connect old speakers to computer ?

[ETatBKK]

in my work room, I have a pair of basic USB computer speakers. yet I have a set of spare Sony speaker boxes around ( with spring clip connectors ). how could I utilise this set of speakers, and what I need to connect them ?

thanks . . .

[transam]

I bought a cheap amp, just use the speaker outlet on your PC to the amp..........Job done....I am listening to stuff writing this...

[astral]

Yes you will need an external amp as well

Computer speakers are generally self powered with an internal amp

[ETatBKK]

thanks for the idea ! any possibility for an INTERNAL AMP rather than an external one ? seems not easy to get a simple external amp in town.

also, the internal amp could clean up the mess around me.

[transam]

Just buy an external amp, has knobs/sliders on so you can control it instantly. You can buy one anywhere in LOS. James Taylor on at the mo, when she goes out ZZ Top will be making serious sounds here..........

[RichCor]

To explain:

Your spring-clip connector box speakers are just a basic cone diaphragm. They need an external amplifier to drive them. (many will have their requirements printed on the back next to the connector). While the 'speaker/headphone minijack' of a PC or Laptop might have the power to drive small speakers, box speakers usually require 8-watts or more for sound you can actually use/enjoy.

With USB Speakers, on the other hand, Audio from the computer is sent digitally to the speakers where a special DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) chip sends analog audio to a small built-in amplifier and out to the speakers. The DAC and Amplifier are powered either from the USB 5v interface or from an external wall AC adapter.

Converting one to use the other wouldn't be easy. If you want to use the Sony speakers you'd be better off getting a dedicated amplifier for them, one that either connects with it's own USB Interface, or used the External Speaker Minijack to provide 'line-level' analog signal.

[ETatBKK]

thanks guys !

I am totally a newbie in audio ;-) out of the blue I find something like this, but certainly not in my budget not my wife would like it neither :- (

http://www.psaudio.com/sprout/#lightbox/4/

ok, back on the ground, I will look for more DAC options here !

[ETatBKK]

more homework, and then more questions. I find a DAC with two 3.5mm L/R un-balanced RCA jacks, and a 6.3mm RCA output. could I able to make a connection to the Sony speakers' spring clip connector ?

[transam]

thanks guys !

I am totally a newbie in audio ;-) out of the blue I find something like this, but certainly not in my budget not my wife would like it neither :- (

http://www.psaudio.com/sprout/#lightbox/4/

ok, back on the ground, I will look for more DAC options here !

A toaster will not work........... ........................

[RichCor]

more homework, and then more questions. I find a DAC with two 3.5mm L/R un-balanced RCA jacks, and a 6.3mm RCA output. could I able to make a connection to the Sony speakers' spring clip connector ?

The 6.3mm connectors are normally 'termed' 1/4-inch Switchboard Jack, 1/4" Phono Jack, 1/4" Guitar Jack, large Stereo Jack or Headphone Jack. (The big brother of the minijack). "RCA" is reserved for another type of connector.

If you really don't want to go the normal route of buying something off the shelf designed specifically to do what you're trying to do, then you might want to read a couple of articles explaining what you're working with:

"Most headphone amplifiers provide power between 10 mW and 2 W", depending on the design, with most running in the mW range.

Understanding Headphone Power Requirements

by Dennis Bohn, Rane Corporation

" ...a quick rule-of-thumb is that you are going to need about 1/1000 as much power to drive your headphones as to drive your loudspeakers", or the inverse, 1000x more power to connect your loudspeakers to a amplified headphone output.

[ETatBKK]

thanks RichCor, good info, good insight too. I am not preparing for the headphone. I am more a digital person than an analogue one; and not keen on audio at all.

getting a decent DAC and getting things connected, is not simply 'plug-and-play', now more my concern, I just want to restore the Sony speakers for a better audio ( than an USB audio ), rather than setting up another audio sub-system. chicken and egg question :-)

[RichCor]

Most computers have DAC "Sound Boards" with low-power amplifiers built-in on the main board. They won't run your Sony speakers, but the audio-out is compatible with external amplifiers requiring 'line level' input. I mentioned the USB/DAC alternative as another method of getting audio out of a PC.

