Pc Speaker Construction

[69stingray]

Hello Everyone, I want to build a set of speakers for the computer, but have a few questions.

1. What type of signal comes out of the sound card? I assume I need an amp?????
2. What impedence should I design the speakers to? Since I have one output, how should the two speakers be wired for stereo?

Thanks.

[fivaxis]

I'm close to finishing a set of MTMs for my computer speakers. You will need an amplifier, a cheap way to get one is to buy a regular set of computer speakers and just cut off the puny speakers they come with, that way you get a sub output too. That's what I have right now and it gets fairly loud, and it's pretty hard to beat $70 for 2 channels + sub channel.

Of course you can buy a home audio amplifier or receiver, but they range from not-so-cheap to ridiculously expensive. Your speaker ohms will need to be matched to the amplifier. Some are ok with 4 ohms, others need 8 ohms.

[Variac]

The Sonic Impact amp is perfect for this use and sounds REALLY good
Search for it because there are LOTS of threads. It is available online for about $30-$40 You have to get their wall transformer also for about $16 or rig up an appropriate one from your Drawer o' Wall Warts. It needs 12-13 volts DC and about 1-1.5 amps.

It puts more power into 4 ohms.

It has an input for a cord (included ) that hooks it to the audio from the comp.

[Timn8ter]

I use the Sonic T-amp with a pair of Aurasound NS3 speakers.
http://www.timn8er.com/Aurasound%20NS3.htm
It sounds great. They don't play very loud due to the low sensitivity of the Aura's but I only sit a couple feet away so it's ok. A better setup IMO is a pair of WR125S or if you can wait a couple more weeks a pair of FR125S and the SI amp would make a killer system. You could skip the sub with those.
http://www.creativesound.ca/

[69stingray]

Thanks Everyone. I will look into that amp, I kinda like the idea of buying some cheap speakers and using that amp, I never would of thought of that!

[Jimmy154]

Originally posted by fivaxis
That's what I have right now and it gets fairly loud, and it's pretty hard to beat $70 for 2 channels + sub channel.

Of course you can buy a home audio amplifier or receiver, but they range from not-so-cheap to ridiculously expensive. Your speaker ohms will need to be matched to the amplifier. Some are ok with 4 ohms, others need 8 ohms.

You can get an amp for far less than $70 that better than those computer amp I'm sure. Get a used one. Also people love to throw away those computer speakers. I have some now, somewhere, that I'd love to throw away. They are free at any computer/TV recycling place, if you know where one is. I would build or get a used amp to power computer speakers.

Also between 4 ohm and 8 ohm I suppose is good impedance for most amps, go closer to 8 ohm I guess. The output on most soundcards is stereo, it is usually a miniplug. Has left, right and ground.