Question about hooking up an Amp

[Mattman9372]

Hey everyone I Just bought a set of ascend cbm 170 se speakers, and I am planning on hooking them up to an amp and also my laptop, I am also thinking about adding a subwoofer later. If someone could tell me what I should look for when buying an amp for these speakers it would be greatly appreciated. My price range for an amp is 100$-150$.

Here is a link for the speaker specs-http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170specs.html

[Mag_Neato]

Are you talking about a small, digital T-Amp like the Nuforce unit? For your budget I cannot imagine anything else, except maybe a basic stereo receiver from pioneer or onkyo. How many sources will you have?

I have been looking into the Virtue One/Two from Virtue Audio. But these start at $269. They accept one source input via analog RCA plugs, and include a subwoofer out jack. Supposed to sound hi end.

[Mattman9372]

I really don't know much about amps...would a smaller amp in the 100-150 price range be powerful enough for the cbm 170s im getting? Also...What do you mean by sources?

[Mag_Neato]

By sources, I am referring to input sources, such as a CD/DVD player, Tuner, Cable box, IPOD, etc.

What are you meaning when you say Amp? A receiver with an amplifer, tuner and pre-amp section? This will have several inputs allowing you to have several source components. If you have to stay at $150 max, I'd look at Ecost, or other sites that sell manufacturer refurbished units. Good bang for the buck. They have Denon and usually Onkyo receivers. A simple 2 channel unit sounds like what you are looking for. 50 watts/channel to start with should be fine, unless you plan on cranking the music to party levels for extended periods.

[Mattman9372]

Yes I was looking the kind of receiver with an amplifier, pre-amp and tuner. I am planning on hooking up my TV and also my laptop or my ipod to the amp. If I get a 50 watt x 4 channel receiver, does that mean that 50 watts will go to my speakers, and 50 will go to the TV when I hook it up? If I plug in my laptop, does it also receive power, and how would I hook it up? Sorry if these are dumb questions I'm new to this.

This is one of the receivers I'm thinking about buying

http://www.fadfusion.com/selection.p...er=20082406732

[Mag_Neato]

That is a car unit. Are you trying to hook up the 170's in your car
As far as a laptop, I am not too familiar with how they hook up.

Something like this, with the optional ipod docking station..

http://www.ecost.com/Detail/Receiver...avid=155438257