How to set up old school speakers to soundcard???

[Ginge620]

I have a Asus Essence STX sound card and some old Bang & Olufsen speakers, similar to Beovox x35's. What do i do to connected them up to my sound card? Im guessing ill need some kind of beefy amp to power them?

[ShearMe]

LP-2020A+ Lepai amp

[scaryjam823]

LP-2020A+ Lepai amp

I actually ordered this exact amp myself. It is arriving tomorrow. I ordered it for some subwoofers. I have 5 speakers I use for surround sound but it's lacking in bass. So I build a box that holds 2 6.5" subwoofers. I will be carpeting it tomorrow, mounting the amp and hooking it to my computer. I think it will have plenty of bass now... 2 6.5" 300w RMS 600w peak subwoofers. Granted the amp is limiting them to 15w, but my computer speakers are only 1.5w each lol.

 

OP tomorrow afternoon after I get the amp and everything installed I will let you know how it performs. That amp is the best one I could find online, some have advertised more wattage but it's all false. An outlet can't produce the amps needed to produce high wattages for speakers (pretty sure I remember that right, it's been a week since I done research) Anyways I'll let you know how it turns out and if it is worth the buy.

[Ginge620]

LP-2020A+ Lepai amp

Could i get a similar version to what suggested but with a watt rating closer to the speakers watt rate? eg 100W

[MuffinTopMike]

So i'm guessing that that you have speakers with bare wire or terminals at the back. To connect them to your sound card you will need and amp for the speakers. Something cheap like ShearMe recommended the LP-2020A+ Lepai amp, I have that amp powering some Dayton B652s and it works great. That amp should easily power a medium size pair of monitor speakers. Then all you have to do is get an rca to 3.5mm adapter (probably will have to buy separately) and connect to your sound card. Too easy! If you need more juice you could try this - http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-lp7498e-200w-class-d-digital-amplifier-with-bluetooth-and-power-supply--310-298. Careful not to blow the speakers though.

[ShearMe]

Could i get a similar version to what suggested but with a watt rating closer to the speakers watt rate? eg 100W

 

You don't need more wattage.  :rolleyes:

 

But... go ahead and blow your neighbors eardrums out: http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX-4105-Stereo-Receiver-Black/dp/B0002EPWC0/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392450244&sr=1-15&keywords=stereo+amp

[Ginge620]

So i'm guessing that that you have speakers with bare wire or terminals at the back. To connect them to your sound card you will need and amp for the speakers. Something cheap like ShearMe recommended the LP-2020A+ Lepai amp, I have that amp powering some Dayton B652s and it works great. That amp should easily power a medium size pair of monitor speakers. Then all you have to do is get an rca to 3.5mm adapter (probably will have to buy separately) and connect to your sound card. Too easy! If you need more juice you could try this - http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-lp7498e-200w-class-d-digital-amplifier-with-bluetooth-and-power-supply--310-298. Careful not to blow the speakers though.

Ive found the speakers and they are Beovox x25's which are rated 8 OHM 25(40)Watt. What does the 25(40) mean, peak and RMS? I live in the UK aswell, forgot to mention. Also they dont have bare metal connections. They have a 005 connector on each.

[ShearMe]

Ive found the speakers and they are Beovox x25's which are rated 8 OHM 25(40)Watt. What does the 25(40) mean, peak and RMS? I live in the UK aswell, forgot to mention. Also they dont have bare metal connections. They have a 005 connector on each.

The heck is an 005 connector? RCA?

[Ginge620]

The heck is an 005 connector? RCA?

005 is just what it said on the connector. Just did a bit of research and they are 2 pin DIN connectors.

[ShearMe]

005 is just what it said on the connector. Just did a bit of research and they are 2 pin DIN connectors.

 

Oh dang... Are they connectors on the back of the speaker, or are the wires coming out of it non-removable? Can you take a picture?

 

I doubt you'll find an amp with DIN connectors on it, but we might be able to find an adapter.

[Ginge620]

Oh dang... Are they connectors on the back of the speaker, or are the wires coming out of it non-removable? Can you take a picture?

 

I doubt you'll find an amp with DIN connectors on it, but we might be able to find an adapter.

They are at the end of the wires. Ive ordered these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131016797107?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I'll cut the wires and strip them back to connect to the amp you first suggested and connect the sockets to the speakers. I dont want to cut the wires on the speakers.

Also ordered these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261396928835?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and this amp http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008S464VE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for your help and advice

[ShearMe]

They are at the end of the wires. Ive ordered these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131016797107?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I'll cut the wires and strip them back to connect to the amp you first suggested and connect the sockets to the speakers. I dont want to cut the wires on the speakers.

Also ordered these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261396928835?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and this amp http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008S464VE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Let us know how it works out!

[scaryjam823]

I have a Asus Essence STX sound card and some old Bang & Olufsen speakers, similar to Beovox x35's. What do i do to connected them up to my sound card? Im guessing ill need some kind of beefy amp to power them?

