Standalone Amplifiers for PC, Video, DVD

[m0nty]

I wonder if anyone can help with this one:

 

The nice people from the cable testing company visited a couple of weeks ago, and failed all the amplifiers in one of our teaching blocks, eight classrooms in total. I can see why -- no earth on the cable, which runs into the case at 240V, and no external sheath on the wires. I was going to argue with them, but they have a point (despite these have passed in previous years ...)

 

Finding a suitable replacement is proving more difficult than I thought it would. Hills Components, Maplin, eBuyer, eBay, etc, don't have amplifiers, or do have them but they're too big or expensive or whatever.

 

I've attached photos of the sort of thing I'm after, but anything with multiple phono inputs and speaker output would be great. Please recommend a supplier if you know where I can get these or something similar.

 

(BTW, pics are of the "safe" units, not the failed ones. The OR.M units are fairly nifty and I'd buy more if I could track them down.)

 

--

Simon

[Michael]

Have a search for a Vision AV-1301 Amplifier. I've used loads of these no problems You can buy them from lots of places with or without speakers.

[m0nty]

How about something like the Vision AV-1301 Stereo AMP?

 

Thanks for the response, and to Michael as well. The problem with that unit is it's 42cm long which is a bit too long -- we have a space about 20cm or so to fit these. Sorry to be picky! Should have mentioned the size requirement when I posted.

 

--

Simon

[m0nty]

Have you considered a keyboard amplifier? These are fully self contained amp with speaker.

 

They're very versatile and portable, but won't be in stereo.

 

Stereo's not so important as loud! If you have any examples, please post a link or two. My colleague has a thing which is a speaker in a 3" cube, with a USB cable and another to connect to the headphone socket. Is that the kind of thing?

[laserblazer]

I've had around 50% failure with AV1300/1 so now I use these

 

Skytronics 103.100 Stereo Amplifier | Skytronic Amplifiers | Shopuk.co.uk

 

Just measured on and it's 25cm wide.

 

Found the CPC one.

 

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/103-100uk/stereo-karaoke-amplifier/dp/AV11935

Edited November 18, 2009 by laserblazer

[m0nty]

I've had around 50% failure with AV1300/1 so now I use these

 

Skytronics 103.100 Stereo Amplifier | Skytronic Amplifiers | Shopuk.co.uk

 

Just measured on and it's 25cm wide.

 

CPC often sell them for around £50 but they don't seem to have any at present.

 

laserblazer, that looks ideal, I'll see if CPC are expecting a delivery or can organize one.

 

If anyone else has similar please let me know, in case I can't get these ones.

 

Again, thanks for all the responses so far.

 

--

Simon

[laserblazer]

laserblazer, that looks ideal, I'll see if CPC are expecting a delivery or can organize one.

 

If anyone else has similar please let me know, in case I can't get these ones.

 

Again, thanks for all the responses so far.

 

--

Simon

 

Just in case you missed my edir Simon

 

--|103.100UK|STEREO KARAOKE AMPLIFIER. | CPC

[m0nty]

Just in case you missed my edir Simon

 

--|103.100UK|STEREO KARAOKE AMPLIFIER. | CPC

 

I did miss it, so thanks Will give CPC a try.

[sted]

could you not just use powered speakers?

 

i have no end of problems with amps usually teachers not knowing wether it wants to be set to cd/dvd/radio etc or muting etc and not having the common sense to look

[m0nty]

could you not just use powered speakers?

 

i have no end of problems with amps usually teachers not knowing wether it wants to be set to cd/dvd/radio etc or muting etc and not having the common sense to look

 

Yes, Big Plan to be implemented next summer hols. I've inherited a ridiculously complex AV system from a former IT manager, who had a tendency to lash things together and over-complicate matters. I would like to move to a decent pair of speakers on teachers' desks, and abolish DVD players and VHS in favour of playing from the PC's DVD drive, or streaming over the network (although streaming is probably being too ambitious for my own good). But I'm busy right now and just want to get new amps in place before getting into this.

 

I have a nice pair of Harman Kardon speakers attached to my Mac at home, and the sound can be deafening if I turn the sub-woofer up to full volume. Windows rattle, furniture moves, etc. It's possible to do this at work but I need more time.

[Andrew_C]

+ one on the CPC amps, they whay it says on the tin.

 

-one on the powered speakers. They don't tend to have the alternative inpits for Vid & DVD. Just commoning the input with the PC results in the input being dragged down by the low inpeadence input of the PC (600Ω rather than 10kΩ of the DVD etc)

[sted]

+ one on the CPC amps, they whay it says on the tin.

