Output to receiver

[Matthew Palicki]

This is really more of a hardware question, but hopefully someone can answer
it. My laptop has your typical sound card w/ only the analog mono headphone
jack for output. I want to output to an amplified receiver to get better
sound/volume.

What's the best way to do this? I've seen cables to go from the headphone
jack to a receiver, ranging in price from $6 to $150 (gold-plated shielded).
I've also seen external cards by Creative Labs, etc., which I'm assuming
would take the place of the receiver and go directly to stereo speakers. Any
experience with this? What's the best way to go?

 

[Phil]

Are you sure you only have a MONO output? Most laptops have stereo sound, so
you would need either a cable with a stereo miniplug on one end and RCA
plugs on the other, or an adapter with stereo miniplug on one end and female
RCA jacks on the other, to which you would connect a standard, stereo cable
with RCA male plugs on both ends.

 

[Matthew Palicki]

You're right, it probably is stereo. Curious if this type of cable will
provide adequate sound through an amplified receiver, or if it's worth it to
get one of the external cards made for this purpose that bypass the sound
card and connect via USB.

 

[Phil]

That is the simplest and cheapest way, and will probably get you as good a
sound as a much more expensive and troublesome add-on sound card solution.

 

[Ionizer]

You're right, it probably is stereo. Curious if this type of cable will
provide adequate sound through an amplified receiver, or if it's worth it to
get one of the external cards made for this purpose that bypass the sound
card and connect via USB.

sound,

Try the first option Matthew suggested before you go out and buy an external
sound card. The jack and cable combination costs only a few dollars.

If your internal sound card isn't particularly good, consider this unit
which I purchased last month: http://www.soundblaster.com/products/MP3+/
I'm quite happy with it- hooking it up took all of two minutes and the sound
quality is great. But as inexpensive as it is, Matthew's suggestion is far
cheaper. Don't spend more money than you have to.

Regards,
Ian.

 

[Matthew Palicki]

Thanks for the suggestions. Got an rca mini-stereo to stereo Y cable from
Circuit City for $5.
Plugged it right into the aux input on my receiver. Sounded awesome. I'm
very happy now; got my own digital jukebox.