Annoying Newbie question....

[Dill Bertweed]

I'm trying to send PC audio to a stereo receiver... I have a y-cable. The split end is 2 RCA jacks and the single end is a pin that is supposed to plug into a PC port (the ports used for headphones, etc.)

So... I plug the RCAs into my stereo, in any of the input jacks (tape, CD, etc.), and i touch the PC pin end of the wire and get feedback... not sure if thats appropriate.

When I plugged the single pin into the PC headphone jack, I got a tremendous amount of feedback.

Whats the deal? I have no idea what I'm doing... but I want to play audio from my computer through my stereo. Is it possible? Is my receiver too old? It's pushing 15 years old... lol.

 

[driftwood07]

i assume this is the kinda cable you are talking about, right?
http://images.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/6652.jpg
if so, it sounds like you are doing everything right. just plug the 3.5mm side into the PC audio out (the green one) and then the red/white RCA plugs into
the back of the receiver for any input, making sure to match up the polarity with the speakers. does the feedback occur through the speakers
even when everything is all plugged in and you arent touching the plugs, and you have some music playing on the PC?

 

[sivart]

sounds like you have a ground loop. Try plugging your PC into an outlet on a different circuit breaker to see if the sound goes away. If it is a laptop try and unplug it temporarily.

 

[s44]

Or hit Radio Shack for a ground loop isolator.

 

[Modelworks]

You could have a cable with a bad ground. If there is no ground when you connect the amp to the pc there will be a lot of noise because they are using a secondary path to ground, home wiring, neutral of power supply, etc.

Something I recommend for anyone doing this sort of thing and having the problem you are is to get a meter. Even a cheap meter, just as long as it has a volts ac on it.
Touch one probe to the pc case and the other to the stereo ground. If you see something like 20+ volts then you got a grounding issue and should not connect the two devices until you sort out where the problem is.

Either the home wiring or either pc or amp.

 

[Dill Bertweed]

Thanks All. You were all right about the grounding problem. My outlet is non-GFI and I was plugging in my surge protector box with an adapter which was not grounded properly. As soon as I grounded the plug by screwing the grounding plate of the adapter to the outlet. no more feedback.