Help a newb - using bookshelf stereo speakers on a PC

So I have this old bookshelf stereo system that is slowly dying, but the speakers work great and sound great. Also, my 2.1 PC speakers are getting crappy (lots of static out of the right speaker). I am wondering is there is some kind of thing I can purchase to connect my bookshelf speakers to the PC directly. I could theoretically do this through the stereo unit, but it's big and bulky and I am moving soon and would rather get rid of it in favor of something smaller and more manageable. However I am pretty much a complete audio n00b.

About the speakers: they connected to the old stereo system via standard speaker wire (not optical), the kind where you put the bare wire into a sort of hole with a clamp on the stereo. Each speaker also has a built-in subwoofer with its own set of cables.

I am assuming I would need some kind of powered amp with 1/8" audio in (to connect to the soundcard) that also supports these wires on the output, with separate connector(s) for the woofers.

Does something like this exist? Would it be feasible/practical to rig something together? Thanks for any ideas in advance!


edit: something like this Lepai amp is exactly what I need, though the reviews are all over the place. Going to see if I can find something comparable as I'm willing to spend a bit more if I know I'm getting something solid.

http://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-168HA-40-Watt-Amplifier-Output/dp/B0070Z87YO

hi... so yeah a t-amp is basically probably about perfect for what you are wanting


the lepai amps tend to have pretty hit or miss QC... with many doa or defective out of the box.


this is the t-amp i have had for about 2yrs~ now..

http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-TA2021B-...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1394511477&sr=1-2&keywords=smsl

cost $60 but much better built than the lepai's and came with a much better 4A powersupply (the lepai's generally come with a crappy 2A psu that can cause noise and generally not have enough power to get teh best sound quality).


recently i have been hearing good things about this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINISHED-Cl...mplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item5d43b3a6dc


basically there are many better built / better in general than those lepai's the lepai's are popular because they are cheap, personally i would (and did) choose a nicer one ..SMSL, Topping , Muse ..are some examples of companies making nicer t-amps than the lepai.

atarione said:

hi... so yeah a t-amp is basically probably about perfect for what you are wanting


the lepai amps tend to have pretty hit or miss QC... with many doa or defective out of the box.


this is the t-amp i have had for about 2yrs~ now..

http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-TA2021B-...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1394511477&sr=1-2&keywords=smsl

cost $60 but much better built than the lepai's and came with a much better 4A powersupply (the lepai's generally come with a crappy 2A psu that can cause noise and generally not have enough power to get teh best sound quality).


recently i have been hearing good things about this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINISHED-Cl...mplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item5d43b3a6dc


basically there are many better built / better in general than those lepai's the lepai's are popular because they are cheap, personally i would (and did) choose a nicer one ..SMSL, Topping , Muse ..are some examples of companies making nicer t-amps than the lepai.

Click to expand...

i'll choose t-amp too this speaker has a smooth detailed sound with detailed Bass

The TPA3116 you listed looks better to me because it has outputs for the woofer. I take it I'd be fine running both woofers into the same output? Otherwise it would sound weird w/ bass only coming out of one side.

hi so on that TPA3116 it is the 3rd output is really for 2.1 (so left /right + sub)

It would be used to connect a passive sub woofer

Ok maybe not a good fit then since these speakers have integrated powered woofers.

what speakers is it you have?

Sharp CP-BA200.

I don't think you'll get good sound out of a t-amp. In fact, I'm certain of it.

The speakers that come with that minisystem are not powered - they are passive. http://files.sharpusa.com/Downloads/ForHome/HomeEntertainment/Audio/Manuals/aud_man_cdba200.pdf

With a bunch of money spent on a receiver and/or minidsp you could get this thing to sound great without using the shelf system. But I think you should keep using the shelf system - its easier and cheaper. If you insist on ditching the shelf system - get new speakers as well. It'll be easier in the long run. Much easier. It'll sound better too.

Ok, I was hoping to make some use of the speakers if at all possible.

The shelf system is just getting pretty shitty - the CD player doesn't work, the radio doesn't work, and the remote almost doesn't work, plus it's fairly large and bulky. I'm moving in a few months and so was thinking of ditching it on my way out of town, but throwing the speakers seemed like a waste.

But if I'm going to spend more than $50 - $75 to make use of them it's really not worth it to me.

Slartibartfast said:

Ok, I was hoping to make some use of the speakers if at all possible.

The shelf system is just getting pretty shitty - the CD player doesn't work, the radio doesn't work, and the remote almost doesn't work, plus it's fairly large and bulky. I'm moving in a few months and so was thinking of ditching it on my way out of town, but throwing the speakers seemed like a waste.

But if I'm going to spend more than $50 - $75 to make use of them it's really not worth it to me.

Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from. I was in the same boat I few years ago - but I was lucky in the sense that my Aiwa speakers only had one set of speaker terminals - so I didn't need to worry about crossovers or anything.

You can try and hook it up to a receiver - but I'm willing to bet it won't have the same bass as it does now. It'll probably sound clearer though.