Minor Audio Trouble

[TDMiles]

Need some advice on how to progress. I have my desktop PC sending audio to the red/white audio-in ports on a Philips FW-C1 stereo using a 3.5mm to RCA cable. This has worked great for years but occasionally audio will cut out in one speaker, especially when audio peaks. I switched which speaker plugs into which ports on the back of the stereo and it's always the speaker plugged into the 'left' port so to me that rules out the speakers being the issue. So my question; Is there any easy way to keep the bookshelf speakers I'm already using and replace the stereo itself with something else? Just between you & me I am poor so just buying a whole new killer stereo system is difficult. Is there some device that I can connect everything together to keep using my speakers with my PC?

 

[hat]

You could always get a different receiver. If you want to do it on the cheap, try flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, or your local Craigslist... something may turn up.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

You want an amp similar to that of what they use for cars.

I can highly recommend LEPY 2024A Plus. I bought one for my dad to run a pair of old bookshelf speakers on his PC and it works fantastically. It is an analogue option though.

Alternatively, there is this brand called NobSound whose products have had many positive reviews. Its pretty much an external DAC that hooks up to your PC via USB. -- I think NobSound do make analogue versions too but its been a while since i checked.

So take your pick really. They do make other cheaper and more expensive units. One of the NobSounds support bluetooth 5.0 too so you can stream to your speakers directly from your mobile or tablet etc etc.

Youtube helped me a lot in my research when looking but eventually i went for the LEPY

 

[TDMiles]

Awesome, the LEPY looks like a good solution. Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[timta2]

Make sure you check the impedance of the speakers, before hooking them up to anything else. Some of those systems use some real oddball speaker loads. You can probably find much better used replacement speakers for next to nothing locally.

edit: it looks like that amplifier is 4.5 watts at 3 ohms. https://www.cnet.com/products/philips-fwc1-mini-system/

 

[TDMiles]

Make sure you check the impedance of the speakers, before hooking them up to anything else. Some of those systems use some real oddball speaker loads. You can probably find much better used replacement speakers for next to nothing locally.

edit: it looks like that amplifier is 4.5 watts at 3 ohms. https://www.cnet.com/products/philips-fwc1-mini-system/

Yeah the cnet page seems correct. The sticker on the back of the speakers themselves say 'IMPEDANCE 3 OHM' so anything that allows for 3 ohms should be okay, right?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

In that case i wouldn't risk it. Better off asking family members if they've got any old set of Hifi speakers lying around. More often than not, they will do but even if they dont. They arent very expensive to buy pre-owned anyway. Just have a poke around some carboot sales or second hand Bric-à-brac shops

ALternatively....

Edifier R1000T4 Active 2.0

falls within what youre looking for also. It does cost more than the LEPY but you do get a pair of decent speakers and you can hook it up to your PC too without any amp inbetween so its less of a headache to set up and get running.

No need to worry about watts and ohms etc etc

 

[TDMiles]

What happens if I plug the 3 ohms speakers into a mini-amp that says it supports 4-8 ohms? Does the amp overheat?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

My understanding is that it could possibly overload the power circuits and blow out the amp but at the same time it could still work providing you dont crank volume of the speakers up too high. In the amazon reviews/questions one guy used it in his car to power his 3 ohm speakers. The guy didnt come back and say he blew it up so im guessing it probably worked.

 

[CityCultivator]

Low impedence speakers on amplifiers designed for higher rated impedence amplifier acts somewhat as a short-circuit to the amplifier. Thus overheat and reduced device lifetime.