[deltarocket]

I like the idea of a cheap office rig. I'm curious why folks have not considered buying some elements via Craigslist. Frequently people are getting rid of good hardware (things like Klipsch Heresy's) for cheap. I bought a set of used B&W bookshelf speakers for $50. Just a thought. I'm kind of a noon, but I put together a Fatman and the B&W's for less than $200, more than some here are spending but it's a nice rig for my office

 

[cel4145]

Hey,
Thanks for the suggestions. What should I do if I want a headphone output? Is there a way to set it up or just get another sound card with it? I am curious to know are the KEFs speakers any good now? Say the C1 or C3 bookshelves? My dad used to own a few floor standing Kefs and loved them.

You can run headphones off of the D1/DX, and still might sound better than default motherboard audio. Just headophiles generally want something with a headphone amp in it.

Kef C1/C6 is their budget line. Not the same as the Kef speakers that give Kef their reputation (look at the Q series). IMO, the Ascends and the ARX are some of the best speakers you can buy in that price range. They are Internet direct speakers that are an excellent value.

 

[kash55]

Great thread. I've seen a few of you running Fiio Dac's with your setups. I am interested in purchasing a low cost DAC to supplement my system. I am running the Lepai LP-168HA 2.1 ch amp, with Micca MB42x's. Will I benefit from adding a low cost DAC? Does sound quality greatly improve? If so, some recommendations for a DAC would be great!
 
Thanks!

 

[ssandoval83]

To hook this amp up to a sub i would reccomend you get a splitter to go from the 3.5mm to 2x3.5mm and take one jack to the amp and the other to the sub. as for a reccomendation for a subwoofer itself... for less than 150 i would reccomend either the polk audio psw-10, or the sony sa-w2500 (I have the sony)(it was $100usd on amazon when i bought it)
 
 
They're both 10" subwoofers and sound amazing for the price.

 

[ACDOAN]

 
 
Sounds like heaven for the price point in my 14X16 room. I  have also the NeumanKH120, KRK VTx8,MackieHr 824 MK II, Adam Audio F7, Adam audio A8X, JBL lsr 305, lsr308.  
 
I still love my Lepai 2020+ for $19.99 and what it can do. Got 4 of them over a year and still kicking,

 

[rinthe]

so is the new version better than the old one?
 
new http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C2P61FO/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=cheapgeek03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00C2P61FO&adid=1V6MYHWCFQV1K3NT6PYY
 
old http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049P6OTI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AEN8RHDF7RKS6
 
also has anyone tried the lepai + monoprice 8250 combo? Seems like a lot of people think the monoprice 8250 > dayton?

 

[ACDOAN]

 
 
 
 
By 
Martin Lange

 


This review is from: LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply (Electronics)

" This amplifier is shipped with a 12 Volt power supply. If you are somewhat knowledgeable then you can do the math and figure out that given the 12 Volt supply voltage this amp can deliver without an excessive amount of audio distortion:

- 2 x 18 Watts with 4 Ohm speakers, and
- 2 x 9 Watts with 8 Ohm speakers.

If you further look at the current rating of the power supply then you can figure out that in fact the maximum wattage is 2 x 10 Watts regardless of the speaker.

Some other reviewers have suggested swapping the power supply with another one that has higher current to boost the power rating. However, since the supply voltage is fixed it wouldn't help at all if you are driving 8 Ohm speakers. You are still limited to a maximum of 9 Watts. To get more wattage, you'll need to look at another amp. Below I have listed some of the more popular mini amps on Amazon. I have ordered the list according to their cost. You can see the power supply voltage of each amp and the maximum wattage when driving 8 Ohm speakers:

- Lepai LP-2020 ($17): 12 Volts - 2 * 9 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Amphony 200 ($69): 36 Volts - 2 * 20 Watts or 1 * 80 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Topping TP20-MK2 ($70): 14 Volts - 2 * 12 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Dayton Audio DTA-100a ($96): 24 Volts - 2 * 30 Watts @ 8 Ohms

I hope my review will help in your amplifier selection."
 
