How do I hook up this amp/receiver to my PC ?

[KingLeo]

My dad gave me this old kenwood receiver / amp and speakers . Can I hook this up to my PC ? It has a realtek built in sound card and a SPDIF output . I wouldn't know how to hook this up.

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[Nohr]

That receiver doesn't have any digital inputs so you'll have to use analog. For stereo you'll just need a 3.5mm to RCA cable. Hook one end to the green speaker jack on the computer and the other to a free red & white RCA input on the receiver.

 

[montypythizzle]

I think you can hook it up as it is now for 5.1, as long as your onboard supports it. It should have settings in it's control panel for green being center and subwoofer, and the others as microphone as surround and line in as front. IDK if your card has this, and that was just an example. You will need a subwoofer with a low level input and some speakers to go with it to get the 5.1 effect.
Just get 3 of those 3.5mm to RCA cables and it should work, may want to wait for others to answer the question, but I believe that is how it is done.

BTW, the ones I am talking about is the DVD input.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

it's easy. you'll need 2 things
1/8" STEREO to RCA adaptor (notice i said stereo and not mono)
Stereo RCA cables

1. plug the adaptor into the speaker output on the pc
2. plug the RCA cables into the adaptor
3. are you using a separate cd player? if not, plug the RCA's into CD on the reciever. If you are using a cd player, the use MD/Tape Play In or DVD 6 CH Front.
4. turn the volume way down on the pc, then turn on the reciever. use the radio or cd player or something to find a comfortable listening level.
5. play something on the pc, and gradually bring the volume up on the pc to match the level you heard in #4.
6. in the pc audio controls, move the balance all the way to the left. is the only sound coming from the left speaker? if it's on the right, turn off the reciever and switch the RCAs around.
7. important!!! pc sound levels can be all over the place, so go through everything that makes a sound on your computer with low volume on the reciever, and adjust each program's volume. you don't want to be blown out of the water when you open your email or something.
8. crank up to eleven

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So you have a 5.0 set of speakers hooked up to the receiver now?

No sub?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the onboard sound is stereo analog, so to get 5.1 OP need an external doohicky to convert the digital output

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
the onboard sound is stereo analog, so to get 5.1 OP need an external doohicky to convert the digital output

not necessarily. many soundcards allow the line in and mic in to be used as rear channels, and center/sub.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

that's news to me

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
that's news to me

Usually integrated sound or a soundcard with 3 stereo jacks can be configured for anything between 2.0 and 5.1 operation by changing the driver / sound utility settings.

Even if he is stuck with stereo for some reason, getting a dedicated soundcard is what I would suggest instead of trying to convert from the digital output.
(That or get a new receiver )

 

[KingLeo]

Hey people you guys have all been a great help . Well I tried to hook it up from the dvd side since I already have a 2 Rca to 3.5MM that I happened to have . I have two front (huge speakers) one center and two small surround speakers. It so far only works through the audio output . It sounds pretty dang good for free but I think I need something better can anyone recommend some good music listening speakers (music)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KingLeo
Hey people you guys have all been a great help . Well I tried to hook it up from the dvd side since I already have a 2 Rca to 3.5MM that I happened to have . I have two front (huge speakers) one center and two small surround speakers. It so far only works through the audio output . It sounds pretty dang good for free but I think I need something better can anyone recommend some good music listening speakers (music)

If you go into your realtek control area, can you configure what kind of speaker system you have hooked up?

FYI music is generally 2-channel only and thus would only come out the front two speakers unless you have some sort of surround processing happening on the signal either by the sound player, the integrated sound, or the receiver settings.

If you're going to upgrade the system, what kind of budget did you have in mind? If music the only priority?

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: KingLeo
Hey people you guys have all been a great help . Well I tried to hook it up from the dvd side since I already have a 2 Rca to 3.5MM that I happened to have . I have two front (huge speakers) one center and two small surround speakers. It so far only works through the audio output . It sounds pretty dang good for free but I think I need something better can anyone recommend some good music listening speakers (music)

What are your current speakers?

The Insignia NSB-2111s are nice, and not too big, either. I'd also go get a proper reciever - I'd trust my Pioneer SX-434 (the least of the recievers I've got) over that Kenwood any day of the week. A pair of 2111s plus, say, a Sansui AU reciever will give you some really great sound indeed.

Also, if you can, go get a good outboard soundcard. The M-audio Audiophile is pretty dandy, providing you don't want surround, and for music, you usually don't.

 

[montypythizzle]

Wish those Insignias would go down in price, from 40 dollars to 72.. I have been checking the price everyday looking for them to drop.
May just get some Polks I saw at this rummage sale, 5.0 set but eh, could just trade them for my Onkyo HTIB fronts.

 

[cheesehead]

If you want cheep speakers that don't suck, go for some Minimus 7's on eBay. They're small, they're nearly bulletproof, and with an adequate sub, they don't sound half bad.

 

[montypythizzle]

Well I want a 2.0 system for my computer and thought the Insignias would be great for that. IDK however if I can still use the Wolfsen DAC on my AV710 in games, haven't tried it, and the headphone jack doesn't sound as good. Kernel Streaming sounds GREAT compared to the headphone jack output.