RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] connecting a computer to a sound system

["Spurling, Shannon" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

You can split a line level output, because impedance matching isn't as important. It doesn't work with headphones though. You get two impedances in parallel, and it decreases the power output tremendously. Same with speakers and headphones. The difference is that speakers are non powered, so they have to be driven. Amplifiers don't have to be "driven", and the impedance at the input of an amplifier is supposed to be high (If I'm remembering correctly) to make it easier to get a clean signal into it without the amplifier having an affect on the component before it. Something like that. Any way, it sound like they must have had your outputs marked wrong on your Compaq. :-)
Why is it that people give you crap about buying Compaq's any way? :-) They might be strange, but the quality has always been decent from what I can see.

Shannon Spurling
WAN Engineer -Specialist

MOREnet, Network Services, Core Network
3212 LeMone Industrial Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201

Main:(573) 884-7200   Fax:(573)884-6673

EMAIL:PROTECTED
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-----Original Message-----
From: Ross, Matt [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 9:22 AM
To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
Subject: RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] connecting a computer to a sound system


My old compaq (166mhz) had both line out and headphones built onto the
motherboard.  The line out worked fine for headphones, speakers, and (using
the stereo to rca cable) the RCA line-in on the back of my stereo.  The
headphone slot didn't work so well on headphones or speakers, but still
worked fine in the RCA line-in.  I wound up putting the computer speakers in
the line out, and the RCA adapter on the headphone, and my headphones on the
headphone plug of the CD-ROM.  You can also purchase a splitter for about $3
from Radioshack which splits your 1/8" stereo for two devices.  I use that
on my new computer and don't notice any quality loss in either the speakers
or the RCA adapted line.

> Some cards with only line out _can_ drive headphones too. 
> It's an undocumented feature, a pair of jumpers marked only on the 
> silkscreen. The $8 card I am remembering, however, was so 
> noisy it sounded like the inside of a jet airplane with headphones
> on.
> 
> My idea for a gadget: an amplifier with a volume knob and 
> headphone jack, something you can mount to the monitor with 
> double-sided tape.  Plug into USB for power. 
> 
> Regards, 
> Mark
> 
> On Sun, Jul 07, 2002 at 11:09:47PM -0500, Spurling, Shannon wrote:
> > Make sure you plug into the line out, and not the headphone 
> out. You won't break any thing, unless it's not properly 
> protected from being over driven, but it sure could sound crappy. :-)
> > This one is pretty much a no brainer, but hooking 
> headphones to a desktop can be a challenge. A lot of sound 
> cards only have line out, and can't decently drive a pair of 
> headphones. And then there's the whole reaching around to 
> switch between the speakers and the headphones if it can 
> drive them. That is a problem to try and get around. I fought 
> with it for several months, and finaly bought a new sound 
> card when nothing else worked.
> >  
> > Shannon
> > 
> > 	-----Original Message----- 
> > 	From: Mark Rages [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED] 
> > 	Sent: Sun 7/7/2002 10:11 PM 
> > 	To: EMAIL:PROTECTED 
> > 	Cc: 
> > 	Subject: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] connecting a computer 
> to a sound system
> > 	
> > 	
> > 
> > 	That's the famous 1/8" headphone jack. Every Walkman has one.
> > 	
> > 	You need the 1/8" stereo phone plug to RCA (phono) plugs cable.
> > 	Wal-mart's got it. Radio Shack's got it. I have a half-dozen of
> > 	them because my soundcard came with a bunch.
> > 	
> > 	Radio Shack and other places also have little battery-powered FM
> > 	modulators, if you are one of those that would rather not tether
> > 	your laptop down.
> > 	
> > 	Regards,
> > 	Mark
> > 	
> > 	On Sun, Jul 07, 2002 at 09:21:17PM -0500, Stephen 
> Montgomery-Smith wrote:
> > 	> I have a laptop which has not so nice sounding 
> loudpeaker.  I would like
> > 	> to connect it to my fancy stereo system (Onkyo 
> TX-DS575 if that means
> > 	> anything).  Well the outlet on the side of the 
> laptop, which is exactly
> > 	> like the outlet on any soundcard, seems to have a 
> plug completely
> > 	> different than the inputs to the stereo system.  Is 
> what I want
> > 	> possible?
> > 	>
> > 	>
> > 	> --
> > 	> Stephen Montgomery-Smith
> > 	> EMAIL:PROTECTED
> > 	> http://www.math.missouri.edu/~stephen
> > 	> --
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> 
> 
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