound quality vs. even their smaller dedicated home theater speaker packages.

2007-01-17 10:02:12 by wristshot0

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I am trying to connect my laptop to some external logitech self powered speakers. I'm runing a standard minijack audio cord from my laptops headphone out to my external speaker systems audio input in and as soon as I plug it in I hear a loud buzzing noise comeing from all speakers.
Do I need to change a setting from digital to analog or buy a converter? or what?

the minijacks are either not proper connected, the cord is broken or the jacks have no clean contacts. i've noticed the same sometimes on my laptop speakers, but after deconnect and reconnect the jacks the buzzing noise disappeared.

2006-09-18 15:29:09 by Tschuler

Price: $79.95 $50.62

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I've found that you can't make sound come out of audio speakers by wiring them up to the leads of a guitar through an amplifying op-amp circuit.

I can wire the guitar jack up and plug that into an amplifier, and that works. But how do I power my own speakers?
I resent having my question called naïve. Anyone can buy an old amplifier; I'm trying to learn how to build one myself. God knows my university isn't going to teach me something even half as useful.

Thanks so far, though.

You can purchase power op-amps from Apex Microtechnology Corporation, 5980 N. Shannon, Road, Tucson, Arizona 85741-5230 or contact them by e-mail ProdLit@TeamApex.com. Their products work well but need careful application (sockets, heat-sinks, by-pass capacitors, etc.) which is explained in their product literature.

From the naivety of your question, it appears to me that you would be better served purchasing a new or used "guitar amp" and connecting that to your speakers. They are readily available at many pawn shops, which may also let you "try before you buy".

2009-05-08 11:10:36 by Lenny

Price: $649.00 $488.12

Includes 10-Inch - 100 Watt subwoofer and input RCA cable
Includes 5 architectural-grade adjustable mounting brackets
Video magnetic shielding provides the satellites the option to be located right next to a TV screen without causing any problems
Five-channel system that's expandable to 6.1 and 7, surround-sound operation with the addition of optional AESS5 satellite speaker(s)
Black finish

Would I be able to plug a sound INTERFACE (with preamps) such as an M-Audio Fast Track Pro, directly into powered speakers (with internal amps) through RCA or 1/4" TRS.

Hiring speakers and just want to make sure.

you can do this but keep the volume on both turned all the way down when you first plug them in. then do this procedure to make sure you dont damage anything:
turn up the speakers to about 50%
then slowly turn up the pre-amp volume until you have it at the volume you want it at.
if you hear any crackling or distortion you are clipping either an amplifier or a speaker. this can damage the equipment and you should turn down the volume.
if you need the volume to be louder and run into clipping sooner than expected try turning the speakers to 75% and starting the pre-amp volume low again.
play with the two carefully until you can adjust the volume using the pre-amp volume nob only.

2009-06-07 03:58:33 by Charlie G

Hi. I have a Intel D945GCCR MotherBoard with onboard audio that supports 5.1. Im wondering how to hook up my existing hometheatre satellite speakers and subwoofer to the soundcard as it has only Pink Green and Yelow conventional soundcard outputs.. Mines are not powered speakers but plug into the hometheatre player via red and black wires.
thanks for the answer.
basically what i want to do is connect my satellite speakers to the onboard 5.1 Sound Card.

I'm unable to match the speaker input wires as i have only 3 outputs on the soundcard onboard.

Do i need an amplifier to plug into the soundcard and then power the speakers from it. If so what are the good amps i can use. pls need your help on this.
Smart guys dont get any answers?. cmon pls somebody say a freaking hi,. i'll be your bitch for the next hour.

There are a few possibilities:

1) use an optical out on your 5.1 card.

2) do some creative wiring to adapt the mini connections outputted from your card to discrete channels in for audio.

I would need some more detail on exactly what you have to get a better idea of what you need to do.

2007-09-24 08:08:11 by mur3x