This review is from another Lepai end-user.
 
All you need is a clean 9/10 watts with a passive pair of decent speaker and a high sensitivity around 88 DB or higher.  In my 14X16 room, with the Mirage Omni 150 ( 88DB) , my normal listening position is between 9 and 10 o'clock on the pot volume of the Lepai,
 
When I feel the need to rock the house, I use my more powerful active pro-monitors.

 

[ACDOAN]

I forget to mention that to double the wattage , it only increases 3 db in SPL. Put in a lay man term, a 200 WPC amp only sounds 3 db louder than the 100 WPC amp.
 
 
 
 
 
http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/jw/dB.htm

 

[ACDOAN]

Another food for thought....
 
 
http://geoffthegreygeek.com/amplifier-power/

 

[rinthe]

I don't know what any of that ohm and wattage means.. im a noob
 
would the monoprice 8520 be a good combo with the lepai or should i stick with dayton? also anyone has experience with the newer version of the LP-2020A+?

 

[seanfisher5]

  I don't know what any of that ohm and wattage means.. im a noob
 
would the monoprice 8520 be a good combo with the lepai or should i stick with dayton? also anyone has experience with the newer version of the LP-2020A+?

Wattage is the power that the speaker receives from the amp. The more power (wattage) the speaker receives, the louder the speakers can play. Volume is also affected by the speaker's listed sensitivity, typically around 85-90 dB for budget speakers. This sensitivity rating is determined by seeing what volume is produced when the speaker is fed 1 Watt of power.
 
Ohms indicate the impedance of the speaker, or how easy it is for the amplifier to drive the speaker. For example, a 2 ohm speaker is very difficult to drive and requires a powerful amplifier in order to drive it, while the conventional 8 ohm speaker is much easier to drive.
 
As for the Monoprice 8250 vs the Dayton B652, I would stick with the proven commodity and go with the Dayton. As far as I can tell, the only difference between the updated Lepai and the old one is that they have changed the power supply. Unsure how it has been affected, but the post above by ACDOAN detailing the review from Martin Lange seems to point this out.
 
If anybody else has additional input/corrections, please go ahead. I'm still learning on the fly about speakers and audio equipment in general.

 

[miyamoto]

Sirs
If I buy this setup 
- Lepai LP-2020 ($17): 12 Volts - 2 * 9 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Amphony 200 ($69): 36 Volts - 2 * 20 Watts or 1 * 80 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Topping TP20-MK2 ($70): 14 Volts - 2 * 12 Watts @ 8 Ohms
- Dayton Audio DTA-100a ($96): 24 Volts - 2 * 30 Watts @ 8 Ohms
 
Would it sound better than a Klipsch Pro media 2.1 to a sound noob?

 

[cel4145]

Sirs
If I buy this setup 
- Lepai LP-2020 ($17): 12 Volts - 2 * 9 Watts @ 8 Ohms

- Amphony 200 ($69): 36 Volts - 2 * 20 Watts or 1 * 80 Watts @ 8 Ohms

- Topping TP20-MK2 ($70): 14 Volts - 2 * 12 Watts @ 8 Ohms

- Dayton Audio DTA-100a ($96): 24 Volts - 2 * 30 Watts @ 8 Ohms

Would it sound better than a Klipsch Pro media 2.1 to a sound noob?

Depends on what speakers you are getting.

 

[miyamoto]

Depends on what speakers you are getting.

OPs setup, Dayton Audio B652 bookshelf speakers with lepai Amp.

 

[cel4145]

Then get the Daytons with the Lepai. If you have more budget to allocate, get better speakers. If you have a lot more budget to allocate, then get better speakers and one of the better amps.

What is your overall budget? $150? (since you mention Klipsch Promedia)