Need help connecting my PC to my stereo

[lordofduct]

What kind of stereo do you have? And what outputs and inputs to you have available?

If you have digital outputs and inputs, use those. Better sound. (SPDIF or Coax/orange RCA)

If you have RCA outputs on the soundcard and the stereo just use RCA cables.

If you have 3.5mm mini-jack on the sound card and RCA on the stereo use a 3.5mm mini-jack to RCA cable like this:


or this:

you can get them at Wal-mart or RadioShack for 3 or 4 bucks.


if you have only 3.5mm mini-jack on both... well you need to find out what the hell the mini-jack is on the stereo side. A lot of older stereos and even some newer ones have these mono mini-jacks for AM radio, phonos and remote control sensors. Don't use these as either A you get mono sound, or B you are interfering with an input not meant for sound.


ripping apart ear bug cables might work. Depending on the ear bud cable. In the end though the sound quality will be really shitty. Main reason is the cables ground is crap and so small it is hard for you to split the lead and ground apart and make a clean connection. Why waste the time when you could just get the cable for 3 bucks.



[NOTE]
Analog connectors are uni-directional. Meaning they send information only one direction. Due to them being analog it can't tell the difference of the kind of input you've used. Make sure you hook into the correct connector by reading the manuals for each devise... so as not to destroy your equipment.

[ott0bot]

I was also thinking about this...
Are other sources, such as your tv or cd player getting stereo sound? Maybe one of the channels in your reciever is burned out.

[dudex77]

@vlame my settings are fine

@lordofduct I know one of those cables would be ideal but finding things that are common in America can often be impossible in the south of Spain. Hopefully I can find a place to get one. My sound card is minijack output and my stereo is RCA so I just need the cable I suppose I'll quit bothering with these headphones I suppose.

@ott0bot I don't think I can hook up my old ass tv to my stereo and my tv is mono anyways. My stereo just has a record player and tapedeck but the RCA jacks are to hook up a CD player and each RCA input is labeled as left and right so it must be stereo.

[ott0bot]

Look for the cables by the iPod accessories. They have become much more popular since people realized you could hook your iPod to your stereo.

I really don't know what else to suggest. But it's gotta be something with either your sound card, your headphone jack, or your reciever.

[dudex77]

Look for the cables by the iPod accessories. They have become much more popular since people realized you could hook your iPod to your stereo.

I really don't know what else to suggest. But it's gotta be something with either your sound card, your headphone jack, or your reciever.

I'm pretty sure it's the cable. I don't think my cable is meant to be used how i'm using it.