Question about computer speakers

[Soen Eber]

EDIT: This has been resolved.

I have my laptop and a 24" monitor on a wheeled under-bed cart that I can move around, and it gives me a great deal of comfort and freedom. I also have limited space on it - it's maybe 15" by 4 foot (sorry, a bit shy of half a meter by a meter plus).

I'm hard of hearing, so I really can't use those dinky 5w speakers you can pick up for $10, so I need something in the 20+W range. I'm worried that if I pick up something with a rechargeable battery, the battery will die because I'll keep it plugged in all the time. I thought I solved the problem by getting a stereo with bluetooth, but my computer won't connect to it and I'm not about to sink another $80 into fixing THAT. There are speakers you can plug into the A/C but they all come with massive subwoofers I don't have space for ... not on the cart so there's only room for two smaller units. Active speakers are ... pricy. And large. Also I don't have enough room for a long sound bar, not unless it's something that can generically clamp to the underside of a monitor or my cart, but I could manage something maybe a foot (1/3 meter) long or something squat and cube about 6-8" on all sides.

So ... any suggestions? I need something that I can plug into A/C power (I have a surge protector that clamps to the side of the cart), that puts out at least 20W, pref 30W. And I want to plug in headphones when needed so the people next door can sleep. And it should be $30 or less. Tight budget.

Thanks

 

[Isabeau]

Does your computer only not connect to this particular stereo or just generally not connect to any Bluetooth device?

 

[Soen Eber]

Does your computer only not connect to this particular stereo or just generally not connect to any Bluetooth device?

To that specific device - a used Victrolia stereo I picked up on Craigs List. My tablet does connect to the Victrolia. My laptop is an elitebook, again used but not ancient, and can't be more than 4 or 5 years old.

 

[Soen Eber]

Solved. I had purchased a clock/radio some years ago with both aux-in and a headphone jack (sometimes it's GOOD to not buy the cheapest thing that "does the job" . I dug it out, read through the manual, and it's now hard-wired in and I can plug the headphone into it when my neighbors are sleeping.

Now I just have to figure out how to set the time ...

 

[Free]

Now I just have to figure out how to set the time ...

Masking tape over the LEDs.

 

[Soen Eber]

Masking tape over the LEDs.

Masking tape??? ELECTRICAL tape. I'll swipe some from my car dashboard

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

EDIT: This has been resolved.

I have my laptop and a 24" monitor on a wheeled under-bed cart that I can move around, and it gives me a great deal of comfort and freedom. I also have limited space on it - it's maybe 15" by 4 foot (sorry, a bit shy of half a meter by a meter plus).

I'm hard of hearing, so I really can't use those dinky 5w speakers you can pick up for $10, so I need something in the 20+W range.

Watts as measurement unit mean absolutely nothing if you want to make some statements regarding the loudness of your speakers, the real measurement unit for that is db/W/m.

Many passive speakers really only need a single digit watt number to reach a loudness which is suitable enough to permanently damage your ears. It really depends on the design of the speakers and their efficiency factor.