I was bitten by the audiophile bug at a relatively immature age. When I was in my early on teens, my parents purchased me a loftier-end stereo system complete with tuner, equalizer, dual cassette deck, 25-disc CD changer and massive three-manner floorstanding speakers. Some 25 years afterwards, I haven't the foggiest why they gifted me the system every bit I hadn't shown much involvement in music upward to that indicate and I know without a doubt that they couldn't afford it. Nevertheless, I listened to it faithfully and eventually developed both a love for music and an ability to tell when something sounds good and when it doesn't.

I never got effectually to exploring the ins and outs of audio equipment as panel gaming, computers and photography consumed much of my free time over the past two decades. Recently, still, an opportunity to further tinker with my sound system presented itself and I couldn't pass it up.

I recently picked upwardly a set of the same floorstanding speakers I had as a teen. As a side project, I turned my attention to my Logitech G51 PC speakers. This was a very popular gaming speaker setup years agone when I bought information technology, but have been using them in a 2.ane channel configuration connected to my desktop for a while at present.

The Logitech satellite speakers characteristic dual two-inch drivers with a maximum power output of twenty watts at 8 ohms. The subwoofer packs a 5.25-inch driver rated at 56 watts at 2 ohms. The system also includes a handy control pod for your desk to conform master volume, subwoofer level, centre and surround levels and to mute the setup. There's even an integrated headphone and microphone jack. Logitech says that as a whole, you lot tin can look a frequency response of 36Hz to 20kHz.

It's your run-of-the-mill desktop speaker setup. I similar information technology considering it sounds good and the control pod is quite helpful. Just similar all systems, at that place's room for improvement and with this article, I aim to piece together a "DIY" system to see if I tin compile something that sounds even improve without breaking the bank.

You'll need a few fundamental components when assembling an audio arrangement of this nature -- namely, a set of passive speakers, an amplifier to supply power to the speakers, and preferably -- especially if you opt for smaller bookshelf style speakers -- a subwoofer to furnish those deeper bass tones. Passive speakers simply ways they don't have a built-in amp like active or powered speakers do.

Information technology's worth emphasizing that a DIY setup is admittedly non necessary. All-in-i systems from the likes of Logitech, Creative and Bose are perfectly suitable for most people and nigh uses. Simply if you lot're like me -- the hobbyist type that strives for "above average," you lot actually similar music or you just can't help only traverse the next rabbit pigsty -- well, you'll empathise.

When I purchased my dwelling house A/Five receiver (a Pioneer VSX-519V) about 11 years ago, I too picked up a pair of Insignia NS-B2111 bookshelf speakers and a Polk Audio SW110 subwoofer. They were all on sale as a package deal so I figured, why not, it'll be neat for console gaming.

Equally information technology turns out, it was a bit too much for someone living in shut proximity to others. Alas, I had to put the sub in storage and tune out all of the bass from the bookshelf speakers to appease the neighbors. They substantially became glorified Television receiver speakers for the next decade.

At present that I'm in a house without neighbors living on acme of me, I wanted to encounter what the Insignias could really do.

Unbeknownst to me until years afterwards, the Insignia bookshelf speakers adult a chip of a cult following inside the audio enthusiast customs for their audio quality compared to categorically similar -- but much more than expensive -- speakers. Heck, there are even guides on how to upgrade the internals for even better performance, only maybe I'll save that for another fourth dimension.

I don't recall how much they sold for at the time only I believe the package with the receiver, sub and speakers was around $400 total.

Insignia has long since discontinued these speakers although you can pick up a pre-owned pair on eBay for around $lxx. They feature a 6.5-inch carbon fiber woofer and a ane-inch silk dome tweeter with a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz, sensitivity of 90 dB and maximum power handling of 120 watt at 8 ohms.

Next, I had to effigy out how to power them. The logical solution would be to move the Pioneer A/V receiver from the living room to my part merely that presented a few issues. The receiver would take up a huge clamper of space on my desk but as I confirmed through auditioning the floorstanding speakers, information technology was lacking in the power department.

I looked effectually for a receiver with more power but the results were disheartening. Almost of the A/V receivers I plant prioritized channel count over power output. Other candidates were out of my price range. And really, none of them would work well for this project as they'd consume a lot of existent estate on my desk.

What I needed was a purpose-built device that was both compact and affordable. What I needed was a mini amplifier and that's exactly what I got.

The Fosi Audio BT20A is a mini Course D power amplifier with congenital-in Bluetooth connectivity. It'southward rated for 100W RMS x 2 and features a front-mounted ability switch also equally book, treble and bass dials. Effectually back, you get left and right RCA source inputs, left and correct speaker outputs, a 24V power jack and an antenna for Bluetooth... all in a chassis that's hardly any bigger than ii decks of playing cards and all for less than $80.

To say that I was highly skeptical was an understatement. How this tiny box was going to supply the ability I needed was beyond me and even if it could, information technology was probably going to sound like absolute garbage. I found solace in the nearly 375 Amazon reviews and average iv.4-star rating, all the same. If information technology stunk, I could but send it back, I told myself.

I next turned my attention to the sound source. My dated PC is equipped with a Sound Equalizer Ten-Fi Xtreme card supporting a sampling rate of 96KHz and a bit depth of 24 bit. In that location are far amend cards out there simply for the purpose of this project, this card should exercise just fine.

