Help With Audio Solution For My Daughter's School

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys, I'm the default AV guy when it comes to AV solutions for my daughter's school. Yes, the school is closed right now, but they are planning for the eventual return of the students and for students to be separated by a safe distance. With this in mind, for some stuff they'll be using a projector in a room that normally fits about 50 people (I don't have dimensions currently), but will have far fewer kids. The current projector solution they have only has audio inputs and a tiny speaker output. They currently connect a laptop to the projector and play videos either downloaded, streamed, or on disc. 

 

Projector: Epson Home Cinema 760HD 

 

User Manual: cpd53633.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

Project: Find an audio solution, preferably a pair of speakers, "as small as possible, affordable (I'm sure this is a huge range), and transportable."

 

The projector has no output, only input. My initial thoughts are to run HDMI to the projector form the laptop and run USB to a pair of powered speakers. I'm unsure if this will work and I fear it would be an either HDMI or USB type of situation. I can test this at the school though, before purchasing anything. 

 

Question: Does anyone have powered speaker recommendations for this project? They should be durable, and "as small as possible, affordable (I'm sure this is a huge range), and transportable."

 

Thanks for any input you have. 

[DuckToller]

how about this for the audio out problem ?
https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-Extractor-Converter-JTDAT5CH/dp/B00BIQER0E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hdmi+to+hdmi+spdif+converter&qid=1589391802&sr=8-1

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, DuckToller said:

how about this for the audio out problem ?
https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-Extractor-Converter-JTDAT5CH/dp/B00BIQER0E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hdmi+to+hdmi+spdif+converter&qid=1589391802&sr=8-1

I think that's a good start to split the signal. Then, I just need to find powered speakers.

[DuckToller]

does transportable mean to carry them in a case ?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Just now, DuckToller said:

does transportable mean to carry them in a case ?

Good question. Transportable means moving them from one room to another, not necessarily in a case. Speakers that require a couple people to move are out :~)

[dsnyder]

3 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I think that's a good start to split the signal. Then, I just need to find powered speakers.

 

I'm a fan of the JBL 305P. Do they meet your definition of affordable, small, and transportable? They would need to sit on something. Perhaps a pair of chairs?

Looks like $220 for a pair, plus cables.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1381116-REG/jbl_305p_mkii_powered.html

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, dsnyder said:

 

I'm a fan of the JBL 305P. Do they meet your definition of affordable, small, and transportable? They would need to sit on something. Perhaps a pair of chairs?

Looks like $220 for a pair, plus cables.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1381116-REG/jbl_305p_mkii_powered.html

Great start. Do you know if they make them with digital input?

[dsnyder]

Just now, The Computer Audiophile said:

Great start. Do you know if they make them with digital input?

Well, that's an option, but you have to move up to the 705P, which removes "affordable" from the list of features for most people.  . Plus AES/EBU is going to be hard to come by on an HDMI breakout. 

 

I bought my son a pair of these (or a similar model), and he's been very happy. Not sure how durable they are, but they are similar in size and certainly look nice. 

https://www.edifier.com/us/en/speakers/s2000pro-bookshelf-speakers-studio-monitors

 

 

 

[plissken]

You will want XLR outputs. Don't do RCA if this is running any distance past 10-15 feet. You'll hear the problems pronto.

 

Presonus for $99

 

JBL 308-MKII for $189 per. This is going to do better in a larger space that a classroom represents. Built in EQ for placement flexibility.

 

On the PC just change the audio output to the Presonus.

[DuckToller]

Polk might be affordable or Klipsch, if not US then maybe Edifier
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-41M-Powerful-Detailed-Bookshelf/dp/B07FKH3VPV/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=polk%2Bactive%2Bspeakers&qid=1589392117&sr=8-8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=psdc_3236451011_t2_B07FKH3VPV?th=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1280DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0719C132V/ref=psdc_3236451011_t2_B016PATXSI

[plissken]

Just choose your output and right click and set it.

[sphinxsix]

I would recommend Adam Audio T5V which won my comparative test of affordable active monitors (sound great as desktop speakers) but they don't have digital in.

In such circumstances my vote goes to the JBLs. They've got lots of bass which may be good thing for big spaces like classrooms. 

[NOMBEDES]

If your final purchase does not include some sort of case (which you should have for easy transport) maybe some one has an old hardcase suit case with wheels they could donate.  

[AudioDoctor]

Thinking a bit outside the audiophile box:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Powered-Studio-Monitors.gc?postalCode=30302&radius=100#pageName=subcategory-page&N=19632+1075&Nao=0&recsPerPage=30&&Ns=pLH&postalCode=55417&radius=100&profileCountryCode=US&profileCurrencyCode=USD

[ShawnC]

You could also consider a portable PA system.  You could add a microphone if the classroom size was big enough like a gymnasium. You would still want a Presonus to split out the signal.  

[austinpop]

22 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Speakers that require a couple people to move are out :~)

 

So no Alexia 2 then?  

 

What about these: https://audioengineusa.com/shop/wirelessspeakers/a2-wireless-computer-speakers/

 

You could use Bluetooth from the laptop to the speakers for audio.

[sphinxsix]

 

After some serious consideration I must say that IMO hi-fi-logy should become a school subject and every school should have at least 3 audio systems (diverse price levels) as teaching aids.