Playing backing tracks through a guitar amp is not ideal, and short of spending $$$ on a PA which I don't need, I was wondering about getting some good quality powered speakers into which I can plug a MP3 player. I auditioned the Fostex PM0.4n studio monitors and they sounded rather good.

I'm wondering what you all use to play backing tracks through and if you have any recommendations.

Thanks and Cheers!
BM

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I use M Audio CX-5's which I like very much.
cheers,
Alex

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

if you have a spare set of computer speakers (preferably 2.1 or 5.1 with a sub-woofer) you can plug that directly into the media player. It works great!

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Buy a 1/8" to RCA "Y" cable and hook it up to your stereo.

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Thanks very much for the replies.

@ AlexeiY I'm sure the M Audio CX-5s are great but they're also way over what I'd be looking to spend.
@ strings10927 I don't have a spare set but it would be something to seriously consider.
@ yodacaster I tried that but the speakers of my "stereo" (I use the term loosely) are so crappy it's not even funny.

I considered one of those iPhone/iPad boom-box/docking things - sorry, I don't know the technical term - but to get anything decent I think you'd have to spend close to $200 which brings us back to the Fostex monitors.

Cheers!
BM

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Here's a 2.1 by Logitech for $40 at Best Buy, it even has a little remote (might be handy):

Logitech - Z313 2.1-Channel Speaker System (3-Piece) - Black/Silver



LINK

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I have the Logitech Z523 on my desktop so I plugged in my MP3 player and tried it out. Unfortunately it's not loud enough to balance with my HRD at volume 4 on the clean channel. If the Z523 with its 40 Watts can't cut it then I don't think the Z313 with its 25 Watts stands a chance.

Cheers!
BM

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ahh I didn't realize just how loud you want to go, that's pretty loud. Maybe with a higher-end set of speakers but maybe not. I use my old 4.1 Creative Labs rig, not even sure what the wattage is but it gets the job done for the volume I want to play.

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Actually my modified HRD is not all that loud. I swapped out the preamp tubes for some lower gain counterparts, and I use input 2 which is 6 db softer, so at volume = 4 the amp is sweet but not too loud and certainly not anywhere close to headbanger levels.

Cheers!
BM

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I have a 3-year-old asleep upstairs usually when I get the chance to practice, so I manage to get my volume down pretty low on both the music and amp out of necessity. I have to say I'd be surprised if I couldn't do the same with your 40W speaker system.

EDIT: found my speaker system online, it's a Cambridge Soundworks (Creative) 4.1 Surround Sound 40 watt system. Maybe my watts are louder?

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Remember the one about the guy listening to the car radio while driving the wrong way on the freeway? The traffic announcer says "There's an idiot going south in the north-bound lane" and the guy says "ONLY ONE!?! There must be hundreds going the wrong way!" Well, it seems the guy is me.

I took my MP3 to the music shop to test out the Fostex PM0.4 monitors. Each speaker was on max, my MP3 player was on max, and the volume was still too low. Okay for listening but not loud enough for jamming. Then I went to the electronics store to give those iPhone/iPad docking things a chance. The young salesman was ready to plug in his iPhone with the dance music and I insisted on hearing my backing tracks through the aux input. He couldn't believe his ears but had to agree that it wasn't very loud. It was the same story when I tried various computer speakers from Logitech to Bose. ... Can you guess where this is going yet? ...

It turns out the problem is with the quality of MP3 tracks I was using to test the speakers. After doing some new tests at home with different MP3 tracks I can confirm that my 40 Watt Logitech speakers are good enough for the job.

Apologies, Thanks & Cheers!
BM

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I've got a Logitech 2.1 system on the computer here and I can confirm that it's VERY good indeed. Not sure it's really 40 Watts, we all know how hifi manufacturers love to exaggerate power outputs but the subwoofer is excellent, the sound quality is really good and it'll easily compete with a practice amp when I want to jam along to an mp3.

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my stuff on soundcloud

I record backing tracks with my Boss BR 1200 CD.

I have a Logitech S500 PC sound system plugged into the Boss.


I use the two speakers on the right and left and the subwoofer only.

Loud enough to get some rocker feeling.

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

After sorting out the issues with my MP3 backing track files, I picked up the Logitech Z313 at Best Buy and am happy to report that there's plenty of juice for jamming.


Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.
As always, very much appreciated.

Cheers!
BM

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This is the Blues. Are you listening?

excellent! glad you got it sorted out, now go play!

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