Older PIII laptop as MP3 player, Armada M700 to be exact

[alkemyst]

This will be for a stationary garage setup. I will use the laptop for websites, but was thinking if I could use the output to drive a pair of RCA's like my MP3 player.

My MP3 player is only 512mb...I don't know if MP3 players have better reproduction of audio in them. I would only be using the laptop's headphone jack to feed a receiver.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Can't see why it wouldn't be able to do MP3. I'd probably use winamp or a similar cut down app.

 

[alkemyst]

defintely can do it, just don't know if I am giving up sound quality.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
defintely can do it, just don't know if I am giving up sound quality.

Sound quality to your ears depends more on the external amp and speakers you patch it to.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: alkemyst
defintely can do it, just don't know if I am giving up sound quality.

Sound quality to your ears depends more on the external amp and speakers you patch it to.

I was reading that some laptops headphone output is better than others...not sure what this was based on and if entry level mp3 player fare much better.

 

[Project86]

There's always USB sound cards if you find the built in sound to be lacking.

 

[RandomFool]

I have the same laptop at home and used it in the same way a few times. The sound card isn't great but I don't remember having any quality issues with it.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Old MP3 player = poop quality. I compared my beloved Creative Muvo TX FM 1GB to my newer Sansa C250 and it was apparent.

Laptop? pretty good sound everywhere you go. If it's lacking you can buy a cheap USB sound card and you'll be set.

 

[alkemyst]

It's actually Sound Blaster Pro/Maestro ESS built in.

 

[SoulAssassin]

<3 M700 back in the day, they were good laptops...that and the M300.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
<3 M700 back in the day, they were good laptops...that and the M300.

They are troopers, mine has been beaten to hell and is still running. My Uncle still uses it for internet and email when he goes on road jobs.

 

[alkemyst]

It sucks I donated / threw out about a dozen of the ArmadaStations....

I picked up a 4 port USB hub, a right angle earphone jack to run down and under the laptop (poor design choice for the earphone and mic jacks), and some extension cables though to get it hooked up in my garage...

Those docking stations are going for $40+ without adapter.

Eventually I want to get a versa mounted LCD and wireless keyboard/mouse for it.

 

[bassoprofundo]

For the kind of things you'll likely be doing in the garage as well as the less than ideal acoustics, I doubt you'll be noticing any audio quality differences. I use an old PII Dell + WinAMP for this purpose, and it works fine for me.