If people still have desktop PCs they play music at...
...wondering what people are doing for their speakers coming off computer audio?
I have a Winsome Labs amplifier going to a pair of ORB speakers. Works ok, I generally like it for casual listening, but just using the 1/8" audio out of the PC, seems like USB out will give cleaner sound, but I'd have to buy a different amplifier. I do hear a lot of I guess it is electrical interference noise when the speakers are on, but there is no audio on. Supposedly a USB out will clean this up? Also wanted to add a subwoofer, ORB has a system for that, but not sure I like or want their amp.
I spent a bit of time online looking at USA built DACs, preamps and small amplifiers tonight, man there are a ton out there with prices from kinda cheap to oh wow!
Anyway, wondering what your set ups are like and how I might change mine.
https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-certified-computer-speaker
I bought this Klipsch three computer speaker set including subwoofer a year ago on sale at Costco for $119.99. As you can see the Klipsch price is only $10 more. I am VERY happy with these, a very big room-filling 260W sound with plenty of bass. I think $129.99 is an incredible price for these. One disclaimer: This is a wired system so if you are looking for Bluetooth this is not the system for you. I wanted wired because I have two laptops and I use these speakers with both. The old laptop is not Bluetooth compatible. FYI, the two smaller speakers both have a mid-range speaker and a tweeter. And there are separate volume controls for the subwoofer and the mid-range/tweeters.
FYI I looked at Costco.com and apparently they no longer carry these. Just go to the Klipsch link above if interested.
I saw that Klipsch speaker set recommended online and I'm sure it is really good. It is what I should maybe upgrade too, but I tend to make things more complicated than they need to be...like buying stuff made in USA. I got the USA speakers and USA amp, but not sure I can get a small USA subwoofer.
I talked to one of the owners at ORB speakers the other day. He told me their mini-amp is Taiwan and they have limited quantities left because they don't have enough of an order to have them do another production run. They only sell that in the kit now with the speakers, not by itself to maintain enough stock to satisfy the orders they get for the kit.
He did recommend a company which makes some really cheap mini-amps, a company SMSL. They are on Amazon. He said that is who they might approach to make their mini-amp for them next time. There is a little SMSL 25W guy for $51.99 by them and they have one with a sub-out that is 80W for $92.99. But those are imported obviously.
I could just wire the sub with speaker wire out of the amp I have and then run speaker wire back to the left/right ORBs...? Some subs have that wiring configuration option.
One cool thing I have found while researching this are A LOT of niche USA assembled and made electronic companies making amps and specialty products like headphone amps and component switchers, equalizers and media streamers. Prices for most are quite high, naturally.
But then there are companies like https://www.schiit.com or https://jdslabs.com/ which offer some really affordable USA units. I bookmarked 15 USA built audio equipment companies most of which I did not know existed. That was cool to see.
