[Laundrew]

Greetings...

The room renovations are proceeding well and have the dropped ceiling framework all roughed in. This would be a great time to install a couple of ceiling speakers and this will enable me to have a much cleaner installation for my computer audio compared to having separate computer speakers on my desk. Can anyone recommend a good two channel audio amplifier for this application - not looking for a high powered amp or anything exotic.

Be well...

[wilsonij]

You may be thinking of something at a whole other level of quality, but I do all my audio mixing with both windows and macOSX using active monitors and have found that, once you've 'corrected' the room acoustics they take a lot of beating.

Even if they're not what you end up buying, I'd suggest something as cheap/simple as the MAudio AV40's are a handy way of 'setting the quality bar' as it were.

Hope that helps...

[Napalm]

how many channels, and are you sure you'll like sound coming from above?

[Laundrew]

how many channels, and are you sure you'll like sound coming from above?

Only two channel and basically to listen to iTunes, YouTube and video games. The main reason as I mentioned was to get away from computer speakers on my desk and all the interconnections. As you can see by the photo, it will be very simple to run all of my audio wires inside of the walls/ceiling at this time. If anyone can offer other suggestions I would be most happy to hear them.

@ wilsonij - thanks and will have a look at them.

Notice the "roughed-in" 1250 plus built-in CD storage rack on the left 



Be well...

[Napalm]

If you have nothing against class D amplifiers, may I suggest this one, it has the proper styling for your taste and will spare you from wanting to add a separate DAC too:

http://audio.teac.com/product/ai-501da/

 

[Napalm]

As an alternate setup, if you're gonna build your desk yourself, how about cutting a pair of holes into it and burying two car speakers inside..... then do all the wiring / powering under the desk too..... i'm suggesting "car" as some of them are made for a slanted tweeter  throw... you can direct them towards the seat....

[PRELUDE]

Greetings...

The room renovations are proceeding well and have the dropped ceiling framework all roughed in. This would be a great time to install a couple of ceiling speakers and this will enable me to have a much cleaner installation for my computer audio compared to having separate computer speakers on my desk. Can anyone recommend a good two channel audio amplifier for this application - not looking for a high powered amp or anything exotic.

Be well...

Take a look at this.
http://centrance.com/products/audiophiledesktop/

[LSfromBC]

  what a coincidence.....i just hooked up my pc to my denon home theater receiver.

i plug my ipod into my computer, then plug my computer into the video aux. on the denon avr891 receiver with an hdmi cord.......i gotta tell you it sounds like crap. i dont know what i am doing, is this the right way to hook up a computer to my home theater system?

please help.....thx

[Laundrew]

As an alternate setup, if you're gonna build your desk yourself, how about cutting a pair of holes into it and burying two car speakers inside..... then do all the wiring / powering under the desk too..... i'm suggesting "car" as some of them are made for a slanted tweeter  throw... you can direct them towards the seat....

Greetings Nap,

Desk making is definitely out of my skill set for now and my librarians desk does not offer much room for speakers.



Be well...

[Scottdazzle]

Laundrew, it would be a good idea to run your power lines away from all of your other cables.  It looks like you're on your way to a very nice room.

[Napalm]

Laundrew the desk is just perfect I would install a couple of smaller drivers in 2 of those compartments, and a woofer under the desk. Most computers have the ability to output 2.1 (stereo + sub) so you're done. And that desk offers plenty of concealed cabling opportunities....

I'd still use car speakers and cut some front baffles for them myself - to hold them tight and sealed into those compartments, add some sound absorbing material inside and voila nice sealed enclosures.

[alexone]

Laundrew, don't you have a TEAC player that does DSD?? if yes, the 501 series by TEAC seem to be interesting?!?!?

al.

[Laundrew]

Laundrew, it would be a good idea to run your power lines away from all of your other cables.  It looks like you're on your way to a very nice room.

Thanks for the compliment Scottdazzle and I am glad that you mentioned the separation issue - it never crossed my mind until you brought it up 

Laundrew the desk is just perfect I would install a couple of smaller drivers in 2 of those compartments, and a woofer under the desk. Most computers have the ability to output 2.1 (stereo + sub) so you're done. And that desk offers plenty of concealed cabling opportunities....

I'd still use car speakers and cut some front baffles for them myself - to hold them tight and sealed into those compartments, add some sound absorbing material inside and voila nice sealed enclosures.

Hi Nap,

Interesting suggestion but I can't bring myself to modify my desk as I am a "stickler" for originality, after all it is 100 years old 

Be well...

[Napalm]

Interesting suggestion but I can't bring myself to modify my desk as I am a "stickler" for originality, after all it is 100 years old 

Then I'll stick to my initial suggestion on the Teac amp, would go just perfect with that desk, check the size if it fits in one of the larger compartments it would be  , being class D it won't produce much heat either so I personally can't see any better fit unless you would be looking at some vintage gear but then those tend to be quite large in size.

[Laundrew]

Then I'll stick to my initial suggestion on the Teac amp, would go just perfect with that desk, check the size if it fits in one of the larger compartments it would be  , being class D it won't produce much heat either so I personally can't see any better fit unless you would be looking at some vintage gear but then those tend to be quite large in size.

Looks interesting Nap - YouTube is awesome 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvevR5SKw5M

Be well...

[Laundrew]

$200.00 option....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Bm2d8AD6s

Never thought of wireless...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0arvsR3e-8

Be well...

[Napalm]

Never thought of wireless...

If your computer has Bluetooth you don't even need an adapter, google for "bluetooth speakers".

[ec]

I know this is the Bryston forum with that said, here is what I would recommend to meet your requirements:
- clean looking space: hidden speakers, audio components
- excellent sound given the above,
- relatively easy on the wallet

Speakers - high quality in walls (vs in ceilings) with paintable grills.  If you want some bottom end: Substage 100 subwoofer  I used previously (sitting its box now)

Amp(s):
- used Sonic T amp  (if listening at low levels only) $20 - $40.  If you take off the cover, the amp itself less the external power supply is smaller than a small cell phone.
- Parasound Z amp - a "real" solid state amp (class A/B) eg not digital switching in a very small package.  I have two for auxillary systems (both unused currently).  Highly versitle: headphone output, can be daisy chained (line level), variable gain (at the back), 12V triggers

[Stu Pitt]

As crazy as this sounds...

How about Sonos powered speakers?  Put them pretty much anywhere you want (within an outlet's reach), and have as many as you want.  I haven't heard the powered speakers, but I've heard the powered amp.  Very good for a non-Hifi brand IMO.

I'd go in-wall speakers over in-ceiling, but that's just me.  Especially if the ceiling is a drop ceiling. 

[mkaiser]

I know this is the Bryston forum with that said, here is what I would recommend to meet your requirements:
- clean looking space: hidden speakers, audio components
- excellent sound given the above,
- relatively easy on the wallet

Speakers - high quality in walls (vs in ceilings) with paintable grills.  If you want some bottom end: Substage 100 subwoofer  I used previously (sitting its box now)

Amp(s):
- used Sonic T amp  (if listening at low levels only) $20 - $40.  If you take off the cover, the amp itself less the external power supply is smaller than a small cell phone.
- Parasound Z amp - a "real" solid state amp (class A/B) eg not digital switching in a very small package.  I have two for auxillary systems (both unused currently).  Highly versitle: headphone output, can be daisy chained (line level), variable gain (at the back), 12V triggers

I like you're not so subtle hints in brackets of your system you are describing.