 

-one on the powered speakers. They don't tend to have the alternative inpits for Vid & DVD. Just commoning the input with the PC results in the input being dragged down by the low inpeadence input of the PC (600Ω rather than 10kΩ of the DVD etc)

 

cheap switchbox solves that problem

[Michael]

In my experience powered or active speakers are no where near as good as a dedicated amplifier. They're cheaper for a reason

[Guest Guest]

I know you're asking for an amp, but we've found these to be better and more reliable than cheap amps (even from brands like cambridge audio and pioneer)

 

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3437505/Labtec-Pulse-485-PC-Multimedia-Speaker-System-28-Watt/Product.html?&_$ja=tsid:11518|cc:|prd:3437505|cat:Peripherals

[sted]

In my experience powered or active speakers are no where near as good as a dedicated amplifier. They're cheaper for a reason

 

they just seem to cause me many less problems and are loud enough for the job

[m0nty]

I know you're asking for an amp, but we've found these to be better and more reliable than cheap amps (even from brands like cambridge audio and pioneer)

 

Play.com (UK) : Labtec Pulse 485 / PC Multimedia Speaker System / 28 Watt : Computing - Free Delivery

 

Thanks, those look like a nice solution for when I get around to replacing the current messiness.

 

--

Simon

[mac_shinobi]

In my experience powered or active speakers are no where near as good as a dedicated amplifier. They're cheaper for a reason

 

M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Monitors Hands On

 

M Studio AV40's - aprox £100 give or take a tenner depending on where you buy them from and I have a pair of these at home and they are pretty darned loud and crystal clear

[PeterH]

The nice people from the cable testing company visited a couple of weeks ago, and failed all the amplifiers in one of our teaching blocks, eight classrooms in total. I can see why -- no earth on the cable, which runs into the case at 240V, and no external sheath on the wires. I was going to argue with them, but they have a point (despite these have passed in previous years ...)

 

 

This sounds a bit strange to me. We've got quite a few amps similar to that around and NONE of them have an earth connection on the cable. In fact come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen one of those types of amplifiers with an earth connection.

 

The reason? They're Class II double-insulated applicances and don't need an earth connection. Look out for the double-insulation symbol on the back of the unit (see [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appliance_classes]Appliance classes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame])

 

If they've passed in previous years but not this time, assuming there's no damage to the cable or the connections, then I would ask the cable testing company exactly what they're doing.

[m0nty]

This sounds a bit strange to me. We've got quite a few amps similar to that around and NONE of them have an earth connection on the cable. In fact come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen one of those types of amplifiers with an earth connection.

 

The reason? They're Class II double-insulated applicances and don't need an earth connection. Look out for the double-insulation symbol on the back of the unit (see Appliance classes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

 

If they've passed in previous years but not this time, assuming there's no damage to the cable or the connections, then I would ask the cable testing company exactly what they're doing.

 

I will look it up and see what I can find. I'd prefer not to have to go through all this hassle of replacement.

 

I think in previous years the testers weren't quite as thorough, and didn't unravel the rat's nest which is the AV cupboard in each room (in fact, it's a cubby-hole in the wall). These guys found out they could undo a panel at the back and get access to all the stuff and rejected these cheap amps they found. General feeling is our electricians should do this themselves rather than hire people at great expense so (if they did indeed get this wrong) I might be able to make some headway on that.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

(Edit: Nope, it's not marked as Class II so no luck there )

 

--

Simon

Edited November 18, 2009 by m0nty

[Andrew_C]

cheap switchbox solves that problem

 

True, but we are talking about teachers here. KISS! (Not that I'm suggesting the second S refers to you!)

[patty04]

at my old work place we used Vision in wall Amplifier & Speaker Bundles.

Great little things look very neat next to the IWBs.

 

http://www.presentationmedia.co.uk/acatalog/VBundle1300.jpg

[laserblazer]

CPC have the Karaoke amps on offer at present £49.50.

 

--|103.100UK|AMPLIFIER, STEREO KARAOKE | CPC

 

We have a load of them and they are brilliant in classrooms.

[RTFM]

I would like to move to a decent pair of speakers on teachers' desks, and abolish DVD players and VHS in favour of playing from the PC's DVD drive, or streaming over the network (although streaming is probably being too ambitious for my own good).

 

Have a look at ClickView for streaming over the network. We have it and to be honest havent had an issue at all with multiple classrooms streaming the same video at the same time.

 

Slightly off the topic of your amps but I noticed this comment when reading the thread