Either way, you're going to have an external 'box' with an amplifier and speaker-out ports. Though the actual size of the 'box' can vary from a small adapter (consisting of a USB/DAC + mini Amplifier) to a much larger consumer-sized box that takes up 22 inches but is actually mostly empty inside.

The mention of the headphones was to answer your question about the "6.33mm RCA Output", which are normally used for headphones (and a headphone output is 1/1000 of that required to drive a box speaker).

[ETatBKK]

but the audio-out is compatible with external amplifiers requiring 'line level' input. I mentioned the USB/DAC alternative as another method of getting audio out of a PC.

have an external 'box' with an amplifier and speaker-out ports

very clear now ! my homework just cover the first part - the way out of the computer ( source of music ) that compatible with any audio device, that I may see sample rate like 192kHz and 24-bits.

now I need to search the second part - the audio amp. either a small or a big one, but not the popular headphone amp. I may need to read indication like '32, or 50 watts per channel' or alike.

for sense of simplicity, I still wish to find a DAV and an audio amp in one small box. the PS Audio's 'Sprout' is one of the decent option; but the egg is bigger than the chicken !

[SoiBiker]

If your computer has a headphone or speaker output in the form of a 3.5mm minijack - which they almost always do - you don't need to be spending money on a DAC. You just need an amplifier, and probably a stereo 3.5mm jack to twin rca/phono cable. I'd find a shop that sells second hand electrical stuff and look for an old hifi amp.

[transam]

If your computer has a headphone or speaker output in the form of a 3.5mm minijack - which they almost always do - you don't need to be spending money on a DAC. You just need an amplifier, and probably a stereo 3.5mm jack to twin rca/phono cable. I'd find a shop that sells second hand electrical stuff and look for an old hifi amp.

Thats what I did.

Hifi/computer shops do carry the lead to connect the amp/PC, mini jack one end and phono plugs the other, easy. I have two rather large speakers, one each side my desk......Good job I don't have neighbours eh...

[worgeordie]

I have a PC ,it only has a SPDIF outlet,the cable has a 3.5 jack on one end

and Sony/Philip's,(don't know correct name) one the other end,what kind of

equipment do i need to connect this cable to to get some audio out of the PC.

The Pc is a Compulab FIT 2i, I tried to ask this question on their website,

but the replies where too technical for me to understand,not been an Audiophile,

answers like compatible equipment !,did not help.

I am sure someone on here will be able to help with a simple answer,just need to

know what I can connect the cable to Amp? then speakers?.if Amp can anyone

recommend a small one that would be suitable

Regards Worgeordie

[SoiBiker]

If it's a 3.5mm jack its most likely a combined analogue stereo/optical surround output. You'll just need the same minijack-phono cable mentioned above.

[SoiBiker]

Like this:

[transam]

Back of the PC will have a speaker outlet, usually 3 small port in a row at the bottom of the rear casing, fink it's the green one. buy any amplifier, cable connects from your PC to the amp inlet ports, then just connect you speakers to the amp speaker ports.

[transam]

Like this:

Thats the one...

[SoiBiker]

I have a PC ,it only has a SPDIF outlet,the cable has a 3.5 jack on one end

and Sony/Philip's,(don't know correct name) one the other end,what kind of

equipment do i need to connect this cable to to get some audio out of the PC.

The Pc is a Compulab FIT 2i, I tried to ask this question on their website,

but the replies where too technical for me to understand,not been an Audiophile,

answers like compatible equipment !,did not help.