Setting everything upwards was a simple plenty affair. Using 16 judge speaker wire, I continued the Insignias to the mini amplifier with banana plugs. A 3.5mm-to-RCA wire handled the connectedness between my computer and the amp. I and then continued the AC adapter, plugged information technology into my bombardment fill-in and was off to the races.

My initial impressions were mixed.

The Fosi Audio mini amplifier absolutely blew my socks off. It has power for days and is incredibly piece of cake to set up and use, even for someone with very lilliputian feel with audio equipment. The bass and treble dials offer basic but meaningful control over the output. I go on the amp'due south volume dial at near 35 percent and adjust accordingly using the slider on the PC or the book dial on my keyboard.

I've only been dauntless plenty to turn the amp to nigh 45 percent with the Insignias. That'south way louder than I'd ever mind to (it's clearly audible on the contrary side of the house) yet remains crystal clear with no distortion or clipping. Even after extended listening sessions, the amp is never more than lukewarm to the bear upon. I exercise wish information technology had a remote control for utilise in non-desk settings (similar equally a A/V receiver replacement) but beggars can't be choosers.

The consequence I found – and it wasn't entirely unexpected – is that the bookshelf speakers simply don't put out much bass.

Cranking the bass dial on the amp does have a noticeable bear on only information technology delivers more of a light, punchy effect at mid-range settings and an artificial, undesirable sound at higher levels. Either way, it's non the booming bass the system is needing to make it complete and that was a problem.

Fosi Audi sells a 2.1 channel amp but that doesn't really help me equally it is for passive subwoofers and supplies only 50W ten 2 on the master channels – half of what the BT201A is capable of. I racked my brain but the solution was staring me in the face the whole fourth dimension – the Logitech subwoofer!

The subwoofer serves as the main hub for the Logitech system. Everything plugs into – and out of – the sub. And connection is dead simple – just run a three.5mm cable from the sound out on the sound menu, connect the command pod and plug in whatever speakers yous wish to utilise.

Using a 3.5mm splitter, I ran one line to the Fosi Audio amp and the other to the back of the subwoofer, except I didn't plug in the satellite speakers. Voila! I now had the deep bass the setup was so desperately lacking. And actually, it works even ameliorate than I could have predictable equally the Logitech control pod lets me dial in the bass force and volume without having to fiddle with whatsoever settings on the dorsum of the sub.

I've used a handful of figurer speaker systems over the years – the infamous Klipsch ProMedia two.one comes to listen – merely this DIY setup is past far the all-time. From the clarity and separation of instruments to the lack of dissonance in the line and the sheer power, this Frankenstein system has it all. Everything I've queued up using Amazon's new loftier-finish streaming tier sounds excellent. I absolutely dear it which is why information technology pains me to not be able to recommend it to others unless yous happen to already own most of the components like I exercise.

Bold yous are starting with a blank slate, the speakers would set you back near $70, the Fosi Audio amp is roughly $lxxx and a respectable audio menu is probably going to be about $forty.

With only these components, yous're almost at $200 and that doesn't include a bass. Presumably, a powered subwoofer could exist wired upward using the line-in but I'm not certain. That's easily another $100 or more than if y'all don't already take one. Y'all tin buy a pretty dainty desktop sound arrangement for $300.

If you're the type that prefers a minimalist look, something like this may not be for you. The bookshelf speakers are roughly 8.five inches ten 13.5 inches alpine and take up a decent amount of infinite on my big desk. Worse yet, the Fosi Audio amp has a lot of unsightly wires running out the back of it and in my example, the Logitech command pod is yet another accessory consuming real manor. Fortunately, I already endemic most of the necessary components and only had to come up out of pocket almost $80 for the mini amp.

For some, the real appeal of a setup like this is in the flexibility of information technology all. With a pre-configured organisation, y'all know exactly what you are - and aren't - getting. When piecing it together yourself, the sky is the limit in terms of customization equally there are a near space number of combinations you could go with.

Should the Insignia speakers featured here not be to your liking, y'all could just every bit easily substitute them for the Polk Audio T15 bookshelf speakers ($99), the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers (also $99), Klipsch'due south R-15M bookshelf ($158) or the more than expensive Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2s ($224.98), all of which are highly regarded. Optionally, you could grab something used via eBay or Craigslist, if you're feeling that confident.

The same can be said for the amp and subwoofer. Equally mentioned before, Fosi has a mini amp to accommodate passive subwoofers and even a tube-style amp that no incertitude offers a different audio altogether. Or heck, if you have the room, y'all could even swap out the bookshelf speakers for a pair of floorstanding loudspeakers and eliminate the need for a standalone subwoofer. It all boils down to how involved y'all get, what you already have on hand and how much money you want to spend.

If you are in a similar gunkhole and like tinkering with audio equipment, requite it a shot. This setup is leaps and premises better than anything else I've auditioned and I look frontward to the smiles information technology'll bring me in the future.

Shopping Shortcuts
  • Edifier S350DB Bookshelf and Subwoofer System on Amazon
  • Klipsch ProMedia two.one THX PC speakers on Amazon
  • Audioengine A2 Plus desktop speakers on Amazon
  • Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf speakers on Amazon
  • Bose Companion 20 speakers on Amazon
  • Monoprice DT-4BT desktop powered speakers on Amazon