PC Speakers in place of am AMP.

DuckSoup

DuckSoup

Dec 20, 2017
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Colorado
#1
Hey guys,

I know this question has been asked once before, but I wanted to ask it a bit more specifically.

I've been learning the bass for about 4 months now. I basically picked up a Rocksmith cable and have been playing through my computer with a really cheap $100 bass. No amp at this time.

I'm looking to pick up a small Fender Rumble 25 ($99) however I'm also considering just picking up a pair of these for my PC.

https://www.amazon.com/Swan-Speaker...=PC+Speakers&refinements=p_36:7500-15000&th=1

The low frequency range is close to what the Fender Ruble produces, and the speaker power is also about the same for the Sub. (If not higher)

Would this suffice in place of an amp? I really like using Amplitube and having different amps\peddles to pick from, and I also like being able to play along to music on my PC.

Give me your thoughts guys, much appreciated.
 
#2
DuckSoup said:
The low frequency range is close to what the Fender Ruble produces, and the speaker power is also about the same for the Sub.
Click to expand...
Due to the big difference in the efficiency of instrument speakers versus hi-fi speakers you'd need to have about ten times the amp power output and speaker power handing with the computer speakers as the Rumble to play at the same loudness.
 
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#3
I see. Yeah honestly I don't know much about the specifics, I was just comparing some of the frequency and power stuff, but it sounds like there's more to it.

The alternative is that the Rumble 25 also has an Aux in, but I can't imaging the sound quality of playing music through the amp would be that great, but I suppose I could try it out at a local guitar center.
 
#5
My suggestion - get a small amp that has a second input. Then take the computer output and connect it to the second input on the amp. You can then get appropriate volume for both instruments. You will need a separate speaker cabinet unless you find a combo amp that has a pair of inputs.

My 1967 blackface Bassman has this setup, and it comes in really handy. Many amps don't, but you can find an old Peavy or something similar that does.

Here's a photo of an old Bassman showing both bass and "normal" inputs....

1967bfbassmanamp-jpg.jpg
 
#6
Pilgrim said:
My suggestion - get a small amp that has a second input. Then take the computer output and connect it to the second input on the amp. You can then get appropriate volume for both instruments. You will need a separate speaker cabinet unless you find a combo amp that has a pair of inputs.

My 1967 blackface Bassman has this setup, and it comes in really handy. Many amps don't, but you can find an old Peavy or something similar that does.

Here's a photo of an old Bassman showing both bass and "normal" inputs....

View attachment 3001324
Click to expand...

The Fender Rumble 25 has an Aux in. Can I just go from my PC speakers to the amp? Hows the sound quality going to be when playing music through a bass amp?
 
#8
BassmanPaul said:
Anything not designed for live music reproduction is the wrong tool for the job. Sorry.
Click to expand...

This. If it sounds great for music it won't sound great for bass. If it sounds great for bass it won't sound great for music.

That is, until you get up into actual PA gear.
I get good results by running from the computer to a 6 channel powered Yamaha mixer amd two floor monitors. Sounds great for music and vocals and "OK" for bass.

My practice rig of choice these days is a Presonus AR8 mixer and some nice ear buds. Vocals, bass and music and a separate EQ for each.
 
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#9
DuckSoup said:
The Fender Rumble 25 has an Aux in. Can I just go from my PC speakers to the amp? Hows the sound quality going to be when playing music through a bass amp?
Click to expand...

Yes, just not from the PC speakers. You'll want to go from the audio output of your computer to the Aux in on the amp. It'll sound okay, but nothing spectacular.

I'd just go with a high quality headphone for what you want to do. That's how a lot of players practice these days.
 
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#11
The specs given for that PC speaker system's frequency range seem like they tell you something, but they're actually useless because they don't show the decibel level.

A useful frequency range spec will say something like "40hz-20Khz +/-3db". What this means is that within the stated range, the loudness of any frequency is within a 3 decibel range. Without the decibel level, all they're saying is that the speaker system will produce those frequencies at some level, even though the low-end stuff might be 20 or 30 decibels down from the higher frequencies.

But you usually won't see these kind of specs on anything but professional sound reinforcement stuff. The manufacturers of consumer grade stuff put those incomplete specs out there to make it seem like they're giving useful information for people that don't know better.

In other words, snake oil to coax the masses to purchase.
 
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#12
DuckSoup said:
The Fender Rumble 25 has an Aux in. Can I just go from my PC speakers to the amp? Hows the sound quality going to be when playing music through a bass amp?
Click to expand...

Sure, what comes from your computer audio out jack is a line level feed; you can connect it to the amp input and it will work fine. Keep in mind that you have one level of amplification in the computer, and another at the amp. Be a bit careful and keep the the output level setting on the computer low at first, so you don't distort at the amp. You'll need to play with the levels.

Your computer output will sound fine - after all, you want to practice to it, and ultimate sound reproduction isn't required. It will sound pretty darn good in any case.

BTW - as noted in other posts earlier, you may want to use headphones as an option. Personally, I'm much happier playing through the amp.
 
#13
Get the Rumble. There is more to reproducing the bass than just frequency.
In fact, as your progress, you will come to realize that too much bass coming out the speakers is usually not good.

I once tried running my bass through my home theater system with a big fat sub-woofie connected.
It sucked in so many enormously crappy ways, I don't know where to begin.

I have the Rumble 200 combo and an old Fender Frontman 15B.
Both have aux inputs, both sound fine when playing my iPad and bass through them.

The 200 will maintain stereo from the aux in to it's headphone out jack. Not that it matters much, but nice to know.
 
#14
Thanks guys,

Sounds like the Rumble is the way to go, I'll likely wait to see if I can find a used one in my area. (There's a Rumble 75 going for $120, but that's a bit more than I need, and I was trying to find something cheaper)
 
#15
The thing is with amplitube you are putting out line level audio that is made to sound like an amp and cab recorded on a mic.

You don't want an amp at this point, you just want something to reproduce the sound faithfully.

Unless you are talking about not using the modeling software and just want the sound of a Fender Rumble 25 and are playing along to audio.
 
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#16
Mister Boh said:
The thing is with amplitube you are putting out line level audio that is made to sound like an amp and cab recorded on a mic.

You don't want an amp at this point, you just want something to reproduce the sound faithfully.

Unless you are talking about not using the modeling software and just want the sound of a Fender Rumble 25 and are playing along to audio.
Click to expand...

Honestly I want the best of both worlds. I want to be able to plug into my PC and play along to music, and also utilize Amplitube to learn how to adjust the "Virtual" amp and peddles. But I also want a good sound.

I may end up finding the amp and getting a good pair of headphones as well.
 
#17
I don't think a small practice amp will get you better sound than modeled high end equipment through good headphones, but I may be wrong.

If you've never had a nice set of headphones you might be in for a treat though. All your music will seem new and exciting.
 
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#19
GBBSbassist said:
Would a pair of active studio monitors not be better than the computer speakers? I don't know much about them, so forgive the ignorance.
Click to expand...

From what I can understand, a good pair of studio monitors are quite pricey, and unless I get a sub with it, I may not get that low punch. But I also don't know much about studio monitors, so I could be wrong.
 
#20
GBBSbassist said:
Would a pair of active studio monitors not be better than the computer speakers? I don't know much about them, so forgive the ignorance.
Click to expand...
No.
They are still not made for bass.
Bass amplification is tricky stuff.
Much more so than geetarz or any kind of not-for-bass speaker system.

"We choose to play bass, and do the other things, not because they are easy..."
 
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