I am sure someone on here will be able to help with a simple answer,just need to

know what I can connect the cable to Amp? then speakers?.if Amp can anyone

recommend a small one that would be suitable

Regards Worgeordie

Actually, just realised you don't have existing speakers you're trying to use - in that case it's probably easier just to buy some PC speakers with a built-in amp and a minijack cable. These are available all over the place from the cheap and cheerful for a few hundred baht to something decent sounding like the Creative T40s for 5000 baht or so.

[worgeordie]

I have a PC ,it only has a SPDIF outlet,the cable has a 3.5 jack on one end

and Sony/Philip's,(don't know correct name) one the other end,what kind of

equipment do i need to connect this cable to to get some audio out of the PC.

The Pc is a Compulab FIT 2i, I tried to ask this question on their website,

but the replies where too technical for me to understand,not been an Audiophile,

answers like compatible equipment !,did not help.

I am sure someone on here will be able to help with a simple answer,just need to

know what I can connect the cable to Amp? then speakers?.if Amp can anyone

recommend a small one that would be suitable

Regards Worgeordie

Actually, just realised you don't have existing speakers you're trying to use - in that case it's probably easier just to buy some PC speakers with a built-in amp and a minijack cable. These are available all over the place from the cheap and cheerful for a few hundred baht to something decent sounding like the Creative T40s for 5000 baht or so.

Hi Soibiker, no I have tried that ,the SPDIF outlet uses a 3.5 mm jack with 4 bands on it while speaker jacks only have 2,

I did buy this connector had 4 bands on jack and outlet to a headphone and another for MIC but that did not work either.,

its the SPDIF i don't understand, and the RCA /Phillips connector ,do amps have RCA/Phillips inlets?

regards Worgeordie

[transam]

I fink if your going to the trouble of fooling around to make good sound then go big, it really don't cost much to do. I have karaoke mic outlets on the amp and it sounds great. I have had smallish speakers on the desk, were crap.

[ETatBKK]

Actually, just realised you don't have existing speakers you're trying to use - in that case it's probably easier just to buy some PC speakers with a built-in amp and a minijack cable. These are available all over the place from the cheap and cheerful for a few hundred baht to something decent sounding like the Creative T40s for 5000 baht or so.

very good point SoiBiker ! this also comes to my struggle if I spend thousands on the amp and save the 18 years old 80W Sony speakers; OR should I spend a bit more and buy a decent JBL or Harman/Kardon speaker system with wireless ?

one is an emotional decision; another is a rational decision :-)

[transam]

Here is my setup, speakers each side, amp under the printer, chang bottles to stop the cat getting in there.....

[SoiBiker]

I have a PC ,it only has a SPDIF outlet,the cable has a 3.5 jack on one end

and Sony/Philip's,(don't know correct name) one the other end,what kind of

equipment do i need to connect this cable to to get some audio out of the PC.

The Pc is a Compulab FIT 2i, I tried to ask this question on their website,

but the replies where too technical for me to understand,not been an Audiophile,

answers like compatible equipment !,did not help.

I am sure someone on here will be able to help with a simple answer,just need to

know what I can connect the cable to Amp? then speakers?.if Amp can anyone

recommend a small one that would be suitable

Regards Worgeordie

Actually, just realised you don't have existing speakers you're trying to use - in that case it's probably easier just to buy some PC speakers with a built-in amp and a minijack cable. These are available all over the place from the cheap and cheerful for a few hundred baht to something decent sounding like the Creative T40s for 5000 baht or so.

Hi Soibiker, no I have tried that ,the SPDIF outlet uses a 3.5 mm jack with 4 bands on it while speaker jacks only have 2,

I did buy this connector had 4 bands on jack and outlet to a headphone and another for MIC but that did not work either.,

its the SPDIF i don't understand, and the RCA /Phillips connector ,do amps have RCA/Phillips inlets?

regards Worgeordie

Have you tried going into the audio settings on the OS and telling it you want to use the analogue output?

