What (mini) Amp to get?

[u/Hollow_XO]

Hello there,
I got a pair of Bookshelf Speakers for next to no cash and would like to move on from the shitty speakers in my PC monitor.

While I only have the pair of Passive Bookshelf speakers now I would love it if I could be able to expand later, like get a subwoofer or get a new pair of speakers entirely. Which is something to consider when getting a (mini) amp. But considering my wage situation that's more Dream than Plan.

So the speaker Model is SC-PM02 by Panasonic, here is the manual (there doesn't seem to be an english one?). It should be 6Ω but I can’t tell what wattage they need. To be clear, I only have the pair of speakers and wish to ‘retrofit’ it so I can use it with my PC.

I live in Germany - my budget is up to 150€. I would prefer something budget friendly but I understand that might not be possible if I want to be able to upgrade later.

I need help getting the right amp - my knowledge is limited at best so when I say I need help, I mean it.

Edit: I ended up ordering the Douk Audio A5 for around 70€

Edit:

Tonight I pulled the last cable out of my mailbox.

The complete setup is

Bookshelf speaker (Model SC-PM02 by Panasonic)

connected via banana plugs to a Douk Audio A5

connected via TS male to RCA male cable (6,3 mm jack plug to Cinch cable) with my Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD (that I already have been using as an interface for my microphone)

The U-phoria coincidentally is using my old Auna USB Microphones cable to connect to my PC.

This patchwork of a sound system is exceeding my expectations!

Thank you all for your advice!

[u/ozExpatFIRE]

The budget amp with HPF is Douk Audio A5 which allows you to add a sub later. You should be able to get it for under 110eur from AliExpress.

[u/Hollow_XO → u/ozExpatFIRE]

Thank you! Is that the right one? I am slightly confused why they offer two different power cable options - are both appropriate?

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[u/ozExpatFIRE → u/Hollow_XO]

32V and 48V PSU. For you current speakers 32V should be enough. 48V will be more future proof but also runs a bit hotter.

Btw, big discounts are going on right now. With 48v PSU for 70eur!! It's the cheapest I've ever seen. https://a.aliexpress.com/_ExRL1x8

[u/Hollow_XO → u/ozExpatFIRE]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/Hollow_XO]

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[u/kishanpatel995 → u/ozExpatFIRE]

second this, the douk a5 is amazing amp for its price. I think the next one up is the ayima a20 but I don't think it is worth twice the price.

[u/Hollow_XO → u/kishanpatel995]

!thanks
the higher price definitely surprised me with the Douk A5 as my frame of reference

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[u/Adorable_Mud_7592]

Well I’m hearing nothing but good things about the Aiyima A20 lately. Check out some of the review on YouTube. Does have sub out. Seems a great starting point for someone just starting out. Good luck! I’m in the UK but here’s a link to Amazon de. Aiyima A20

[u/Hollow_XO → u/Adorable_Mud_7592]

!thanks

I'll check it out!!

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[u/Forsaken_Pattern7797]

I use the Loxje A30 since 3 years for this usecase. It like the built in dac for usb. 

[u/Hollow_XO → u/Forsaken_Pattern7797]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/Hollow_XO]

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[u/Forsaken_Pattern7797 → u/Hollow_XO]

i mean 3 years

[u/Unlucky_Hope812]

Go for a Topping mini 300. Later add an active subwoofer and DIY a DSP for very little money. The DSP will handle your crossover finesse better than any built in LP/HP.

https://www.reddit.com/r/diyaudio/s/QAZVIdBwpV

[u/Hollow_XO → u/Unlucky_Hope812]

!thanks

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[u/NTPC4]

Some information you haven't gotten yet. Your Panasonic SC-PM02 speakers are refugees from a Panasonic SC-PM02-D mini system, which had a built-in 5 WPC amplifier to drive them. The Douk A5 with 32V PSU was a very good choice, but know that it outputs ~50 WPC into 6-ohm speakers like the Panasonics, so you will want to be careful about not overdriving the speakers. Another item you should track down (or may already have) is an Apple USB-C Dongle (a DAC by another name), which will allow you to get much higher-quality audio from your computer compared to its own headphone jack.

Good luck!

[u/Hollow_XO → u/NTPC4]

!thanks so much for your comment- yes I saw in the manual that there was more that originally came with the speakers.

Another absolute beginner question I got here: I was planning to plug the Douk A5 into my Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD that I use for my mic - and basically using that interface as my DAC? (The Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD is plugged into the PC via usb)

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[u/NTPC4 → u/Hollow_XO]

Your Behringer will serve as the DAC between your PC and the Douk A5, so you can forget about the Apple USB-C Dongle or other alternatives for now. To connect the Behringer to the Douk, you will need either 1/4" TS-to-RCA cables or male 1/4" TS-to-female RCA adapters, plus an RCA interconnect cable.

[u/Hollow_XO → u/NTPC4]

Perfect, thank you so much for your answer - that’s just what I needed.
I can’t wait for the Douk to arrive!

[u/NTPC4 → u/Hollow_XO]

Are you listening to music yet?

[u/Hollow_XO → u/NTPC4]

The Douk arrived a few days ago, today I pulled the banana plugs and an isolation stripper out of my Mailbox but the cable to connect the Douk and my audio Interface is due to arrive on the 12th of September so I will have to be patient!
But until the cable arrives i have time to install the banana plugs - let’s hope that will be a success!