Hello All,

I need some suggestions for a power amp and speakers to use with my 950 in a strictly "computer input only" application.(i.e. computer speakers!).

Since I got my 990 several years ago, the 950 has been collecting dust. I just finished my first computer build and want to give the 950 a new purpose in life. I understand this is gross overkill, but it is better than letting the 950 do nothing, and I will get some super-duper computer speakers!

Hence, I need a decent(non-audiophile) grade amp and speakers.

Or, is this really a stupid idea and I would be much better by buying a decent 2/2.1 system from someone like M Audio, Klipsch, or Logitech?

All suggestions welcome and greatly appreciated...!

Will Kent

Check out some of the computer speakers with a subwoofer. They sound surprisingly good for what they are. The smallest amp Outlaw makes is the 7075 and it is overkill for computer speakers. Your post says a "computer input only" application but we are talking about output of the 950 to an amp and some speakers. As I am sure you are aware, there is no limit to what you can do on the output side.

XenonMan,

Thanks for your reply.....and "upon further review", I think you're right about looking at some of the 2.1 systems made expressly for this application.

Regards,

Will

You could look for a good quality used amp on Ebay or Audiogon and set up a real nice 2.1 system for music using the 950. If you are just looking to give it a job, I am sure you want to save $$$ on amps and speakers and such.

Exactly....

Any particular brands you could recommend? Amp and/or speakers?

What is your budget? Look on Ebay or Audiogon for the type of amp you want. Also look for some decent speakers. To a large extent the amp depends on what speakers your are going to drive with it. Any decent two channel amp will do since the sub is fed from the 950. I did something similar last year with a Sony surround receiver I had laying around. I paired it with some Advent speakers which had also been retired and a 100W KLH sub. I use it for playing my iPod and watching TV at my other home. As far as amps go I would steer towards Yamaha myself because I have always loved their two channel stuff. The older ones are built like tanks. I still have a 45w CA-800 from 1976 which is perfect for 2 channel except it is all manual with no remote anything.

Are you a builder? You can build some nice power amps out of LM3886 chips. www.chipamp.com has kits and there are many more on ebay. I'm using a home made two channel power amp built from a pair of LM3886's myself. As for speakers, check out www.partsexpress.com They usually have some nice 5-7" two way book shelf speakers at low cost. I'm using a pair of Yamaha 5.25" bookshelf speakers I found at Costco on special.

If I were you, I would look at a older 2 channel amp and a pair of paradigm atom speakers. I setup a bang up sound system for my daughter using the atoms and a older yamaha receiver. The atoms are flat to 70hz (+/- 2 db) for about $200.00.

The other daughter wanted logitech computer speakers which cost half as much but sound like crap. Not to mention you would have the 950's tuner and the ability to play material while the computer is offline.