Reddit mentions of SMSL Q5 Pro Digital Amplifier 2-50W USB/Coaxial/Optical with Remote Control - Black

This is what you are going to do

SMSL Q5 Pro Digital Amplifier - $120

ELAC - Debut B6 - $280

total: $400

leaves $200 from your budget to get cables, wall mounts for speakers, or a subwoofer. Or just put it all into bigger speakers.

With this setup you still have good viewing of the fireplace, but the entertainment system is not compromised. Also it leaves room for growth.

Or you can go here and mix and match whatever looks good to you.

Here are some thoughts on this.

1. Using two Bose speakers isn't going to work well and will be expensive.
   
   
2. You'll be better off with a soundbar...yep I know bring the hate but of the two it's the better option.
   
   
3. $200 is going to be hard but if you have variable RCA audio outputs then you can put together a budget 2.0 setup. You'll want to check your TV.
   
   Here are a few options to consider.
   
   

• Soundbar - Yamaha YAS-107 $200, Yamaha ATS-1060 refurb $130 - These Yamaha's sound good on their own except for the extreme low end. However, they have the ability to add in a power subwoofer to them. I like this because the sub is not proprietary and can be used with future systems. If you're in a smaller space these will actually do alright on their own.
  
  
• Soundbar - Sony HTCT80 $100 - Basic soundbar with a wired sub (my preference for simplicity) that will sound much better than the TV. Is this a great solution no but it will work and is very cost effective. For music it's going to be muh but for HT use in a small room it will do fine.
  
  
• 2.0 - SMSL Q5 Pro amp $130, Micca MB42x speakers $90 and speaker wire- Slightly over budget but this will get you on the path to a much better system. This amp has an optical input so you can use it with any TV. The bookshelf speakers can be spread out to get you a better soundstage. The low end will lack but you can fix that later with a sub. You'll also need either an RCA cable to 3.5mm or an optical cable to get the signal into the amp.
  
  
• 2.0 - SMSL SA-50, speaker wire (above) $10 and a set of BIC DV62 $120 - Larger speakers will get you better bass but you'll have to see if you have space for them. You'll also need to have those variable analog audio outputs and an RCA cable to feed the amp.
  
  
• 2.1 - This is going to be tight and you'll need the analog outputs from the TV but this will get you good results. Lepai 168HA $30, BIC DV32 $60, Dayton Sub800 $100, and some speaker wire $10. You'll also need an RCA cable (those are cheap).

Boom

Otherwise we'd need to know what inputs your sub has. Some subs have speaker level inputs/ouputs that let you wire your speaker in series, others just have RCA inputs.

Sounds like you need something like these:.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0OMUGS/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_23_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0ZAGYB8ZH3ZSJSBVHZEH&dpPl=1&dpID=41IrTc-8IBL.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UGYFWQC/ref=psdcmw_537344_t3_B00R3CRY6Q.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017W12UCU/ref=psdcmw_537344_t2_B00UGYFWQC

+2 for the SMSL. Can't speak to the AD18, but I had a Q5 and loved it

Kanto BEN (comes in all colors), SMSL A2 or Q5 Pro, Dayton Sub 800

https://www.amazon.com/Kanto-BENBLKGL-Passive-Coaxial-Speakers/dp/B00AWLI7E8

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017W136AU/ or https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017W12UCU/ (good becuase treble control for BEN's brightness.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-800-8-80-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-627

And speaker wire, and a subwoofer cable. But yeah.

JBL LSR305 would be a pretty good choice, and you'll have some extra dough left afterwards. If you have multiple sources you'll probably need something like the Schitt Sys to switch inputs, though the SYS only takes two inputs.

You can also consider the SMSL Q5 amp, which has a bunch of inputs. For matching bookshelf speakers you can look at the Emotiva B1, Philharmonic AA Monitor, Kef Q100. Downside is that the amp isn't terribly powerful, so volume might be a problem. Your listening distance doesn't seem like it'll be very far so you should be fine.

I had the same question about a year ago... this is what i did...
Micca MB42X
Earthquake Sound FF6.5
SMSL Q5 Pro <-- I prolly wouldn't go with this again, not enough power.

You can get a 2.1 amp such as SMSL Q5 Pro. It comes with a remote and has a subwoofer output. A used-like-new is available at amazon for $85.



Pick up a Dayton sub 12 from parts express for $138.

Pick up Elec debut 6.2's for around $228 from amazon since you mentioned you like them.

All of this comes to around $450.

This of course means forfeiting any chances of future expansion and you won't be able to control volume through your TV remote.

However you can go with an s530BT avr from A4L for $140 and keep your chances of future expansion alive while still being close to your $500 budget.

SMSL Q5

​

I have one. It's great.

You need an amplifier with a built in DAC (or separate DAC unit to connect to the amplifier). Optical audio is a digital signal but the speakers need analog.

SMSL Q5 Pro should be able to do what you want.

I think this is Rule 1 territory though.

Yep. Which is why they are mostly used in a desk setup. The smsl Q5 (only 50 watts) has a remote, but for $140 I would just look for a receiver. Many more options like digital connections and room correction software. Upgrading to a receiver was the best audio upgrade I've done. Hardcore audiophiles might scoff at receivers for no good reason, but for someone starting out, they are awesome.

I scored a refurbished yamaha 375 for like $130 on amazon. Crazy good deal. The 377 is $170 from amazon warehouse.

The yamaha stereo receiver is also another option with a remote at just $150. Two pairs of 2 channel. Also much easier to connect a sub to a receiver than a 2 channel amp.

Hit up accessories4less for other refurb deals too. Yamaha, denon, onkyo are what I would look out for. Usually good amazon deals on those too.

Not sure exactly what Pioneer speakers you're talking about, but if they are the BS22's, then they are a great budget option.

I would look into a receiver from Denon or Yamaha instead of the Pioneer. These can be purchased refurbished with warranties from Accessories4Less if you want to save some money. If you don't have plans to upgrade to 4k anytime soon, either the Yamaha RX-V377 or the Denon AVR-S500BT will do everything you need, but considering the newer models are only ~$20 more, I'd probably go ahead and get one just to be safe.

If you don't want a big receiver in the bedroom, there are other options as well. You could use the SMSL Q5 Pro and a bluetooth receiver to get a cleaner setup.

Ah, I see now. No most amps wouldn't go to sleep on you. Yeah, you could definitely go with a small amp and passive speakers, which is my preferred setup. An SMSL Q5 Pro ($100-130) is a decent little amp with enough audio inputs for you, some Micca MB42X's are a local favorite for smallish desktop speakers ($90), and you could even add a small sub like a Dayton 10" for ($120). A pretty decent 2.1 setup (if you have room for the sub).

SMSL SA-98E

SMSL Q5 Pro

Just for anyone who wants to take a peek.

I'd also be interested to see what people say about the SMSL AD18

SMSL Q5 Pro Digital Amplifier 2

Check this little guy out. Ticks all the boxes (other than video input), and leaves you with a decent bit of cash to buy a nice used set of speakers.

A number of possible solutions. Your TV has optical sound out. So you will need something to convert the optical digital sound signal to an analog signal (DAC). Then you will need something to amplify the analog signal to drive a speaker (amp). Then of course the speaker itself.

Here are some possible solutions:

• Bluetooth transmitter that takes optical input ($25-50) and two bluetooth speakers ($25-50). Many of each to choose from. You'll likely want a BT speaker that takes an AC adapter so that you can just plug the speakers into the wall outlet. So just make sure the speaker comes with some kind of AC adapter. Many of them are USB powered, so if you have a bunch of AC to USB plugs lying around, you should be all set.
  
  
• Small integrated DAC + amp like the SMSL Q5 Pro (~$100). Micca MB42 speakers ($60). The Q5 Pro has a remote, so they can adjust the volume of the speakers easily.
  
  
• Small DAC like the FiiO D3 ($25) and powered speakers (i.e., the amp is integrated into the speaker) like the Micca PB42x ($120). Volume control is a knob on the speaker.
  
  
• ... and now the controversial solution that will commit two /r/hometheater faux pas' at once. A soundbar (gasp!) possibly from Bose (double gasp!). If your parents have trouble hearing the dialogue in shows, there are modes for soundbars that are specially tuned to amplify talking. The Bose Solo 5 mini soundbar ($200) will take the optical input, convert to digital, amplify, and drive its speakers. It has a "dialogue enhancement" mode to boost the frequencies in human speech without making the background sound louder. Similarly the cheaper Amazon Basics version ($100) has a "news" mode that does the same thing. You may find that they can use these modes to hear the dialogue but not have to turn the volume up so high. Note the Amazon soundbar is quite long (31") while the Bose one is compact. You just stick the soundbar under the TV and they would not need to put speakers on their nightstands or do any wiring across the room.
  
  BT xmitter: https://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B00QV77YIC/ref=pd_sim_23_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00QV77XU6&pd_rd_r=S1FZ89HQSV360WXDPB6K&pd_rd_w=5L2XQ&pd_rd_wg=tT0TC&refRID=S1FZ89HQSV360WXDPB6K&th=1
  
  BT speaker: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-Black/dp/B01GF5ACUG/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1496641001&sr=1-10&keywords=bluetooth+speakers
  
  SMSL Q5 Pro: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Q5-Pro-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B017W12UCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496640656&sr=8-1&keywords=smsl+q5+pro
  
  Micca MB42: https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=pd_ybh_a_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M8DF9BG3KN9NN102A6Q6
  
  Fiio D3:https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical-Toslink/dp/B005K2TXMO
  
  Micca PB42x: https://www.amazon.com/Micca-PB42X-Powered-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00NXAEPDC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1496640689&sr=1-1&keywords=pb42x
  
  Bose Solo 5:https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Solo-TV-Sound-System/dp/B01AWLPUAG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496639710&sr=8-1&keywords=soundbar+dialogue#customerReviews
  
  Amazon Basics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EK7TEL4/ref=psdc_3237803011_t1_B01AWLPUAG?th=1

Why active? The JBL's are nice but any active setup offers no future upgrade path. I'd look at one of the SMSL DAC/Amp combos like the Q5 Pro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W12UCU/ or AD18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N8Q57FS/ with the KEF Q100s or Q300s https://www.kefdirect.com/specials/specials/q100-bookshelf-loudspeaker-pair.html https://www.kefdirect.com/specials/specials/q300-bookshelf-loudspeaker-pair.html

Fluance Signature Series

If you don't have an amp, the SMSL Q5 Pro powers them nicely, but puts you just slightly over budget.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017W12UCU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I didnt get the powered Micca speakers I got 2 center channel without the built in amp ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HHFBEK6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )


and the amp is

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017W12UCU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Its what u/Zeos recommended.

this is another alternative, if you just want an amp and nothing else. This takes the optical input from your TV and connection to the speakers.

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Q5-Pro-black-Component/dp/B017W12UCU/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

The Onkyo is nice, I've had one for a while, and I like it, but it doesn't have a remote. I would consider the SMSL Q5 Pro if you can deal with the inputs, but if you're looking for something higher end, I've enjoyed listening to the Teac AI-301DA.

If you're fine without the remote, the Onkyo has been a solid performer for me. As for subs, I've heard and enjoyed a friend's Hsu Research VTF-1. I have a Klipsch R-12SW that has served me fine, but I got it for a song new, and if you're paying full price, the Hsu is a much better value.

Also, if you go with the Hsu, it has speaker-level pass throughs, so that opens up the avenue for 2ch amps without discrete sub outs, and I'm always quick to recommend the Emotiva A-100.

SMSL Q5 Pro is the cheapest amp I've found with optical in and a remote.

I purchased this little amp, it has worked fine and will work for these speakers. It's on the cheaper side and doesn't have any optical or usb. If you want to spend a bit more you can get this one that has more connection options. I only use mine as computer speakers so don't need anything more. There are many other little amps in between, I'm no expert on them, you can try /r/audiophile or /r/headphones for more info, also /r/zeos .

Depends on what kind of inputs you want and how loud you need your speakers to play.

I'm using a Q5 Pro with my Miccas and subwoofer. It wouldn't have the power to drive the speakers loud in a big room, but my setup is a desktop one and the Q5 Pro had a subwoofer jack, a remote and multiple source inputs.

I'm just using the Amazonbasics 16-gauge speaker wire since my cable lengths aren't more than 7 ft.

The first thing that jumps out at me with your layout is your seating position. How far are you sitting away from the TV? I wouldn't sit farther than 10 ft max from a 65" display, because at that distance you wouldn't be able to tell even 720p content from 1080p. If at all possible pull out the couch from the back wall 1-2 feet. No matter what sound system you get, you'll have a poor experience seated right against the wall, because you'll get overly boomy, bassy sound.

If you want to keep it cheap, I'd go for a simple 2.0 setup with pair of bookshelf speakers and an AVR, because I think that would offer the most bang-for-the buck. Add a small subwoofer down the road.

I'd go for a Denon X1300 and a pair of Philharmonic AAM. If that exceeds your budget, then I would swap the AVR for this integrated amp , but that would limit upgradability in the future.

For a smaller, less obtrusive setup, you could go with a subwoofer + satellite approach. Same AVR as above, but pair a Hsu VTF-1 or RSL Speedwoofer 10s with Focal Little Birds or Cambridge Minx Min 12s

You can add satellites as you go to fill out a surround setup, or add full size speakers to the front stage and rotate the satellites to surround duty.

I'm not sure if $100 is a hard cap, but you might consider the SMSL Q5 Pro if you can stretch it to $139 and are looking to buy something new rather than going with a used product. It has an optical connection, a remote, and should definitely be able to power those Daytons. It doesn't have a ton of inputs and you'd have to wire the sub in line from the speaker outs, but it checks all of your stated boxes. If you're looking for a full-blown AVR with multiple inputs and a sub pre-out, the Onkyo TX-8020 is a great bet for $149. All that said, used is definitely your best option if you're really trying to keep this below $100.

Where in general are you located? That might help others try to find location-specific things. Shame the AD18 isn't available. Maybe consider the SMSL Q5 Pro if it is available?

Alternatively, you can get yourself some good bookshelf speakers and an amp. I've got a pair of Micca MB42x's and an smsl q5 and it's way better than any "computer" speakers I've heard. Of course, if you don't need the ability to use a remote, you can do it for much cheaper. Have a look at /r/zeos for some detailed buying guides.

How about the SMSL Q5 Pro? The SMSL mini amps are pretty highly rated and seem to be what your looking for. Optical, or USB in, sub out and really small.

morning All, I require you expert advise.

I am looking at picking up a some Morel SP1's for my Desktop PC, a store in Australia has them for $135 AUD each.

However I am not sure what USB DAC/ AMP i would need. I was recommend the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 100 However for that price and what I will be using I believe the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic is rather over my budget.

I do know they require 20 watts of power. I was looking at something like this but not sure.
https://www.amazon.com.au/SMSL-Q5-Pro-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B017W12UCU

If you anyone could help a noob understand what is required or recommend something better. I have looked at the recommend speakers but they are to big for my desk and require a smaller profile. I feel that the price range is rather fair also.

Ah, I see -

You can't use the amplified sub output of that to feed an active sub. That Fosi is 3 amps in one, L & R amplifier and Subwoofer amplifier, for passive speakers and a passive subwoofer (no amp).

Your Dayton sub already has an amplifier in it and needs a line level input via the RCA jacks or as a last resort via the L/R high level amp speaker input (which just extracts a low level input from the L and R amplified channels, then the passes the signal through to the main speakers, keeping a proper load on the amplifier.)

Using the subwoofer high level (amplified) output from your Fosi to connect to the sub as a filtered line level is not recommended. You won't have any load on the subwoofer portion of the amplifier and it will be trying to crank. Not a good idea.

You need a pre-amp with subwoofer LINE level outputs (or amp with this - as line level). You probably won't find many with a pre-out for a sub, with bass & treble controls, under $100.

• https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Q5-Pro-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B017W12UCU/
  
  This has a 2 channel amplifier, with bass & treble adjustments (digitally), digital inputs for other devices, and a sub pre-out for your subwoofer. The low adjustment is made on the subwoofer.
  
  
  

I'm looking to get a pair of speakers to use with my pc/XBone

I'm interested in the KEF Q100s ($300), but I'm having a difficult time trying to find a nice-looking desktop-size amp with multiple inputs that wont cost my right kidney.
____
So far this is what I've found:

NuForce DDA120 $300

I like the amount of optical inputs and the addition of a Bluetooth dongle, but it doesn't have a woofer output for future upgrades and is a bit pricey for my taste.

SMSL Q5 Pro $140

Seems like a good fit, but lacks Bluetooth.

OSD AMP60 $73

Very minimalist, but includes preamp controls and is pretty cheap.
__
I'm very new to audio so I don't really know if either of these are a good fit for the KEF Q100s

Any help would be appreciated

So I'm upgrading from my ghetto budget audiophile build, Dayton B-somethings and Behringer U-Control Uca202 as my dac. Amp is something I got in a bundle from parts express with the speakers. Basically the build I learned from /u/zeospantera a few years ago.

My budget is $300.

My use case is only as desktop speakers for my gaming PC. Since I will have them less than 3 feet away, loudness is not a requirement for me.

I need a clear distinct soundstage where I can tell instruments apart.

I'll use them for listening to classical/orchestra, synthwave/retrowave and rock/metal.

Clear, reference highs are more important to me than brightness or thicc bass.

So this is my planned build.

This will be my source and amp, an SMSL Q5 pro.

It will power these passive bookshelf speakers, the Sony SSCS5 3-Ways.

These go to 3(ways).

As always anyone is feel free to tell me why my choice is obviously wrong.

And I hope /u/zeospantera can enlighten me to the true Patrician Choice.

I had just bought one from Amazon for $139. I bought the one from eBay too but I couldn't cancel the Amazon order.

Do you think the eBay version is legit?

1. Maybe I misunderstood you (or I wasn't clear); the effect I desire, is that there is one place I raise/lower volume (be it a knob or a remote control), which causes the volume of both the bookshelf speakers and the sub to be raised/lowered accordingly.
   
   
2. @ better to manage bass w/ receiver: Even if the sub is powered? OK, good to know.
   
3. That is a good suggestion; thanks.
   
4. OK; I'll check out used towers; if I find them dirt-cheap, I'll grab them instead of doing a bookshelf+sub combo. And that 100Hz bit is great piece of info; thanks for that.
   
5. I'm finding it difficult to find used receivers / preamps that have TOSLINK / SPDIF input (the manufacturers only advertise their newest products); is there a convenient list of products-by-manufacturer somewhere I can browse to find a receiver / preamp that is new enough to have this?
   
   Assuming I find no cheap used amps that fit the bill, would these do the job? (or are they too weak?)
   
   

• SMSL Q5 Pro
  
• FXAudio D802

Complete novice here, and I'm looking for suggestions and/or reassurance before I pull the trigger on a 2.1 desk setup. I'll try not to waste your time, so here is what I'm working with:

• 100 sq. ft. computer/office room.
  
• Speakers need to fit on my 6.5 foot wide desk without looking ridiculous (nothing taller than about 1 foot).
  
  
• Source will be my PC with a variety of media, incl. gaming, music, movies, etc., so I'm looking for well rounded performance.
  
  
• I want to mount any peripherals (amp, DAC, etc.) to the under side of my desk to eliminate clutter. Smaller is better.
  
  Edit - Price range is about $400 - $600.
  
  
  Okay, with that out of the way, here is what I've put together so far:
  
  
• (Speakers) Elac B5 Debut Series 5.25" http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462926103&sr=8-1&keywords=elac+b5
  
  
• (Amp) SMSL Audio Q5 Pro http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Q5-Pro-black-Amplifier/dp/B017W12UCU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=A1KM4QXTQQPGX4
  
  
• (Sub) Yamaha YST-SW012 8-Inch Front Firing Active Subwoofer http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YST-SW012-8-Inch-Front-Firing-Subwoofer/dp/B000TQ4D8K?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
  
  My fears are that this combination will not work, or that I've made a terrible mistake in the equipment chosen. How would you all spend roughly the same amount of money to get great sound out of a computer, starting from scratch?
  
  Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
  
  Edit - I'm not sure about this subwoofer. I know I'll need a powered sub because the amp I've chosen isn't very powerful, but should I get a downward firing sub instead of front firing? Is there another sub in the $100-200 range that I should go with? Again, this is in a fairly small room, and it will likely be on the floor about 3 feet from my... feet.
  
  Thanks again!
  

the dayton sub has the "high level outputs" so you dont have to worry about a sub out on the dac/amp. you would just run the speaker wire from amp to the sub inputs, then another set of speaker wire from the sub output to the left and right speakers.

http://www.daytonaudio.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x800/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/u/sub-1000_photo_3_2.jpg

the audio engine b1 isnt what you need or want though, all that does is capture a digital data signal you are streaming via bluetooth and then send that digital signal to a dac/amp that would then convert and send it as an analog signal to your speakers. meaning it doesnt actually output any signal your speakers would recognize so you would still need a dac/amp to take that digital signal you streamed and turn it into an analog signal that would then run through speaker wires to your speakers. the b1 is basically a very expensive rca cable replacement that lets you go wireless.

what you want/need is more like this guy that does everything you ask for. it is currently at $230 but if 2 more people go in on the deal it will go down to $200 (if youre not familiar with massdrop they do group buys that can lead to some nice discounts on things). the downside to massdrop is shipping can suck if you live outside of the US and some things take a while to ship out, but you could get the thing for $200 when its $300 on amazon, which is a good savings.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ai-101da-integrated-amplifier-with-usb-dac?mode=guest_open


this would also do what you need and ticks all your boxes including price as it is only $145.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073F8Z565/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_2_w


this is a bit cheaper at $117 but lacks bluetooth
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Q5-Pro-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B017W12UCU/ref=sr_1_28


in my opinion the TEAC would be the best, as TEAC gear is very well built. my dac is the TEAC ud 501 and its a beast. i havent owned any SMSL gear but it does tend to get pretty good reviews and is recommended a lot. also, all 3 above have sub output so you dont need to worry about routing speaker wire through the sub, but the option would be there still of course.


that make sense? you just need to be mindful of digital signals vs analog signals. think of it as digital signals are just 1s and 0s that a computer reads and analog signals are the music that speakers can "read". digital signals run through rca cables, over bluetooth or optical cables and many other types where as analog signals run through plain ole speaker wire. with computer audio you will always need your source or output, aka the computer, that then sends to a dac (digital to analog converter) that does the converting, then that converted signal goes to an amp, then the amp to the speakers. your computer also has a built in dac on the motherboard but those usually arent very good, which is why a standalone dac is nearly always better. dacs and amps can also be totally separate pieces, but that usually runs the cost up and adds more complexity. honestly the whole thing gets fairly complex and can be super confusing with so many options! it is really easy to get deep into the weeds and spend a ton of money.

I had the Mackie CR3 for a bit but switched over to some bookshelf speakers and an amp. I liked the mackies but they are a bit flat and really lacked the punch and color that I was looking for. I personally use the Micah MB42X paired with the SMSL Q5 Pro.
Check out this guy, he knows his stuff. https://www.reddit.com/r/zeos

powers speakers, has optical in, and remote https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W12UCU/ref=psdc_537344_t2_B00JESRNKO