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Sound Systems

All Acting Regiment

16:20 / 15.01.08

So this is what I've got at the moment:

*Computer full of nice (and legal) MP3s but with a royally fucked CD drive that either doesn't rip or play, or starts ripping but what you get is just white noise.

*Ipod, but the cable to attatch it to the computer is broken so can't charge or do anything at all with it.

*Extra Ipod speakers - very nice and loud, work on the computer, but NO BASS. Cost a quid, though.

*Headphones.

*Musical instrument Amplifier - peavey, some small wattage.

*Small battery-powered radio. Not sure why I put it on the list, but it's quite nice.

Now then - what I'm interested to know is:

*Can you buy replacement cables to go between the Ipod and the computer?
*Is there any way I can connect the computer to the amp? It takes big chunky guitar leads while computer only has little headphone sockets and USB holes.
*Can you get anything that plays CDs and MP3s - not a personal player, a thing to fill the room with music with?

Do you have any particular sound system things you'd reccomend?

Feel free also to talk about this beyond my immediate whines for help.

Disco is My Class War

16:39 / 15.01.08

I'm pretty sure you can get replacement iPod cables at any Mac shop. They might charge a fair whack for it (I just replaced my iPod earphones and was shocked at the price... I'll be making sure I don't lose them again.)

And for the amp, does it have any RCA cable jacks? RCA cables split into a red plug and a white plug, like on the back of a stereo amp. Because you can get RCA-3mm adaptor cords, very easily. The 3mm end plugs into your computer output, and the RCA end goes into your amp. If you've only got the chunky guitar lead input on the amp, you might be able to buy a little adaptor with an end to plug the 3mm cord into and a chunky plug (don't know the scientific name, sorry) at the other end.

If I were you, I would buy a decent pair of big old speakers and an amp on Ebay. Marantz amps are lovely.

16:41 / 15.01.08

You can get all sorts of adapters for all sorts of auido cables. Where are you based?

You'll need either a phono (red and white) to jack (guitar), or a minijack to jack. you can also get a converter, so that you can turn your jack into a minijack.

Your amp is likely mono though, and will also be set up to handle a guitar(bass/keyboard/etc) signal.
This basically means imperfect reproduction of the sound (sometimes better, though...) and also that you will fuck your amp over time.

It also means you need a cable that goes from phono to mono jack. If it's not converting the left and right to one signal you will lose one half of the track, and that will kill most songs dead.

16:47 / 15.01.08

What in and out holes does your PC have?

Sorta what I was talking about:

Also potentially of use:

And these are always handy:

Stereo pictured; a single line around the tip is mono.

16:52 / 15.01.08

If I were you, I would buy a decent pair of big old speakers and an amp on Ebay. Marantz amps are lovely.

I'd be inclined to agree. An amp might not be as good for your needs as powered monitor speakers, though. They're speakers that include an amp, also called 'active'.

Like these ones.

16:56 / 15.01.08

I use these ones, but then I use them for DJing and my MPC as well. You may not need that much power, however nice it sounds.

All Acting Regiment

16:41 / 16.01.08

Cheers guys.