I have a DAC, do I need a stereo?

If you move to hifi stuff you would need an external amplifier/receiver if paired with passive bookshelf speakers. If you went active monitors the amp is inbuilt into the speakers How you hook up a sub would depend on what sort of input/output are on it i suppose Well do elaborate what you need most out of the upgrade and its main area of use like music/movies/games and which part of the world u from cos some stuff are either unavailable or kills your wallet due to shipping 

Edited by trog - 8/16/11 at 9:00am

Well how big is your room and/or your listening position from these proposed speakers? You didn't mention a budget but i would think $350 sub for smallish room is not really needed hehe

You're running self-powered computer speakers. They have an amp inside.

If you want to run non-powered speakers, you still need an amp.

For amplification, your least expensive option is a used receiver. A receiver has a preamp, power amp and a radio tuner inside. Some have a phonostage, which you must have for a turntable.

You can buy an integrated amp. That is a preamp and a power amp in one box.

You can also buy a separate preamp and power amp and connect them.

You would connect the DAC to an input on one of the above and non-powered speakers to the speaker taps.

I wouldn't bother upgrading or tweaking computer speakers. I haven't heard any that sound good. A subwoofer wouldn't help, since it only covers frequencies from 20Hz-200Hz or so. That wouldn't improve anything from 200Hz-20kHz.

My recommendation is to buy an old receiver from a thrift store or Craigslist. There are many good ones, but I like Marantz, NAD and Adcom for value and reliability. Don't get hung up on Watts or various specs. Anything with 20W or more should be fine for average speakers. For inexpensive, good, speakers, I like the PSB Alpha B1. About $220 a pair.

Ya i always love the used amp/receiver route as that frees up more funds for the meat and potatoes i.e as good a pair of speakers one could buy with any budget  Cutting corners/compromising here would only mean regrets later 

Edited by trog - 8/19/11 at 1:58am

The AE A5's are amazingly good.  I had a sub connected with mine too but sent it back since it didn't add anything.

For receivers, I like NAD, Marantz and Adcom. You'll find plenty at Audiogon. If you want to spend a little more, you'll find good ones from Creek, Rega and Rotel.

As for inexpensive speakers, look at the kits from Madisound and Parts Express. Some come with cabinets and pre-built cabinets. Assembly is no worse than a desk from Ikea.

Inrecommend going the receiver and unpowered speakers route. It gives you a lot more flexibility. Powered speakers can only be connected to a computer. A receiver will let you add a turntable, CD player, or anything else you want. If you want to upgrade your speakers later, you can.

I recommend the receiver/passive speaker combo as well. Craigslists is a very good when it comes to finding receivers at a bargain, just make sure that you look for what you need, in other words, anything with an HDMI input will probably be $100 more than what you need, use that extra cash for speakers. 

I love these "blank slate" newby questions like this. I wish I was back there, in alot of ways....not all wound up in OCD land with not end!..anyway thats my issue..

 

Well... You are the lucky winner! Today, in the 21st century, we have many options for the financially and snobishly limited. Here's where I would go...First. Look at Class D for your power. You can start with Class T, or bite off a bigger chunk of power with some of the ICE chips. I personally love the Tripath chips. Ok.. now my pulse is gettin a bit high here..Go to BASH amps for the sub.. Again class D. If you really want to get crazy = like me. Buy some mini maggies _ MMG's. You will be hooked, big time. Sorry!

 Sure John - I assume you dont understand about amplifier classes?

 

There are Class A, B, A/B, D, H, T, G and Tube A, A/B. In solid state amps the history (in audiophile grade amps) has largely been expensive Class A and A/B. Class D has been around for a long time, but NOW there is a huge influx of Class D in the forms of various "chip amps" that take this class up several notches. Class T, H, G are part of Class D. These are "switching" amps sometimes referred (wrongly) as "digital" amps.

 

These amps have a very desirable sound quality and are VERY cheap. Some very high end (expensive) amps are designed around these chips (Bel Canto, Spectron, Cary, Nu-Force, Wyrd4sound etc.). In affordable T-amps there is Winsome Labs Mouse etc. These amps are reviewed to sound very clean, quiet background, low distortion, quick, detailed, if not on occasion a bit "clinical" (on the cool side).

 

The point is, its very easy to gain entry into these types of amps.

 

Now, if you dont understand the insane "obsessive compulsive", and often ridiculous pursuit of the "audiophile", consider yourself lucky.