Connect a sound card to a stereo receiver?

[NightRaven]

Is thier anyway to do this? I only have a SoundBlaster Live! card, and rather than buying new speakers, is it possible to connect to my existing surround sound theater system?

 

[NokiaDude]

Buy a mini jack to RCA cable with ends that have left and right connectors. Voila, you can now conect your computer to your HT system!

 

[NightRaven]

Really? What does one look like? Is it something I can pick up at BestBuy?

 

[DaveSimmons]

RadioShack sells them too, one end is a mini-plug like on portable CD headphones, one end is red & white RCA audio plugs like on everything (analog) attached to your stereo right now.

RadioShack (and BB?) should also carry long extension cables, either 2xRCA or mini-plug to mini-socket.

 

[substance12]

i've done this before and i lost alot of "power" or "signal". Is there a way to do this without the huge dB loss?

 

[Sheriff]

Just find the balance between the PC volume and the Receiver. Plus if you connect (Y out) the Jack to PC Speaks as well there will be a DB loss

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: substance12
i've done this before and i lost alot of "power" or "signal". Is there a way to do this without the huge dB loss?

I'm not expert, but I think an inline amp would do the job?

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I have the same setup (Sound Blaster Live! hooked up to a JVC 5.1 Dolby Digital reciever). Anyway, I took a 1/8 miniplug --> RCA adapter (Radioshack part number 274-889 as shown here at Radio Shack). It sounds great! But then I found a 1/8'' miniplug ---> coaxial digital (which is just a RCA plug) cable, and I use that instead (remember to enable digital output in advanced properties in volume control in windows if you do the digital way). But really I think they sound the same.

 

[Maddscientist]

i've done this before and i lost alot of "power" or "signal". Is there a way to do this without the huge dB loss?

You had a low quality cable.... as long as its not longer than 1-3 meters you should not notice a drastic volume decrease. My HK-AVR510 does outstanding from either my Live 5.1 or my onboard digital coax out. I barly notice a signal loss.

 

[substance12]

well, ya I can just turn up the receiver more... but i just dont' like having to turn up the dial "that" much more than the normal volume level. when you switch to any other mode you have to be extra careful you've lowered the volume.

the Y connection is the problem, but for such a cheap solution, I supposed I can't complain much.

 

[Sheriff]

What I do is use the Soundcard for the PC Speaks and the onboard sound for the Receiver or Visa versa

 

[NightRaven]

Great advice... Thanks guys...

 

[dml54]

I got a Plug like your decribing with my 5.1 speakers, for hooking the speakers to a Stereo, X-Box, or PS2. The plug is about 8 inches long. It sounds great whichever way I hook it up. Use the onboard sound for the 5.1 speakers and have a Soundblaster Live feeding to the stereo reciever. Just tried with the plug in the speaker jack and I get volume troubles. Do you have it in the line out jack? Works better than I thought it would be for I set it up.