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What speakers do I need an amp for?
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Chemogen
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 19, 2007 15:22
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I just got a CDJ/Mixer and a pair of Behringer monitor speakers for bedroom mixing, thinking the speakers were powered. They're not, and I don't have an amp...However I'm running my mixer through my desktop 5.1 speaker setup, so at least I can mix.
Anyway, to prevent the same mistake happening again, what kind of speakers needs an amp? I'm going to buy a pair of studio, flat response monitors for production soon...Do these need an amp, or do they plug directly into my soundcard?
I'm going to get an M-audio firewire external soundcard, but at the moment I'm using my onboard soundcard, so how would 2 studio monitors plug into one output? When bought in pairs, do they come with one male jack for both of them?
I'm guessing that with the M-audio, one speaker would go into the L and one would go into the R output?
Or, do I need an amp for those speakers to go into and the connect the amp to my soundcard?
Are all studio monitors powered, so that I don't need a power-amp?
Hi-Fi speaker wise, can those connect straight into a mixer, or would they need an amp too?
Simply put, does powered/active equipment not require an amp, while unpowered stuff does? Is an amp a crucial piece of DJ/Production equipment? |
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Chemogen
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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713
Posted : Sep 19, 2007 15:58
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Oh, and is a reference amp better for production flat response monitors, than an amp meant for driving speakers? |
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knocz
Moderator
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Posted : Sep 19, 2007 16:00
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HI there!
There are active monitors and passive monitors. Active ones have an internal amp specially designed for the speaker and they plug in directly to your soundcard or mixer.. Passive ones need an amp and the amp is plugged to your soundcard or mixer.
Active ones come with a mono male jack (or other) for each speaker.. Amp have a line in (usually, in home amps, RCA) so you just plug your soundcard or mixer to that.
There is no saying that active ones are better than passive ones, but with the passive each monitor model has a specific amp model while the active has a built in proper amp for that monitor. Active are more expensive, but with passive you HAVE to buy an amp.
 Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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Chemogen
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
166
Posts :
713
Posted : Sep 19, 2007 16:06
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Thanks a lot! Wow, thanks! One thing though, if an onboard PC soundcard has only one output, then do you need a Y splitter to connect each active speaker with a male of its own? |
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knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
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Posts :
1151
Posted : Sep 19, 2007 16:15
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Usually each monitor has a single mono line. So if you only have one stereo line you want to split it to 2 mono lines.. There are cables that do that (1male stereo-> 2 female mono).
I don't know if there are monitors that one connects to the output in a stereo jack and the other just connects the the first one... But usually good sound equipment (not a 5.1 surround card) have separate mono outputs..
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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