Integrating a PC into your sound system

[Tom Storer]

I'm no audiophile, so be prepared to speak in words of one syllable. I'm curious to know how one would go about connecting a PC containing MP3 files to one's sound system in order to play them over the stereo speakers. In the long run, it might be interesting to buy a laptop with a big hard disk solely for that purpose.

Any ideas?

[DWBass]

Basically, just get a 'mini stereo' to 'RCA' cable. Plug the mini stereo plug side into the audio out on your PC/Laptop's soundcard. Plug the RCA side into an aux input on your receiver. That should do it.

[Vince Kargatis]

Yes, any Y-cable will do, but if you wanted to maximize audio quality, you'd want to get a good sound card, which usually would have plain RCA stereo outputs. Good sound cards can cost hundreds though. PC AV Tech is probably a good source to start with for sound card information. I've never gone the quality sound card route, so can't offer personal experience. But I don't doubt it would make a signficant difference (since I've suffered really shitty sound cards before).

[J Lee]

I can recommend the PCMCIA sound card I use in my live rig/laptop/softsynth setup.

The Echo Digital Audio's Echo Indigo card is cheap, at $129 list for their basic model (with no inputs), and is widely used, particularly among musicians who have very basic output needs.

I often use route my laptop to my home stereo to reproduce digital video and audio with no problems. No RCA out, however, if that makes a difference to you. Sorry if this sounds like an ad or something -- it was simply a great discovery that an inexpensive card worked perfectly for my needs.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Does one really need a good sound card if the source audio is compressed mp3 files? I really doubt that. Even the cheapest modern-day sound card should do fine with mp3s. I agree that you should upgrade your sound card if you plan to use your PC as a recorder but as an mp3 player, i wouldn't even worry.

One thing often overlooked by people using PCs for audio is that they are very noisy, both electrically as well as physically. Fan noise can drown out soft music. The hard drive might spin loudly. If your source is a CD, the CD-ROM drive can be very loud. You might want to consider putting the CPU in some sort of enclosure to block these sounds. Be warned that you have to have some air going in there or the PC will get too hot.

Electrical noise can also be very bad. One of my current PCs has a problem keeping the mouse port isolated from the audio card. No matter what mouse I use, when I move it, I hear a very annoying buzz in my audio output.

Later,
Kevin

[Jim Dye]

Check out this link, Tom.

http://www.slimdevices.com/

All you need for your PC is a wireless PCI adapter (or airport card if you use a Mac) for about 50 dollars and you can wirelessly stream music to your stereo. The software is free and the Squeezebox is $299.00. It not only streams MP3's, but full quality WAV or AIFF files as well. Additionally, your PC can be in another room, so you have none of the electrical noise problems that Kevin mentions. I may purchase one shortly. If I do, I'll give a full report.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

BTW, anyone who uses their PC for an mp3 player should check out both Jeremy Pelt's and Greg Osby's web sites. Both have tons of live unissued mp3 material. I burned the mp3 files onto a CD-R and I play them in my mp3 boombox. Great stuff.

Kevin

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Kevin Bresnahan

BTW, anyone who uses their PC for an mp3 player should check out both Jeremy Pelt's and Greg Osby's web sites. Both have tons of live unissued mp3 material. I burned the mp3 files onto a CD-R and I play them in my mp3 boombox. Great stuff.

Kevin

the Palmetto records website has, for almost every album, a few extra sample tracks that weren't released from the session, IIRC. Some very interesting stuff available there.

[Pete C]

Can anybody tell whether this product sounds reasonable?

http://www.x10.com/products/x10_vk57a.htm

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

Looks clever, but X10 are kings of the annoying pop-up ad.