Have laptop,usb stick with tunes on,now what?

[phoenixpete]

Hi.
Please be patient with me :mental:
I don't really have much idea how to use computer audio.
My wife wants to be able to play decent music from her laptop, we downloaded a few tunes from Amazon to a usb stick and it play's fine on the laptop but obviously it is crap because it is just using the laptop speaker.
Question is what equipment do I need to buy to get a good quality sound?

Speakers?
Dac?
Squeesebox???
Anything will have to be fairly portable.

I said just get a Boom Box, but she wants to look like she is young and trendy and feels like she is being left behind:D:rolleyes:

She wants to use the laptop for music when doing presentations and training courses for her work.

Cheers.

[Stratmangler]

The simplest thing to do would be to get some decent self powered speakers.
I am a bit bemused by downloading MP3 stuff from Amazon - don't you have any CDs you can rip?
And why the USB stick? Isn't there any spare hard drive space on the computer?
It would also be useful to know what the computer has for an operating system.

[phoenixpete]

Thanks Chris.
Reason for the usb stick is her laptop is owned by the company so we thought best to keep music seperate.
She is running "Windows XP" on the laptop
We can rip cd's no problem, just wanted to try a download.

cheers.

[Stratmangler]

Depends on your budget then.
Audio Engine speakers are quite popular over on the Squeezebox forum http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/Audioengine-A2-Active-Speakers-Pair/product_2416

[AmpCity]

Firstly, you definitely want to stop using the laptop for D/A conversion. No matter how good the speakers it will be hugely limited by the laptop itself.

Option 1: You want a USB DAC with powered speakers. Lots of options available depending on your budget, from the likes of Fubar, Audio Gd, Apogee, Arcam, Cambridge Audio etc. etc. Ideally you'd want something with volume control, so a built-in preamp. Our Mini-i is a good shout as it's also got a remote, can control volume anywhere in the room.

This paired up with any number of speakers. Audioengine A5, Adam A5X/A7X, Focal CMS 40, Epoz Aktimate, Alesis M1, Calyx AL etc.


Option 2: All-in-one systems. This one is particularly interesting, have had my eye on it for a while:

http://www.xtz.se/uk/products/dsp-speakers/mh-800-dsp

Main control unit has a USB input along with Class D integrated amp, feeding passive speakers. It's a hassle-free option.

Option 3: DAC with integrated amp feeding passive speakers. Traditional hi-fi setup, wouldn't bother considering in this case as it's a hassle.

My workstation setup comprises the Mini-i and Focal CMS 65, which is truly stunning. If budget and compactness is the main concern then go for the Epoz Aktimate, it's good an onboard DAC so all you need is to plug in the USB cable and off you go!

[Stratmangler]

Firstly, you definitely want to stop using the laptop for D/A conversion. No matter how good the speakers it will be hugely limited by the laptop itself.

Option 1: You want a USB DAC with powered speakers. Lots of options available depending on your budget, from the likes of Fubar, Audio Gd, Apogee, Arcam, Cambridge Audio etc. etc. Ideally you'd want something with volume control, so a built-in preamp. Our Mini-i is a good shout as it's also got a remote, can control volume anywhere in the room.

This paired up with any number of speakers. Audioengine A5, Adam A5X/A7X, Focal CMS 40, Epoz Aktimate, Alesis M1, Calyx AL etc.


Option 2: All-in-one systems. This one is particularly interesting, have had my eye on it for a while:

http://www.xtz.se/uk/products/dsp-speakers/mh-800-dsp

Main control unit has a USB input along with Class D integrated amp, feeding passive speakers. It's a hassle-free option.

Option 3: DAC with integrated amp feeding passive speakers. Traditional hi-fi setup, wouldn't bother considering in this case as it's a hassle.

My workstation setup comprises the Mini-i and Focal CMS 65, which is truly stunning. If budget and compactness is the main concern then go for the Epoz Aktimate, it's good an onboard DAC so all you need is to plug in the USB cable and off you go!

Calm down mate - the OP's wife wants to play some tunes on the works laptop, and the built in speakers aren't up to snuff ;)

[AmpCity]

Calm down mate - the OP's wife wants to play some tunes on the works laptop, and the built in speakers aren't up to snuff ;)

I tend to forget there are normal people around :doh:

In that case the epoz aktimate micro would do nicely, as would the Audioengine A2. An outboard DAC for the latter would be a massive help, even a cheap one. Maybe the Hifiman HM-101, £29 I think.

[phoenixpete]

Thanks for the help guy's.
At least we know what is needed now, just a matter of how much she wants to spend then.
The all in one option would probably suit her as it looks pretty simple.:doh:

Cheers:cool:

[phoenixpete]

Just an update.
To keep costs down I got her a pair of these JBL active speakers for the laptop.
Only £39.99 including delivery, down from £119.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0035T2M54/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
They are an awful lot better than the internal speakers but if it was me I think I would want a bit more quality sound wise. Not sure if adding a dac or better soundcard would help, but Sue is happy with the sound and would probably find any more add ons too complicated.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions :cool: