Any PC Speakers auto off?

[alsheron]

I've had a look around but can't seem to find any decent PC speakers that automatically turn off when the PC is shut down.

There are USB speakers, but they seem to be woefully underpowered. :wacko:

I just want to watch movies with them and listen to music. 2.1 would be fine, and my budget is around ?30-?40

Are there any powered speakers that maybe have a USB connection so that they turn off with the computer?

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I don't know of any... can't you just turn it off? When there is no sound coming from it, little power is emitting from it

[google123]

These speakers have automatic stand-by mode which would pretty much be like auto-off since they will be using teeenny tiny bit of power in stand-by.

TDK Tremor xa60

[alsheron]

@ Mindovermaster:

I'll explain: I watch movies in bed using Media Center and when the movie is over i don't really want to have to get up and turn off the speakers when i shut down the computer with my Media Center remote. It kinda does away with the point of having a remote. Also, if there is power to the speakers, they make a eek eek eek eeeek noise when my mobile phone is on... Very annoying, especially when it wakes you up.

@ google123

Thanks for the info! Will these make an eek eek eek noise in standby if a mobile is near? :D

Anyone else?

[google123]

In that case I would think that any set of speakers with a remote would be ok. You could turn off the speakers with the remote, you couch potato you. :woot:

[Smigit]

I dont see any real need to turn them off. If your getting an eek eek ekk then that sounds like interference and really its probably an issue with cheaper speakers that are picking up interference. Anyway look at something with a remote but ideally the speakers shouldnt make any weird noises just because your phone goes off.

[Symphony]

- You can try to purchase a remote controlled power surge - some electric shops sell this. It has place for 4-5 power plugs and many devices can be completly turned off with a remote controller.

- Try searching not for a PC speaker but rather a portable speaker with built-in amplifier. Search for the one which is able to operate from batteries too. I had once this kind of speakers (listening Star Wash - Disco Fans in the bus on trips :D) it will go onto stand-by if it doesn't get input. (Don't remember the name, it was a very cheap sg with Intersound or some similar cheap name :))

[Odom Member]

Most cheap speakers will have interference when a mobile phone is near them. Try to keep it at least 1m away from them.

My brother has my almost 10 year-old Cambridge Soundworks from Creative ( 2 speakers+subwoofer) and they would shut down if no sound came through after a while. However I have no idea if Creative still has any speakers that do this.

[JMoney]

This is probably overkill for what your looking for, but this is what I did to solve this problem. I bought a 12 volt relay from an auto part store then wired it up to the 12 volt output of the power supply for the PC. I then spliced into the AC/DC converter for the speaker system so that when the PC is on the relay is tripped and power is sent to the speaker system. I hibernate my Media Center PC so the power supply shuts off as well as the speaker system. If you do go this route, I can tell you how to wire up the relay. Also, you'll have to check and make sure that the power needed for the speaker system isn't more than what the relay can handle.

[google123]

Or you could just move the bed closer to the speakers if its really that much of a problems. Or perhaps run an extension cord from the nearest plug closest to your bed. Then plug in the surge protector into the extension cord and plug all your shite into that. Then when you want to shut off everything completely, you just pull the plug.

[lizard.boy]

Add the auto off option yourself!

Mini Power Minder

Same idea, power bar form

This is assuming your in NA, if not, I'm sure you can find the equivalent for euro/uk plugs. If your adventurous you could create the same device with a relay doing basically the same thing JMoney did.

[m1x4h]

get a stereo and put it on sleep mode....

[alsheron]

Thanks for all your replies! Much appreciated..... Some interesting suggestions here too...

JMoney: Your suggestion is freaking ingenious.... :woot: Are you an electrical engineer or something? I don't think I'd want to go to those lengths to carry out your plan just for the sake of my lazness but thanks for the suggestion - very intelligent, but for me, too much like hard work!

Symphony: Getting warmer, but I didnt quite get the whole portable speaker thing. Those things are usually crappy of sound quality, so I'll have to give this idea a miss unfortunately...

lizard.boy: This is it! Fantastic! Exactly what i need! Except..... Mmmmm..... Can't find an equivalent in the uk...... Do these have a generic name I can search for? Amazon.co.uk don't have 'em......

EDIT:

For the benefit of anyone else with the same problem, I found this for the UK:

One Click thing

Edited March 28, 2007 by alsheron

[JMoney]

Nope, not an electrical engineer, I'm actually a part-time MBA student and part-time IT support person. Though several years of tinkering with car audio, PCs and the like give credence to my knowledge.

I'm glad you found something that works for you. The mini power minder would have worked perfectly for what I was doing too, but when I searched for something like it I couldn't find anything. Oh well, what I have works for me.

[jago_lfn]

Hrm... "Clap on! Clap off!" No one has suggested to get a clapper. Pretty common thing. Just clap your hands and turn it off.

[alsheron]

Hrm... "Clap on! Clap off!" No one has suggested to get a clapper. Pretty common thing. Just clap your hands and turn it off.

Most things in my life are Clap on, Clap off, i just never thought it would apply to speakers.....