This from 5 years ago.
We are too much taken by big numbers, and big bits of kit. Often we forget that just like computers other stuff has also come on in leaps and bounds in the last 30 years.
A little while ago I was looking to bring back into service some classic hifi speakers from the 1970s. I wanted to drive them from the computer but didn't want to have to run a long length of cable from the computer to some amp. I asked about and got well meaning solutions involving £100s or was told to just ditch the classic speakers and get wireless modern ones. I have a relation who is a sound engineer and his solution ran into £1000s.
Eventually some one gave me a perfect solution, I emailed back my relation and said I'd got a solution which would surprise him. He came round a week ago and I fired up the speakers. He nodded approvingly and said 'But where is the amp?" So I showed him and he spluttered 'but, but, but ...'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nNK8...ture=endscreen