Audio People - Is headphone same as line-out?

[PoPPeR]

I have a CD/MP3 player and a stero system that I want to hook up to a set of computer speakers in my room. The CD/MP3 player has a headphone jack and a separate line-out, while the stero system only has a headphone jack (well it has a subwoofer, left, and right input too). Is using the headphone jack the same thing as using like a line-out on a computer system for a 2.1 system, or will the quality be worse?

 

[glen]

short answer - yes

 

[AFB]

Try it

 

[PoPPeR]

well yeah I tried it, and everything seems to work, but I was just curious if they were the same

 

[KingNothing]

medium answer - typically, the headphone jack is preamped, whereas the line out is not. If you're plugging the source into an amp, you'd want to use the line out because using a preamped output would add noise to the line.

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
medium answer - typically, the headphone jack is preamped, whereas the line out is not. If you're plugging the source into an amp, you'd want to use the line out because using a preamped output would add noise to the line.

Acutally, the line out jack would need to be preamped also, or else the amp would never hear any sound.

An amp, always needs a preamp.

The line out is probably just not amplified as much as the headphone out.

 

[sygyzy]

No, it is NOT the same thing. Line out is just the signal, unprocessed. Headphone amp is run through the amp.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
medium answer - typically, the headphone jack is preamped, whereas the line out is not. If you're plugging the source into an amp, you'd want to use the line out because using a preamped output would add noise to the line.

Correct, They both will produce sound but if you want to run something through a stereo line out is much better.

 

[sniperruff]

but if you use line out you won't be able to control the volume by the cd player

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: jsbush

Originally posted by: KingNothing
medium answer - typically, the headphone jack is preamped, whereas the line out is not. If you're plugging the source into an amp, you'd want to use the line out because using a preamped output would add noise to the line.

Acutally, the line out jack would need to be preamped also, or else the amp would never hear any sound.

An amp, always needs a preamp.

The line out is probably just not amplified as much as the headphone out.

An amp doesen't always need a preamp, what are you talking about?

In addition to the line-out sounding quieter, you also won't hear the beeps etc that the unit makes when you press buttons on it. You also won't be able to control the volume with the cd player. May or may not be a big deal.

 

[PoPPeR]

hmm, well that is a problem if you have a remote control on the cd player, since i don't have a computer speaker system with a wireless remote (that'd be really nice though).