PC music to home stereo

BattleCruiser · 08-11-2008, 07:00 PM

Hey ive been wondering what would be the best way to play music from my PC to my home stereo (even if i need to spend a few bucks). What ive been doing is i have an adapter that plugs into the headphone port on my computer that gives me 2 RCA jacks, which i run to my stereo. But the quality is so crap and mono. What i would like to know is what would be the best way to get the sound quality from my PC to my stereo, and i would like to go wireless if i could, because my computer and 1 stereo system is in the basement, but i also have a nice stereo 2 floors above which i would like to be able to play simotaniously with the other. Maybe some type of fancy FM modulator? Sound card? any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

yustr · 08-11-2008, 07:58 PM

The sound card in your Dell is a 7.1 capable card. So you should be able to get stereo from the headphone plug you're currently using. Make sure it's in the correct hole - check your owner's manual but it usually is the green one.

As far as sending the signal two floors above, I'll leave that to others. I run 100 ft of speaker wire to my basement workshop. That may or may not work for you.

BattleCruiser · 08-12-2008, 06:36 PM

Ya i know that its a 7.1 card and i checked the manual to double check and its right, i can get ok sound, but the quality just isnt good and i have to set the balance on the receiver to about 40% on one side just to get equal volume.

yustr · 08-12-2008, 06:49 PM

It could be the adapter. I had one that just didn't make a solid connection, once I replaced it with one of a slightly higher grade all was fine. Try a single cable rather than an adapter and cable. Like THIS ONE they're available everywhere.

BattleCruiser · 08-12-2008, 07:14 PM

Ok thanks, ill try that for the close connection, but i would still like to know if anyone knows about a good wireless way to transfer the music signal.

bobm_10 · 08-14-2008, 08:40 PM

I have been looking at the Sqeezebox 3 from Slimdevices:

http://www.slimdevices.com

Although this is more of a pull product than a push product that you have been doing. I want to sit on the couch and pull the songs from my computer.

Hope this helps,

Bob

BattleCruiser · 08-16-2008, 11:37 AM

Ya that squeezebox looks like it would do the job but its a bit pricey. I ended up going with ' Airport express ' it syncs up with my itunes and uses my wireless network.

08-11-2008, 07:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
BattleCruiser Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 71 OS: Windows XP	PC music to home stereo Hey ive been wondering what would be the best way to play music from my PC to my home stereo (even if i need to spend a few bucks). What ive been doing is i have an adapter that plugs into the headphone port on my computer that gives me 2 RCA jacks, which i run to my stereo. But the quality is so crap and mono. What i would like to know is what would be the best way to get the sound quality from my PC to my stereo, and i would like to go wireless if i could, because my computer and 1 stereo system is in the basement, but i also have a nice stereo 2 floors above which i would like to be able to play simotaniously with the other. Maybe some type of fancy FM modulator? Sound card? any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks __________________ Main system: Dell Dimension E521, 4 gigs of ram, AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core 5600+, Nvidia 7300LE 512mb, 250 gig HD. ASE Certified Honda Technician.

08-11-2008, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,052 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: PC music to home stereo The sound card in your Dell is a 7.1 capable card. So you should be able to get stereo from the headphone plug you're currently using. Make sure it's in the correct hole - check your owner's manual but it usually is the green one. As far as sending the signal two floors above, I'll leave that to others. I run 100 ft of speaker wire to my basement workshop. That may or may not work for you. __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

08-12-2008, 06:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
BattleCruiser Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 71 OS: Windows XP	Re: PC music to home stereo Ya i know that its a 7.1 card and i checked the manual to double check and its right, i can get ok sound, but the quality just isnt good and i have to set the balance on the receiver to about 40% on one side just to get equal volume. __________________ Main system: Dell Dimension E521, 4 gigs of ram, AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core 5600+, Nvidia 7300LE 512mb, 250 gig HD. ASE Certified Honda Technician.

08-12-2008, 06:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,052 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: PC music to home stereo It could be the adapter. I had one that just didn't make a solid connection, once I replaced it with one of a slightly higher grade all was fine. Try a single cable rather than an adapter and cable. Like THIS ONE they're available everywhere. __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

08-12-2008, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
BattleCruiser Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 71 OS: Windows XP	Re: PC music to home stereo Ok thanks, ill try that for the close connection, but i would still like to know if anyone knows about a good wireless way to transfer the music signal. __________________ Main system: Dell Dimension E521, 4 gigs of ram, AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core 5600+, Nvidia 7300LE 512mb, 250 gig HD. ASE Certified Honda Technician.

08-14-2008, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
bobm_10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 28 OS: winxp	Re: PC music to home stereo I have been looking at the Sqeezebox 3 from Slimdevices: http://www.slimdevices.com Although this is more of a pull product than a push product that you have been doing. I want to sit on the couch and pull the songs from my computer. Hope this helps, Bob

08-16-2008, 11:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
BattleCruiser Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 71 OS: Windows XP	Re: PC music to home stereo Ya that squeezebox looks like it would do the job but its a bit pricey. I ended up going with ' Airport express ' it syncs up with my itunes and uses my wireless network. __________________ Main system: Dell Dimension E521, 4 gigs of ram, AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core 5600+, Nvidia 7300LE 512mb, 250 gig HD. ASE Certified Honda Technician.