$250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

[KLR]

Hey All,

Some of the teachers in my school will be getting a projector next year and will need a sound system to go with it. The budget for sound will be about $250. The source will be their computer. The speakers will need to be mounted on the wall. The system doesn't have to be audiophile quality, but it would be nice if it was significantly better than the usual tiny self-powered computer speakers that most teachers use. ;)

Self powered monitors might do the trick, but running AC power to each speaker would add to the expense and complexity.

Thought about something like this, but not sure how they would sound mounted on the wall: (and they might be a little big)

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=248-6476

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-383

[captainobvious99]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

-How large of a room is it?
-Does your budget need to include amplification and speakers?
-Are you looking to purchase a premade unit or build your own?

[williamrschneider]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

I was in the same boat a couple of years ago. I needed speakers in four different college classrooms.

Initially, I bought one PE BR-1 speaker kit and one PE AudioSource Amp 100 amplifier to test. The speaker assembled easily.

When the other faculty heard them, I got the green light to build and install the remaining 3. I also bought some closeout TV wall mounts similar to the ones used in hospital rooms for holding CRTs. They articulated out from the wall, and supported the speaker from underneath.

In a nutshell, they do fine.

Unfortunately, the price has gone up considerably on that amp (we got them for $75 ea.), but the 50 watt/ch (like the rating on the amp you linked to) worked fine.

[MagicO309d]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

Don't overlook speakers like this with the amp you picked out:http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=303-402

You could also use something like the Sherwood or Teak 2-channel receivers that PE sells too, they would give you the benefit of an added AM/FM tuner.

Either way, you would have budget left over for the associated cables and maybe wall brackets that you would need to for the installation.

[KLR]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

The rooms are 650 - 900 sq ft.
$250 is my total for amplification and speakers.
I want something premade. This is not for me - it's for several other teachers. I don't have the time or desire to build several sets.

I built a pair of the BR-1s last year for a teaching friend. Sound good, but a little muddy now that she put them on the wall. The mounting arms would be a better solution and get them off the wall a little, but the other teachers won't be able to build speakers so premade is the only choice.

Thanks.

[Ron_E]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

I've been using this Pyle amp http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=310-2048 with either of these two speakers depending which desk I want to mount them on. Either would work on the wall.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=310-056

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-674

This setup runs rings around the Bo$e sub with satellite systems the CC where I work had been buying for $330 a pop. I put one of these amps in a desk with a pair of cheap Pyle coax car speakers and the instructor got complements on the new sound system from a student.

Ron E.

[robwest]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

The dvd/cd and usb/mp3/microphone connections make this a contender, despite the less than optimal frequency range. Should do fine in classroom. The remote would be handy, too. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=310-2012

Then you could afford 2 pair of these. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-670 (You'll be about $20 over budget getting 2 pair of these.)

You'll be $11 under budget getting 2 pair of these: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-652 . With these, you'll need to use the $11 for mounting brackets.

What ever receiver/amp/speaker combo you decide on, I'd suggest a 4 speaker set-up spread in the room so the total volume can be lower. This will allow the teachers to add comments and hear/answer questions during presentations.

[Ron_E]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

The dvd/cd and usb/mp3/microphone connections make this a contender, despite the less than optimal frequency range. Should do fine in classroom. The remote would be handy, too. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=310-2012

I'd recommend against any equipment with this many buttons on it. Just because the instructor has a PHD doesn't mean they know how to use AV equipment. We're moving to $1400 push button desktop controllers for all our classrooms just because having different equipment in classrooms is too confusing for the instructors. Every DVD player, overhead projector, etc. has a different remote. Some of these people want to know if you think the pop machine might still work when the powers out.

Ron E.

[KLR]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

I'd recommend against any equipment with this many buttons on it. Just because the instructor has a PHD doesn't mean they know how to use AV equipment. We're moving to $1400 push button desktop controllers for all our classrooms just because having different equipment in classrooms is too confusing for the instructors. Every DVD player, overhead projector, etc. has a different remote. Some of these people want to know if you think the pop machine might still work when the powers out.

