PC to stereo - what's the solution?

[Thump553]

It might be something as simple as the adapter you are using-are you sure it is a stereo adapter? It might be just mono.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Thump553
It might be something as simple as the adapter you are using-are you sure it is a stereo adapter? It might be just mono.

But I thought stereo headphones gave him mono too?

 

[angusfookes]

Yes, the stereo headphones give me mono.

 

[acemcmac]

minijack to rca cable ftw

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
minijack to rca cable ftw

Except it's not working....

I'm sorry I don't have any more ideas for you, angusfookes.

Getting a USB soundcard might be your only option if your integrated audio continues to have this mono problem.

 

[alcoholbob]

You don't want to enable S/PDIF.

A minijack to RCA cable with digital output selected will output both channels in PCM out of the left (mono) channel only. If plugged into an analog-in, this will result in a weak mono signal.

Try to uncheck S/PDIF? Maybe your onboard is stuck on S/PDIF or something, you should try an external sound card.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
You don't want to enable S/PDIF.

A minijack to RCA cable with digital output selected will output both channels in PCM out of the left (mono) channel only. If plugged into an analog-in, this will result in a weak mono signal.

Try to uncheck S/PDIF? Maybe your onboard is stuck on S/PDIF or something, you should try an external sound card.

But it's not like spdif to an analog input on his receiver would give him mono sound... it just wouldn't work at all, right?

 

[alcoholbob]

No you do get a signal. The voltage amplitude of digital is a lot smaller than analog, but you will still get a signal; it will just be alot fainter than it should be.

If you have an old receiver you don't mind damaging, try it sometime ; )

 

[angusfookes]

Thanks Astralite - I have unchecked S/PDIF check box which is on a popup from Control Panel/Sounds & Audio Devices/Volume tab/Device Volume - Advanced/Master Volume/Advanced. After rebooting, there was no change to the mono output.

What I find oddest is that it works in stereo using the internal speakers. I would have thought that, if it was the card, then everything would output in mono.

I had another moment of brilliance - get down the old PC speakers from the attic and try those. Yes, it worked but still it outputs in mono. That makes me fairly certain it isn't the stereo or the cable but something regarding the hardware or software setup in the notebook.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your help. Not sure what to do now - maybe get the USB soundcard? Seems an expensive workaround though when the solution could be, tantalisingly, within reach...somehow!

 

[angusfookes]

I think I'll try the notebook manufacturer to see if there's a patch/upgrade, whether it's a common fault, etc. .......Typical though, their website is down today.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
No you do get a signal. The voltage amplitude of digital is a lot smaller than analog, but you will still get a signal; it will just be alot fainter than it should be.

If you have an old receiver you don't mind damaging, try it sometime ; )

Maybe when I get a new receiver/separates to power my speakers and my Pioneer 1014 gets demoted to bass shaker duty I'll try it with my current sherwood bass shaker pos

So a digital spdif output run to an analog input on a receiver will sound like the original track except really faint? I had no idea. I was under the impression that it was basically 1s and 0s and the receiver needed to do decoding of the signal to get the original analog out of it