Compact stereo system with optical input?

[SonicFlux]

I'm looking for a compact/portable/boombox-ish type system with an optical input. Any ideas?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What size is compact to you and what's your budget?

Why do you need the optical input? (What are you hooking up, and why do you want to do optical rather than an analog connection)

 

[Baked]

Maybe he has a mobo w/ optical out and he wants to use the mini stereo's speakers for audio and movie instead of PC speakers.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Baked
Maybe he has a mobo w/ optical out and he wants to use the mini stereo's speakers for audio and movie instead of PC speakers.

Yeah, but it might make more sense to just get a cheap soundcard with good analog output quality vs. trying to find a sound system that might be compromised on overall performance but have that optical input.

I just want to make sure what the situation is to know if that optical input is really necessary.

 

[SonicFlux]

I'm trying to create a decent quality but fairly portable system for easily moving between various rooms in the house and the detached garage in which I will use a Linksys wireless music bridge to stream audio to the portable system, thus the need for a digital optical input.

Using the bridge's analog output is only a last resort as the quality difference is night and day. Note that if I were using a hard wire connection between the PC and stereo system analog would probably suffice. But when streaming over 802.11G the optical feed makes so much difference I'd rather not bother if I can't use optical.

I really don't need all the bells that come with a standard stereo (i.e. am/fm tuner, tape and cd player), as all I really need is optical in, amp plus 2 speakers, but I'm willing to spend upwards of $200 or more for a solution.

An alternative would be something not so portable but cheap enough I could leave in the garage, and I already have two old loudspeakers for garage use. hmmm, maybe an old cheap stereo amp/tuner off ebay or craigslist?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well that sounds like a pretty good reason for wanting to go digital. The analog output from that devices probably leaves a lot to be desired.

I really wasn't thinking a full sized receiver for this when you said portable but it seems like your plans might have changed

An inexpensive receiver off craigslist would probably be a really good way to get the garage system going.