Computer with Home Audio Systems

mike4polk
mike4polk Posts: 2
Hi everyone. I simply can’t stand this frustration and confusion anymore. So please, hear me out and save my noob **** from this abyss… :S
I will try to explain as clear as I can

It all started from a pair of bookshelf speakers on sale. A month ago I was looking for multimedia speakers for my new laptop but ended up buying this pair of home audio speakers. BTW I came to US about 3 months ago and never used or saw anyone hook up anything using a connection other than 1/8”(3.5mm) plug. So, as you can imagine, I got these speakers and speaker wires without any idea how to connect them to my laptop's 3.5mm jack.

At first I thought it would be fixed if I got the right kind of cable/wire/connector. But after researched my problem I found that it is not recommended to transform speaker wires into a 3.5mm plug. I was later advised to get an amplifier/receiver. So I thought, hmm, so maybe this is a “power” problem, not a wire/connector problem. That was when I started to search for self-powered speakers, hoping that they have the capability to hook up another pair of speakers with their power. And then I discovered the Polk PSW10 subwoofer - it was only $99 on Thanksgiving, and more importantly, it has both the line level (RCA) inputs and speaker wire outputs I need! Problem solved?

Today the PSW10 was delivered so I hooked everything up with a Y-cable (one 3.5mm plug on one side and two RCAs on the other) from my computer to PSW10. Two speaker wires were used to connect the pair of bookshelf speakers to the speaker-out ports on PSW10.
Result: as you might predict, only the subwoofer is working. No sound from the speakers whatsoever.

Question: What should I do?
Computer: Thinkpad T400 Laptop
Audio Chipset: Conexant CX20561 (192 kHz, 24-bit)
O/S: Windows Vista Ultimate
Audio System:
1. Bookshelf Speakers, Sony SS-B1000 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)
EC.SON.SSB1000.JPG
2. Subwoofer, PSW10, 10-inch Powered Subwoofer
82-290-034-11.jpg

Thanks for reading. Any help/suggestion would be appreciated.

Mike
Post edited by mike4polk on

Comments

  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited December 2008
    The subwoofer outputs are only a pass through, no amplification. Buy a cheap stereo receiver, you should be able to find a used one for $20 or less.
  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited December 2008
    The 1/8" output from your computer is a line level signal, which means it is low power and needs to be amplified by a receiver, amplifier, or powered speakers (this is why computer speakers are powered). This output is similar to what you get from a CD or DVD player's RCA jacks.

    The sub has an internal amplifier for the low frequencies it plays, but will not amplify your other speakers.

    You need a receiver/amplifier, or to ditch this whole approach and buy some powered computer speakers.
    5.1 and 2.0 ch Basement Media Room: Outlaw 975/Emotiva DC-1/Rotel RB-1582 MKII/Rotel RB-1552/Audiosource Amp 3/Polk LS90, CS400i, FX500i/Outlaw X-12, LFM-1/JVD DLA-HD250/Da-Lite 100" HCCV/Sony ES BDP/Sonos Connect. DC-1/RB-1582 MKII/Sonos Connect also feed Polk 7C in garage or Dayton IO655 on patio.
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited December 2008
    Sami wrote: »
    The subwoofer outputs are only a pass through, no amplification. Buy a cheap stereo receiver, you should be able to find a used one for $20 or less.

    I agree with sami there is no amplification from a sub. What I have done is gotten a cheap receiver and used that. One time just for kicks i hooked up my ipod directly to my neighbors klipcsh speaker and it sounded great because of how efficient the speakers were but it could work with those bookshelf speakers I have tried it before it worked but just no kick.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
  • mike4polk
    mike4polk Posts: 2
    edited December 2008
    Sami wrote: »
    The subwoofer outputs are only a pass through, no amplification. Buy a cheap stereo receiver, you should be able to find a used one for $20 or less.

    Also to adam2434 and bigaudiofanatic, thanks very much for your advice!

    So I just need to use the Y-adapter to output my computer's signal to a stereo receiver's audio-in, and use the receiver's speaker-out to connect the bookshelf speakers, right?

    I am considering buying the following model for $20:

    Sony AVD-K600P


    X589.jpg

    Will it work?
  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited December 2008
    mike4polk wrote: »
    Sony AVD-K600P
    Will it work?

    That's a surround receiver sold in a HTIB package. It will probably work as it seems to have one L/R audio input. Your laptop doesn't have optical so using the digital is not an option. I don't think that's the best option for a receiver but if it is the only one you can find in the price range, it will most likely work.
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2008
    not sure where you live.. but you may want to look at Craigslist in your area for a used stereo receiver. that most likely will give you some pretty decent sound.
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