So I got the amp today, just finished up my sub box and mounted the amp. I'm using 2 6.5" 300w rms 600w peak subs to the amp, and wow does this amp perform better than I expected. You won't be disappointed with the amp at all. I have the amp at half way and it easily out powers my speakers, plenty of room left if you like a big thump. I'm use to car audio and didn't expect the amp to perform as well as it does with the low wattage (generally you want amps to have more wattage than your sub then tone it down). I would highly recommend to anyone.

[ShearMe]

I'm use to car audio and didn't expect the amp to perform as well as it does with the low wattage (generally you want amps to have more wattage than your sub then tone it down).

 

Car audio's hella overpriced and underperforming.

[scaryjam823]

Car audio's hella overpriced and underperforming.

What I meant was the amp only being 20w, I expected less performance. I'm use to getting more than my subs can output then toning it down, didn't expect as much as this pushes for as little as it is. But when you pair it up with 1.5w speakers it doesn't take a whole lot.

[helping]

What I meant was the amp only being 20w, I expected less performance. I'm use to getting more than my subs can output then toning it down, didn't expect as much as this pushes for as little as it is. But when you pair it up with 1.5w speakers it doesn't take a whole lot.

I'd rather match them or get close to matching. guaranteed no blowing anything and a good quality amp shouldn't have heat or clipping issues.

[scaryjam823]

I'd rather match them or get close to matching. guaranteed no blowing anything and a good quality amp shouldn't have heat or clipping issues.

It's actually recommended by most to have a higher wattage than your speakers, then dial them down. I done a lot of research about this about 5 years ago when I looked into installing custom audio in my truck. I can't remember the specific reason off the top of my head, but I do remember this.

[ShearMe]

It's actually recommended by most to have a higher wattage than your speakers, then dial them down. I done a lot of research about this about 5 years ago when I looked into installing custom audio in my truck. I can't remember the specific reason off the top of my head, but I do remember this.

 

The specific reason is because car audio is hella overpriced and under performing. 

 

For home audio, you can get an underpowered amp and drive it at full volume if you needed to.

[Ginge620]

Let us know how it works out!

The amp arrived today and i hooked it all up and my god it is good. Bass, volume and clarity are all very good and more than i expected. The little amp is great plenty of power i only have set at a 3rd and that's loud.

Thanks for suggesting this cheap little amp works very well for the price, just £20.

 

To confirm i have a Asus essence STX soundcard connected a Lepai LP-2020A+ AMP which is then connected to a pair of B&O Beovox X25's. I have windows volume set at 50% and the amp at about 1/3rd. I also have Dolby virtual speak on too gives more of a surround feel.

[mr moose]

NO no no nonononononononononononono.  

 

 

 

O.k maybe

 

 

With any audio it is better to have an amp that is more powerful than your speakers because:  when you overdrive speakers you will hear the distortion and turn it down, thus saving the speakers and the amp. But if you under drive driver speaker (over drive the amp) you will not always hear it and any clipping in the amp will cause the voice coil of the speaker to warm up, eventually causing irreversible damage to the speakers.

 

Note this does not always happen as some amps having clipping protection, however it is a very good rule to stick to as you never know which ones actually work. So the moral is don't play it too loud and if you hear any distortion then turn it down right away.

 

 

As far as using 20watt amps goes, the reason they sound fine (loud enough) is because in 99% of cases people are rarely using more than 10-15Watts when listening to music or watching a movie. 

[Ginge620]

NO no no nonononononononononononono.  

 

 

 

O.k maybe

 

 

With any audio it is better to have an amp that is more powerful than your speakers because:  when you overdrive speakers you will hear the distortion and turn it down, thus saving the speakers and the amp. But if you under drive driver speaker (over drive the amp) you will not always hear it and any clipping in the amp will cause the voice coil of the speaker to warm up, eventually causing irreversible damage to the speakers.

 

Note this does not always happen as some amps having clipping protection, however it is a very good rule to stick to as you never know which ones actually work. So the moral is don't play it too loud and if you hear any distortion then turn it down right away.

 

 

As far as using 20watt amps goes, the reason they sound fine (loud enough) is because in 99% of cases people are rarely using more than 10-15Watts when listening to music or watching a movie. 

So how come when i turn the volume up over half way on this amp i get distortion? 

[mr moose]

So how come when i turn the volume up over half way on this amp i get distortion? 

either the amp is clipping or you are over driving the speakers.  Without knowing anything about the speakers it's hard to say for sure but I would say it's more likely you are over driving the speakers.

 

My previous post was more in regard to the comments concerning having higher wattage speakers and a lower wattage amp.

[ShearMe]

As far as using 20watt amps goes, the reason they sound fine (loud enough) is because in 99% of cases people are rarely using more than 10-15Watts when listening to music or watching a movie. 

 

Exactly what I said above.

 

People think, "Oh, my speakers can use 300 watts, I must obviously need a 300 watt amp, right?" but like, that'd be sooooo loud...