PC Controlled Amp?

[monkeybug]

Hi all,

I am in the middle of converting a JVL touchscreen cabaret into a juke.  I've mounted (retrofitted) an ELO touchscreen in it and now I am trying get the audio all set up.

My problem is that, while the pc speakers that I am going to mount, do a decent job... I would like to have a jack out the back of it, to external speakers (via speaker wire plugs).  But I need an amp for that, which I would like to control via the PC (serial?).  Anyone know any solutions?  I want this thing to be a black box...with all input/control from the touchscreen.  No external buttons or knobs.

[BobA]

If your amp is a receiver with an IR control you can use a program such as girder or uice to send IR signals to the receiver and control it from your PC.  The PC can send these signals on certain events that you specify when you set up girder or Uice.   If you look on some of the Home Theater forums you will find info on controlling multiple devices from your HTPC. 

BobA

[Barry Barcrest]

Alternatively, and how i would do it is set the amp to the maximum voulme you would want and fit it in the cab then just control the volume via the jukebox volume control. Far easier in my book and just as effective.

[monkeybug]

Barcrest... that is pretty much the same idea that someone else brought up to me today, while I was searching the electronic surplus store.  Probably the easiest to implement.

I guess a car amp would help with the footprint size?  But then again, I could use a regular stereo amp with ease... except for maybe cooling.