Passive speakers and amp for beginner

[cctaylor88]

I'm currently using a Logitech all in one speaker setup and need to advance the system. I'm sure its all very simple to audio veterans but to someone who has never setup a "passive" system I want to make sure I purchase everything correctly so I have no headaches during initial setup. That is where you come in.


I want to start super basic, most likely with a pair of passive speakers and an amp to get the job done. I want to make sure I purchase all of the required cables. Ideally, I would like to make this as simple as possible so I'd like to utilize banana tips on the wires. Now, besides the wires (red/black right?) that go from the speakers to the amp... the amp will have some RCA (red/white) connections right? Where does the other end of that go... I'm assuming somewhere on my PC. My PC doesn't have a "sound card" or anything of that nature, is this an issue? So it goes speaker (red/black) to amp and then amp to computer I'm assuming... but where? I'd love to have an amp with a headphone jack, is this possible on a budget or am I looking at $200+ amps only for this feature?

TL;dr - I'd like a simple setup consisting of passive speakers and an amp, utilizing banana tips if possible, and ideally an amp with a headphone jack that is budget friendly, would also like to know where the RCA cables on the amp connect to. Anything else I need to purchase?

 

[razel]

BASIC:

1. RCA L/R (white/red) coming out of your sound card (line out) to the amp.
2. Amp speaker level to the passive speakers.

That RCA line-level out depending on the sound card can be the headphone jack. It does automagically switch to line-level off my laptop. That's it. Don't use banana plugs if the passive speaker has binding posts. Use raw wires there... that's why they use the word, 'binding.'

 

[sdifox]

What speakers are you buying? Most computers have built in soundcards.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Long-term, do you want a 5.1 setup? If yes, you want to get a cheap 5.1 receiver ($200-300) not just a 2-channel amplifier.

 

[sdifox]

Long-term, do you want a 5.1 setup? If yes, you want to get a cheap 5.1 receiver ($200-300) not just a 2-channel amplifier.

Or start with a cheap t amp

 

[DaveSimmons]

Or a $20 receiver from a thrift store, though that's a bit of a gamble without a warranty.

 

[Coldfusion]

If you don't have a sound card you'll need a DAC to go from USB -> RCA.

Your amp will have an RCA input and speaker outs.

You can get away with just speaker wire. Or you can get finished cables from a place like blue jeans cable. Don't under any circumstance get Monster Cable.

I'd recommend getting something like this if your budget allows it:
https://emotiva.com/product/ta-100/

It'll hold its value well and sound good.