connecting computer to stereo

Hi there,

I want to connect my computer to my stereo. They are about 5 meteres apart and cannot be moved. I currently am using a poor quality lead from the 3.5mm jack to the stereo phono sockets.

I want to improve the quality does anyone have any recomendations?

I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy a good quality lead of sufficient length? Or, wether there are any decent soundcards with proper phono out sockets that would enable me to buy a top quality stereo interconnect?

I don't want to spend too much money.

Thanks

[NUTNDUN]

It's nothing that I really experimented with but I would think that someone would sell like an 1/8" jack to RCA converter. I would check out Radio Shack or any other good electronics store that might be in your area. I will see if I can find anything on the net for ya.

[NUTNDUN]

Here is what I found, I would think you could use something like this providing the stereo has rca input jacks. http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=42%2D2483

It says they are either out of stock or no longer selling the item but you could probably call them and ask them if they have anything else similar.

[jrwap]

Well, if you have a Creative Labs Sound Blaster sound card, you might be able to hook up the Live Drive to the card. That will give you optical output which is top quality ... of course your receiver must be able to accept an optical input... Toslink. For a cheaper way, the product tha Nutndun listed is your best bet. If you have trouble finding RCA cable long enough, try a car audio shop. They will have them up to about 25' long.

Good luck,

-JRW

yeah cheers guys,

sorry i wasn't very clear originaly, i have a cable as suggested Nutndun. It's just because of the length of it a nd the general poor quality of the cable the sound is not as i'd like it. It seems hard to find a cable like this that is up to the standard of a normal RCA - RCA cable for a hifi.

I might look into a creative livedrive, i have a spare optical in so it might be a possibility. Anyways thanks for your help.

Dan.

[Hotsongs]

If I am reading what you have said right.....Are you trying to go into the PHONO plugs?..The Phono inputs are used for turntables. I have had my comp system pluged into my Stereo for some time...and have found that the cheaper cables have given me some troubles in the past...use a good sheilded cable. I have found them in several lenghts and all for a small investment. but first I would try Pluging into any AUX input. If I'm reading you right that may be the problem

[Roadblock]

My stereo has RCA jacks on the back for input, and I run straight from the output RCA jacks on the back of my tower, from the sound card, and there is little deterioration of the sound. I would think that Radio Shack has everything you need.

[Dr. Avery]

Duct tape That'll securely connect your stereo to the computer.

[cowmomo]

We've got RCA cables run well over 50 ft with connectors out the wazzooo (male to female, male to male... ) running out of a headphone jack and the sound is still real sweet after running through the stereo preamp and amp. If you are getting interference type problems, you may have kinked (and broken) the cable somewhere.

[Dr. Avery]

Also it will help if your cables are properly shielded. Otherwise you may get RF interference.

[Kungfucious]

ok the thing to remember is that if you want top quality cables, you need to get some which have some kind of protection against OXIDIZATION ... in other words, good quality cable does not go black but stay its original copper colour. Try and get cable which has gold plated connectors, this will increase the transmission through the cable.the cable i used to use with my sub was almost 9 metres long. Since then i have moved the sub back to under my desk and still use the same cable because there was no loss in quality from it.


Also you could try buyinq a Directional cable. These are made to carry the current efficiently in one direction only, seen mot prominently in top end hi fi sysems. You can get these real cheap from a hifi shop which may be swapping demo hifi parts around. they like to use new cable with every new install.

The simplest and cheapest solution is to buy a soundcard with digital output and use either PHONO outputs or OPTICAL outputs.

[Lion7718]

I was just reading yesterday about a wireless connector to do this..it was a few hundred dollars though...can't find link now..if I do I will post back.

[orb36O]

Hey... this might help... Turn your computer volume down to less than half, then use your stereo volume control to amp it up... I am betting that your stereo's amp is MUCH better than your computer's software amp...

[Kungfucious]

true! its recommended that when you use a stereo amp connected to your pc soundcard, you should amp your soundcard to no more than 3/4 of full power. then you can raise the WAV output and any other controll to full since the total volume output is controlled by the far left slider in the audio controlls dialog.

also its worth noting that if your speakers are rated at less power than the stereo amp, you should definitely not run your amp past the half way mark. reason for this is that it starts to burn the speaker coil. You may not notice it because its a very slow process. but in time you will notice that no matter what you do, your audio sounds less than true to what you expect to hear.

[smithy]

Has anyone ever connected their computer to their stereo using RG6? It was recommended to me that I first run a cable out of my headphone jack or audio port. Then use an adapter to go from the mini jack to the F connecter on the RG6. On the stereo side, another adapter to a pair of RCA cables, to audio in on the back of tuner. All hooked up and no sounds. Checked all connections no sounds.

Bogus advice or incorrect execution?

Just in case you are wondering, I'm doing it this way because of a long and winding run through walls, attic, etc.