[dagrish]

Hi guys,
 
It's been awhile since I've been on the site (read a lot about headphones awhile back, now I'm comfortable with HD598s and Amperiors) but I have a computer speaker inquiry. Let me know if I've posted this in the wrong place and I can move it.
 
I have a Polk Audio sub that I want to use, but no smaller speakers for mids/treble. I thought I'd get a pair of just the satellites from this Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 set without the subwoofer and try to combine my sub with those. I saw on one of the reviews on that Amazon page, though, that the Klipsch satellites are powered by the subwoofer that comes with them. I'm not entirely sure how connections/power work when it comes to these systems, so I'm wondering if I'll be able to connect these satellites to my sub without many/any issues. I know people like to customize their setups with various parts, I just haven't gone very far beyond headphones (no amps) and wonder if this is a case that either wouldn't work or would take some electrical engineering knowledge on my part.
 
Hopefully this isn't too specific of a question, thanks in advance for any help!
 
Edit: Here's a picture of the satellites from the back, it looks like there's only one place for a connection on either speaker. So I'm thinking that I could split the audio signal out of my source (just my laptop for now, but it's proven to be fairly powerful in the past) and send one pair (L/R) of outputs into these satellites, and the other pair into the sub. I suppose 'powering' the speakers could just mean sending them a signal, similar to passive headphones. Hope this helps.

 

[PurpleAngel]

You might consider getting some passive Pioneer (model 22) or Dayton Audio (B652-AIR) speakers and simple amplifier (Lepai?)
They can work with your Polk Audio sub-woofer.
Parts-Express sells the speakers and amplifier(s).

 

[cel4145]

Right. The satellites with the Promedia 2.1 are designed to be connected to the Promedia subwoofer which has an amplifier specifically built in for them.

 

[dagrish]

Thanks for the replies, guys.
 
@PurpleAngel, the Pioneer speakers may be a bit out of my price range for what I'm looking for right now, but I'll consider them and see if there are any used sets on Ebay. The Dayton's are good on price, though one review claims they're a bit weak in the mids (and I'd rather have strong mids/treble and weaker bass if anything, since I have the sub already). Maybe that person had a bad pair or just misjudged them, though.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thanks for the replies, guys.
 
@PurpleAngel, the Pioneer speakers may be a bit out of my price range for what I'm looking for right now, but I'll consider them and see if there are any used sets on Ebay. The Dayton's are good on price, though one review claims they're a bit weak in the mids (and I'd rather have strong mids/treble and weaker bass if anything, since I have the sub already). Maybe that person had a bad pair or just misjudged them, though.

 
The Dayton Audio speaker's woofer will have an easier job if the sub-woofer takes over the really low end.

 

[cel4145]

These Miccas are generally considered a step up from the Daytons, but cheaper than the Pioneers: http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B00E7H8GG2/.

 

[dagrish]

@PurpleAngel that's a good point, I'll keep that in mind while deciding.
 
@cel4145 sounds like a good trade-off, thanks man!
 
If you guys don't mind explaining, how exactly do you know whether a set of speakers would work with a particular sub? Just looking at the input/output options of each, or ?

 

[cel4145]

Most passive speakers bookshelf speakers meant to hook up to a receiver or amp will be fine with most home audio subs meant to be hooked up to a receiver or amp.

 

[cel4145]

I realized one thing I said might be confusing above. Home audio subs that have their own powered amps that are meant to be hooked up to a separate amp or receiver, such as the Polk PSW10. Most home audio subs have their own amplifiers.

 

[dagrish]

Gotcha, thanks cel! I ended up going with the Miccas, thanks for the help @PurpleAngel and @cel4145. I'll have to look into amps now too, I suppose.

 

[dagrish]

All right guys, so the speakers should be here tomorrow but I have yet to choose and purchase an amplifier.
 
Any recommendations for this are welcome, I still have to figure out how to tell whether an amp will sufficiently power my speakers. But if you guys have any suggestions that I can use to start my search, they would be much appreciated. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

Check the website Parts-Express, for an amp.
https://www.parts-express.com/cat/home-audio-amplifiers/106

 

[cel4145]

All right guys, so the speakers should be here tomorrow but I have yet to choose and purchase an amplifier.

Any recommendations for this are welcome, I still have to figure out how to tell whether an amp will sufficiently power my speakers. But if you guys have any suggestions that I can use to start my search, they would be much appreciated. 

Yeah. Not much fun to have new speakers if you can't power them.

What is your amp budget?

Have you tried your local Craiglist for a used stereo or audio/video receiver? That's usually the best price performance value. What city/state do you live in? I could look.

 

[dagrish]

Yeah. Not much fun to have new speakers if you can't power them.

What is your amp budget?

Have you tried your local Craiglist for a used stereo or audio/video receiver? That's usually the best price performance value. What city/state do you live in? I could look.

I'm thinking around $100 or less, could go a bit higher if I was getting a significant increase in quality though.
 
I live near Denver, so anywhere around that area/Boulder would work. I'll look on Craigslist, if you do as well let me know what you think looks good. Thanks man!

 

[cel4145]

All kinds of good stuff. Here are a few I saw:

https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5151178374.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5156588067.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5140537998.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5137400768.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5139263886.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/5130607250.html

Stick to Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Harman Kardon, Pioneer, and Marantz, and you would have plenty to choose from. I didn't list Sony because some of their older stuff is good; some not so much. Some older Kenwood stuff is good (I just don't know enough about the models).