So my beloved Logitech Z-5500 has finally blown the rear right channel after more than a decade of faithful service, so I'm looking for a way to replace it.
There seems to be nothing on the market to touch it (in terms of packaged systems), and regardless I already have a nice set of main L/R speakers that I built a couple years ago with help from the nice folks here.
Here's my goal, please let me know if this is dumb, or if there's an easier way to accomplish it, or whatever....
So I've been looking around, and seen some reference made to the Aiyima A04/A07 boxes. I had run across those in my Amazon searches as well, and they kinda look like what I have in mind, but I don't know how I'd hook them up. For example, it looks like The A07 has a daisy-chain ability, but I can't tell how that works in practice. Is that how you get all 4 channels working together? How about sub output? None of these little boxes seem to have anything like a LFE channel connection.
How can I go about getting this up and running again without putting a full 5.1 A/V receiver in here? That would certainly be the simplest, but I just don't really have room for that in my office. I know this has been done before, my searching just isn't turning up much, sorry! Any advice appreciated. 🙂
There seems to be nothing on the market to touch it (in terms of packaged systems), and regardless I already have a nice set of main L/R speakers that I built a couple years ago with help from the nice folks here.
Here's my goal, please let me know if this is dumb, or if there's an easier way to accomplish it, or whatever....
- I'd like to use the speakers I have, which are: 2x L/R primaries (built), 2x surrounds and 1x center (from Z-5500). I know I'll have to replace the sub, since that has the amp and controls built into it. I'm thinking of getting a Polk PSW10 or similar. It will be powered, regardless.
- I have a high-end workstation PC with dedicated sound card (SB Audigy 5). The card provides individual 3.5mm outputs for each channel. It also has an optical out, but I've never tried utilizing that, so I don't know if there are any peculiarities of going that route, so I'd prefer to use the mini jacks, if they're not too hard to work with.
- I don't have a lot of desk space for the amp(s). They will probably need to sit on top of the sub, actually, unless that's a problem.
So I've been looking around, and seen some reference made to the Aiyima A04/A07 boxes. I had run across those in my Amazon searches as well, and they kinda look like what I have in mind, but I don't know how I'd hook them up. For example, it looks like The A07 has a daisy-chain ability, but I can't tell how that works in practice. Is that how you get all 4 channels working together? How about sub output? None of these little boxes seem to have anything like a LFE channel connection.
How can I go about getting this up and running again without putting a full 5.1 A/V receiver in here? That would certainly be the simplest, but I just don't really have room for that in my office. I know this has been done before, my searching just isn't turning up much, sorry! Any advice appreciated. 🙂
Determine the problem (find a breakdown).Repair-replacement of ICs.The DB25 contact of the control unit or the output connector of the column (main unit) may be broken.
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Something similar from China-Fi (to your taste and choice).
https://aliexpress.ru/item/10050036...1&spm=a2g2w.productlist.list.6.3f716288LfqwpB
https://aliexpress.ru/item/10050036...1&spm=a2g2w.productlist.list.6.3f716288LfqwpB
Indian TDA 2030A 5.1 board starts about $4 , and many models are available in different output range. Chinese amp modules will also be available.
Just swap out the amplifier module, most likely you would have found Philips or NXP chips in the original.
You could simply buy a 5.1 home theater, and connect it to the computer, see what kind of output the computer gives you to match the home theater input.
Just swap out the amplifier module, most likely you would have found Philips or NXP chips in the original.
You could simply buy a 5.1 home theater, and connect it to the computer, see what kind of output the computer gives you to match the home theater input.
No need for an AV receiver. Your soundcard has 5.1 outputs, so the PC will do the decoding. For an all in one, compact, ready to run solution the amp OldDIY linked to would probably be the best bet. Using 3.5mm to RCA MONO adapters, connect the outputs of your soundcard to the corresponding inputs on the amp. That amp does have a powered channel for the sub for a passive sub. But my guess is that it will probably be underpowered compared to the Polk sub you have. But the amp also has an RCA sub out. So you can run an RCA cable from there to your Polk sub
Hey guys, thanks for the replies!
@OldDIY - Thanks for the info on repair, but I've fixed this setup a couple times already, and I'm tired of tearing it apart. I think I'm ready to just move on to something new. Also, that 5.1 amp you linked looks exactly like what I want, although I'm a little concerned about the power output. I know it says 50wpc, but those numbers are typically drastically overblown. I wonder what the actual output is on that 24v power brick? Is this a model that we know about here on DIYA? Has anyone done any testing of it? How's the audio quality? How about the build, is it likely to last more than a month?
@thirdicomplex - thanks for the hookup info, thanks exactly what I needed to know. I think an amp like that and a powered sub will pretty much get me there. 🙂
EDIT: Upon a little further checking, it appears to be almost a direct copy of the AIYIMA A09, if that means anything...
EDIT2: Aww... more digging turned up this thread, with a user review by "Mikewill". His comments make it seem like maybe not the best option. However, I do intend to hook mine up with individual channels from my PC sound card. Do we think that will make any difference on the negative points he mentions? Specifically, not being able to control the sub volume? That would really suck, and would make it pretty much useless if the sub stayed low (or high) regardless of where the main volume was set. On the other (other?) hand, once I tune everything, I'll pretty much be setting the master volume on the PC side, so it may not matter. Thoughts?
@OldDIY - Thanks for the info on repair, but I've fixed this setup a couple times already, and I'm tired of tearing it apart. I think I'm ready to just move on to something new. Also, that 5.1 amp you linked looks exactly like what I want, although I'm a little concerned about the power output. I know it says 50wpc, but those numbers are typically drastically overblown. I wonder what the actual output is on that 24v power brick? Is this a model that we know about here on DIYA? Has anyone done any testing of it? How's the audio quality? How about the build, is it likely to last more than a month?
@thirdicomplex - thanks for the hookup info, thanks exactly what I needed to know. I think an amp like that and a powered sub will pretty much get me there. 🙂
EDIT: Upon a little further checking, it appears to be almost a direct copy of the AIYIMA A09, if that means anything...
EDIT2: Aww... more digging turned up this thread, with a user review by "Mikewill". His comments make it seem like maybe not the best option. However, I do intend to hook mine up with individual channels from my PC sound card. Do we think that will make any difference on the negative points he mentions? Specifically, not being able to control the sub volume? That would really suck, and would make it pretty much useless if the sub stayed low (or high) regardless of where the main volume was set. On the other (other?) hand, once I tune everything, I'll pretty much be setting the master volume on the PC side, so it may not matter. Thoughts?
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