[worgeordie]

I have a PC ,it only has a SPDIF outlet,the cable has a 3.5 jack on one end

and Sony/Philip's,(don't know correct name) one the other end,what kind of

equipment do i need to connect this cable to to get some audio out of the PC.

The Pc is a Compulab FIT 2i, I tried to ask this question on their website,

but the replies where too technical for me to understand,not been an Audiophile,

answers like compatible equipment !,did not help.

I am sure someone on here will be able to help with a simple answer,just need to

know what I can connect the cable to Amp? then speakers?.if Amp can anyone

recommend a small one that would be suitable

Regards Worgeordie

Actually, just realised you don't have existing speakers you're trying to use - in that case it's probably easier just to buy some PC speakers with a built-in amp and a minijack cable. These are available all over the place from the cheap and cheerful for a few hundred baht to something decent sounding like the Creative T40s for 5000 baht or so.

Hi Soibiker, no I have tried that ,the SPDIF outlet uses a 3.5 mm jack with 4 bands on it while speaker jacks only have 2,

I did buy this connector had 4 bands on jack and outlet to a headphone and another for MIC but that did not work either.,

its the SPDIF i don't understand, and the RCA /Phillips connector ,do amps have RCA/Phillips inlets?

regards Worgeordie

Have you tried going into the audio settings on the OS and telling it you want to use the analogue output?

Thanks i will see if that is possible

regards Worgeordie

[RichCor]

Worgeordie,

On some mainboards the audio ports can be digitally configured via software to support stereo, or multi-channel audio. Really depends on the chipset the manufacturer used.

But if the port has S/PDIF or SPDIF letters then the port is probably dedicated and will only output whatever Compressed or Digital Audio that is bundled and selected on the SOURCE MATERIAL your playing at the moment. The Audio being sent over the SPDIF could be standard PCM, or multi-channel Dolby/DTS multi-channel compressed audio, or Digital Bitstream -- any of which will require a special 'receiver' that can decode whatever gets thrown at it. At best, the signal sent over the line will be PCM, but never standard analog audio.

What kind of PC only has an SPDIF port? Maybe it's along side an HDMI connector, so meant to support multi-channel surround sound home theater amplifiers?

Bottom line: If it's a dedicated SPDIF port then you'll need a device that's a converter (or receiver) and amplifier where you can connect a set of stereo or multi-channel speakers.

[worgeordie]

Worgeordie,

On some mainboards the audio ports can be digitally configured via software to support stereo, or multi-channel audio. Really depends on the chipset the manufacturer used.

But if the port has S/PDIF or SPDIF letters then the port is probably dedicated and will only output whatever Compressed or Digital Audio that is bundled and selected on the SOURCE MATERIAL your playing at the moment. The Audio being sent over the SPDIF could be standard PCM, or multi-channel Dolby/DTS multi-channel compressed audio, or Digital Bitstream -- any of which will require a special 'receiver' that can decode whatever gets thrown at it. At best, the signal sent over the line will be PCM, but never standard analog audio.

What kind of PC only has an SPDIF port? Maybe it's along side an HDMI connector, so meant to support multi-channel surround sound home theater amplifiers?

Bottom line: If it's a dedicated SPDIF port then you'll need a device that's a converter (or receiver) and amplifier where you can connect a set of stereo or multi-channel speakers.

The PC is a Compulab FIT 2i PC, its very small,it has a DVI oulet, and this SPDIF outlet, it was supplied with a cable that

has a 3,5 mm jack with 4 poles and on the other end which plugs into ???, has a RCA/Philips fitting, I need to know what

i can plug the RCA/Philips into to get audio,

regards worgeordie

[SoiBiker]

If the 3.5mm jack has four poles, it's a combined analogue stereo + s/pdif connector. The stereo connections should be the tip and the first ring, so a normal stereo minijack should work in this output. If you've tried normal PC speakers and didn't get sound, you probably just need to enable the correct output in your settings.