S3_Scot Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 I want to get a new amp to plug my computer into so just standard stuff. I've got about £150 - £200 and it must have at least 200W output and a remote. Also, can you do a bluetooth connection type thing with an amp? (don't want to have to leave my bed! ) Any advice/reccomendations much appriciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonsko Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 A Cambridge Audio amp from Richer sounds should fit the bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark88 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 At least 200 watts? Doubt you'll find one of those for £200, why do you need so much power? Also, I don't think any amps have bluetooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 i have 2 studio monitors as speakers. 100 w each so i presume i need 200w output? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Nope - no need to match the power output of amps to speakers. You'd never really need 200w anyway. If you put that into your speakers you'd be pushing them to their limit anyway and would probably notice. Unless you need big volume then something around 1/4 of that would be fine for most people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 ok so i need a 100w amp and richar sounds is the place to go. there are NO bluetooth amps in the whole word? ?any adaptors or the like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 The only bluetooth "amps" I've seen are integrated with speakers in the form of iPod/mp3 player docking station type things. There is also a Sony mini system that can stream audio via bluetooth from a phone for example (I read a review of it and they said it was quite good for what it was) but the Cambridge amp and cables will beat it for quality, I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Here you go, the Sony CMT-U1BT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Nearly bought one of those for hooking up my laptop and replacing our system in the lounge but decided it was not much more than a toy. Ended up just buying some cables in the end. Nice looking piece of kit though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ok so i need a 100w amp and richar sounds is the place to go. there are NO bluetooth amps in the whole word? ?any adaptors or the like? [/ QUOTE ] Wattage means sod all. You need an amp that can drive your speakers with out causing them to clip/distort, a decent 20w amp that has an excellent transformer will do this far better than a 200w amp with a transformer that isn't up to the job. For the money I would look on Ebay, you can get a nice Cyrus amp with remote for this money that was an excellent buy at £700 new. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cyrus-7-Amplifier-...1QQcmdZViewItem A Quad 77 amp can be picked up for under £200 and these are awesome. These things go loud when needed, and when you are listening at normal levels they have a massive sound stage that you just can't get from a new £300 amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 hmm.. looks good, but don't need the speakers & need more power. cheers for the link though i'll just resign myself to a 'standard' amp and hook up with cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonsko Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Make sure you get some half decent cables. £2.50/m plus should do you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Do Richer Sounds still sell Cable Talk speaker cable, thats pretty good stuff for a budget cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 allways get good cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark88 Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 I'd get a Onkyo CR-515DAB http://www.hifigear.co.uk/site/scripts/product_browse.php?product_id=2495&category_id=388 Amp, CD player and DAB radio. It has a digital input as well which virtually no other stereo amps have, especially at this price. I wouldn't be concerned about wattage. I have 2 amps, both less than 40watts and neither of them get turned up past 15-20% volume. I have 100watt speakers hooked up to them as well. Virtually any amp you can buy will have enough power so don't get hung up on the wattage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 do you think that this http://ucables.com/ref/A2DP-BLUETOOTH will work with my set up or is it ust for mobiles? (my set up): Laptop-Amp-Speakers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark88 Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Why are you going the bluetooth route? I don't get it. If you want to stream music from your laptop to your HiFi then bluetooth isn't the way to go at all. You really need something like a Squeezebox or Apple Air Tunes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 [ QUOTE ] do you think that this http://ucables.com/ref/A2DP-BLUETOOTH will work with my set up or is it ust for mobiles? (my set up): Laptop-Amp-Speakers [/ QUOTE ] As long as your laptop offers a A2DP bluetooth profile, then yes. Not sure what kind of quality it will offer though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 looking at it more, it looks like long cables are the way forward. quite suprised that there arn't more laptop/ipod bluetooth adaptors for sterios though so i need a 40 - 50 w amp and i'll get fat tunes out of it or just mediumweight tunes? Ps. cheers for all the help so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 [ QUOTE ] quite suprised that there arn't more laptop/ipod bluetooth adaptors for sterios though [/ QUOTE ] No market for them! Most people just connect amplified speakers to their PC's soundcard. And, if you're serious about digital audio/video, you'll be running a media server of some form, streaming across a wired network to your TV and hifi. [ QUOTE ] so i need a 40 - 50 w amp and i'll get fat tunes out of it or just mediumweight tunes? [/ QUOTE ] That will depend on the amp and your speakers. The Cambridge amp is a good cheap amp. So, the rest is down to the qulaity of your speakers. Remember as in the watts, more or bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. [ QUOTE ] Ps. cheers for all the help so far [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark88 Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 They're aren't bluetooth adaptors because BT is like 3mbps and pretty unreliable(IMO). Compared to 802.11g wifi which is 54mbps. I already mentioned Air Tunes, Squeezebox which are much better ways to stream music. Also, as people already mentioned forget about wattage. It's really not important, especially for a bedroom. It's like buying a car because it has the biggest spoiler thinking it will go faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 just re read the whole thread in full & have missed some posts for some reason right a few more questions re. wattage. so i don't need to match the speaker wattage to the amp wattage but what do i need to check to make sure everything is ok? are valves better than transducers? it is a bedroom system, but it will be used outside etc from time to time and i need fat tunes from it. so will £150-£200 be enough for this? the speakers cost £1000 5 years ago, getting them in august from a hip hop shop and they sound amazing (but his system cost £5k ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 ps. given up on bluetooth - looks too unreliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3_Scot Posted August 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 that quad 77 looks nice i don't like ebay though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 OK, then check out www.hififorsale.com Some good gear on there, search for Cyrus, Audiolab, Arcam, Quad, Naim, Linn. Some of these 2 channel amps are being sold off for peanuts as the guys are moving to multi channel systems. The Cyrus III, IV and VII are stunning little amps, very loud when needed with a bass slam on it that will beat every £500 amp on the market at the moment. You can look at Valves if you want a warmer sound, but you need efficient speakers and they are not loud and tend to be a bit pricey, I have a Unico for my PC, I do quite a bit of music stuff on it, which is a hybrid, valve pre amp stage and solid state power amp stage. Very neautral amp and never sounds harsh even when driven very hard!! http://www.salisburyhifi.co.uk/website/unison/unison-unico.htm But you are getting a bit more expensive, even when used. The new Pioneer 2 channel amps are really nice sounding, very open and detailed and not silly money either, worth looking at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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