audio out from laptop to home theater sys

[robphelan]

I built a touchscreen mp3 jukebox powered by a laptop some time ago.

I'm basically outputting the audio from the headphone jack (3.5mm) to RCA input on my Onkyo receiver (CD input port).

1) When I don't have the 3.5mm jack plugged in to the laptop, I get a lot of hiss from my speakers. How can I minimize that?

Sometimes, I'd like to stream from my phone - to do this, I'm using the same jack from the laptop & just plugging that into my phone's headphone jack.

2) Does a device/splitter exist where I can have both the laptop and the phone connected, then choose which would be the source audio for my receiver?

thanks for any ideas.

robert.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Mute or power off button? Or do you get the noise when listening to other inputs on the Onkyo?

You could buy a USB soundcard with optical digital out, I have a Turtle Beach one ($25 at newegg) for my Shuttle music server and it works well.

That way:
- PC is one input on the Onkyo (say Video 3), set to use the optical port
- Phone uses the existing analog cable
... and you switch between them using the Onkyo's remote.

 

[robphelan]

sorry for the late reply..

i usually get the home surround speaker hiss when the RCA cables are connected to the Onkyo but is unplugged from the laptop's 3.5mm jack.

i haven't tried a different input - i guess I should have tried that long ago.

 

[s44]

I don't suppose your laptop is new enough to have HDMI?

 

[robphelan]

not this one.

 

[sdifox]

which laptop is it? some laptops have spdif out sharing a jack with the headphone jack.

 

[SithSolo1]

sorry for the late reply..

i usually get the home surround speaker hiss when the RCA cables are connected to the Onkyo but is unplugged from the laptop's 3.5mm jack.

i haven't tried a different input - i guess I should have tried that long ago.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here. Usually I only hear a hiss from my systems when they are turned up really loud. Your laptop my be outputting a low volume signal through the cable so you are having to crank the piss out of your stereo to get it where you want it. My Sony mp3 player has the same issue. Powers earbuds fine, actual output to a receiver is very low even turned to Max. Make sure both your laptop and phone are turned all the way up before adjusting the receiver.

I also 2nd the USB soundcard route. Not only will it output a higher volume signal, it will probably also have a better dac. http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA2.../dp/B000KW2YEI seems to get good reviews. It really is just Plug and Play