Ron E.

Good point. No way could many of them figure out how to run an amp like that. They need something with just a power switch and volume knob. ;)

[robwest]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

What ever... If they are that stupid, how will they operate the projector and the input device to it? It was stated the teachers would also use their computers. Are you telling me they can do that, but can't push a power button and source button then adjust the volume? If not, I don't want schmucks like that teaching anyone I know. Geez! Home schooling rules!

And, I'll add, I've dealt with AV equip. (and central air/heat, and clothes washers, and cooking appliances) overseas labeled in a foreign language I couldn't read and still had little to no problems, and none I couldn't eventually figure out. If it is a problem for them, type a quick user's sheet with a couple pics and leave it where the teacher can find it. Or spend 3 minutes with them at the beginning of the semester and SHOW them!

There are reasons I wouldn't pic this unit for home use, but 'too many buttons' isn't even on the radar as a reason to not pick it for home/school consideration. IMHO.

[Ron_E]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

What ever... If they are that stupid, how will they operate the projector and the input device to it? It was stated the teachers would also use their computers. Are you telling me they can do that, but can't push a power button and source button then adjust the volume? If not, I don't want schmucks like that teaching anyone I know. Geez! Home schooling rules!

And, I'll add, I've dealt with AV equip. (and central air/heat, and clothes washers, and cooking appliances) overseas labeled in a foreign language I couldn't read and still had little to no problems, and none I couldn't eventually figure out. If it is a problem for them, type a quick user's sheet with a couple pics and leave it where the teacher can find it. Or spend 3 minutes with them at the beginning of the semester and SHOW them!

There are reasons I wouldn't pic this unit for home use, but 'too many buttons' isn't even on the radar as a reason to not pick it for home/school consideration. IMHO.

Many people who grew up before personal computers and advanced consumer electronics are lost technically along with plenty that grew up after. Even if you train them some of them will still not get it. How many people on average do you think know that when you push the select button on the projector remote that they want RGB for computer video and composite for the VCR and not S-video. Those terms don't mean anything to most people. Most of the educators (community college) I work with are exceedingly smart and work very hard to teach their students. They just aren't all comfortable with tech.

Any idea how the teacher/student ratio for home schools compares to public school? Any chance the home school teacher has any leverage over their students that a public school teacher doesn't have?

Ron E.

[KLR]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

Okay, let's get this back on track and narrow my requirements:

Since the world is full of idiots and/or people who have no interest in electronics, a simple amp is preferred. An "On" and "Volume" is enough.

A teaching peer has a pair of BR-1s and a Dayton T-amp. I'd like an equivalent or better speaker and a little more powerful amp.

I don't want to build anything. Building the BR-1 was fun the first time, but doing it several more times would just be work.

Speakers will have to be mounted on the wall.

So, anyone have an opinion about those Behringers?

[Ron_E]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

A teaching peer has a pair of BR-1s and a Dayton T-amp. I'd like an equivalent or better speaker and a little more powerful amp.

Speakers will have to be mounted on the wall.

So, anyone have an opinion about those Behringers?

Which T-amp and which Behringers? Have you seen the DTA-100 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...TOKEN=88413656?

Ron

[depthsounder]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

The Behringer you linked to earlier is sold per speaker, so thats $300 for the pair.

What about these: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=248-6038



Gives you $100 for an amp still, and these are highly regarded.

If you shop around carefully, you can get the active version of these, B2030A within a reasonable margin of your $250 goal.

-David

[KLR]

Re: $250 for Classroom Audio - Suggestions?

Which T-amp and which Behringers? Have you seen the DTA-100 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...TOKEN=88413656?

Ron

My friend has the DTA-1

As depthsounder pointed out, the Beheringers I was originally looking at are priced individually and out of my price range.

Depthsounder- Thanks for correcting me. Those B2030P look good, but only play to 75 Hz. I wonder if that will be low enough?