Trying to get analog sound from computer to receiver...getting hiss

[Wekiva]

I?m only interested in getting MP3 music to my stereo and don?t care about surround sound I tried for a while to get a digital signal from my Audigy 2 to my receiver but finally realized my Sony 333ES didn't have enough digital inputs to accept another. So I decided to split the analog sound from my Audigy 2's front/right,left channel output and send an analog signal to the receiver. I then plugged it into my CD RCA plugs since I?m not using them. I now get sound out of my receiver from my computer but it?s also got a high pitched squeal/hiss as well. The first thing I did was unplug the cable from my computer and the hiss is still there?which leads me to believe it?s coming from the cable alone. Below is how I hooked the whole thing up:

I split the signal from the front speaker output on the Audigy2 using a small headphone signal splitter. I then ran the sound to my receiver using a 10 foot, standard headphone extension cord. I then got a converter that split the signal from a headphone connection to 2 RCA R/L plugs which I plugged into my CD input.

Any ideas of what is wrong? Do I need to get a shielded cable so it doesn?t pick up the hum? Is there such a thing as a shielded headphone extension cable? Currently the computer and the receiver are in different rooms that share a common wall. The cable runs through holes I drilled in the wall (to my wife?s horror)

Thanks for any input

Wekiva

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Wekiva
I?m only interested in getting MP3 music to my stereo and don?t care about surround sound I tried for a while to get a digital signal from my Audigy 2 to my receiver but finally realized my Sony 333ES didn't have enough digital inputs to accept another. So I decided to split the analog sound from my Audigy 2's front/right,left channel output and send an analog signal to the receiver. I then plugged it into my CD RCA plugs since I?m not using them. I now get sound out of my receiver from my computer but it?s also got a high pitched squeal/hiss as well. The first thing I did was unplug the cable from my computer and the hiss is still there?which leads me to believe it?s coming from the cable alone. Below is how I hooked the whole thing up:

First things first: cables don't make noise. They *can* pick up electromagnetic noise in the external environment (they act like antennas when attached to an amplifier).

I split the signal from the front speaker output on the Audigy2 using a small headphone signal splitter. I then ran the sound to my receiver using a 10 foot, standard headphone extension cord. I then got a converter that split the signal from a headphone connection to 2 RCA R/L plugs which I plugged into my CD input.

Any ideas of what is wrong? Do I need to get a shielded cable so it doesn?t pick up the hum? Is there such a thing as a shielded headphone extension cable?

Yes, it might help, and no.

You might try doing this: computer -> splitter -> two RCA cables -> receiver, instead of taking a single crummy headphone cord for 10 feet and *then* splitting it.

Currently the computer and the receiver are in different rooms that share a common wall. The cable runs through holes I drilled in the wall (to my wife?s horror)

Might want to check with the wife *before* drilling holes in your house. 😛

In any case, did you try it with the system in the same room? You might be getting noise from electrical wiring in the wall. If that seems to be the case, you might try fitting some sort of shielding around the wire (like fitting a grounded metal pipe in the hole, or PVC pipe lined with tinfoil that you've grounded). If you get the same result in the other room, try adjusting your volume levels. You may have to turn the receiver's volume down and the computer's volume up, or something along those lines.

 

[Zepper]

There is a special cable that splits the line out from your computer into two (L/R) audio channels. You should not be using ANY headphone related cables as the impedence they are designed for (if any, should be <100 Ohms) is all wrong for audio inputs (10k-50k Ohms) - you should use only shielded audio cables. You can get the proper cable just about anywhere (at least in the 6 foot length) - WalMart, RadioShack, most of the big-box stores etc.. It is a mini stereo plug (3mm or 1/8") to two RCA male plugs. I also have used an adapter that has a mini stereo plug to two female RCA jacks (usually around 6" long). From there you go to the receiver with a standard stereo pair of audio cables (two male RCA plugs on each end). I slightly prefer the latter solution as I can easily adapt to just about any other stereo connector from that - but it is a bit more expensive and harder to find. RS should have the stereo mini plug to stereo female RCAs in stock at all times.

.bh.