laptop to amp
05-09-2004, 08:50 PM
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laptop to amp
would this work to hook my laptop into my car stereo. i have no aux on my deck ... so if im correct this would plug straight into my amp...am i right?
05-09-2004, 09:41 PM
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laptop has the headphone jack...and amp has the rca's. the cord makes it possible for the two to be compatible and both plugged in. but just need to be reassured if it will work. anybody?
05-09-2004, 09:43 PM
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You'll get a very low signal...most amps are made to accept 3 volt inputs (or higher)...your average laptop is going to only put out 800 millivolt peak to peak using the headphone or line outputs. Use a preamp and you won't have a problem though. You are also going to have a problem with the signals overlapping if you ever have the stereo and laptop on at the same time using that configuration. I would wire a switch in too swap between the two. If you ever have a line surge from your stereo it could fry your laptop. Just my two cents. rather safe than sorry.
05-09-2004, 09:51 PM
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Sure, it will work... but, you must make sure that the output voltage of your laptop (that stereo mini plug) is within the amplifier's operating input voltage to avoid clipping of the audio signal. That's not good. I'm confident that it will be ok. Now, a couple caveats... 1) The only way to adjust the volume is by the source unit... your laptop not your radio. 2) The only way to switch between your radio & your laptop is to switch wires.
05-09-2004, 09:51 PM
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looked up those preamp things...dont get it...just totally doesnt look like what i would need in a car setup. as far as the the signals overlapping, i would never have this prob if i didnt play the two at the same time...right?
05-09-2004, 09:55 PM
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right. Give me a few minutes and I will find one. I built mine. Going to see if I can find a commercial one. It's the same thing that will convert speaker level inputs to RCA.
05-09-2004, 10:01 PM
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Any of these or similar will work. http://www.valcoelectronics.com/caudio/lineout.htm
What you do is take a headphone plu and cut the ends off. Splice those to the speaker level inputs. The RCA from that and the RCA's from your stereo are fed into a RCA Y Adapter and then to your AMp.
What you do is take a headphone plu and cut the ends off. Splice those to the speaker level inputs. The RCA from that and the RCA's from your stereo are fed into a RCA Y Adapter and then to your AMp.
05-09-2004, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by xivera
Sure, it will work... but, you must make sure that the output voltage of your laptop (that stereo mini plug) is within the amplifier's operating input voltage to avoid clipping of the audio signal. That's not good. I'm confident that it will be ok. Now, a couple caveats... 1) The only way to adjust the volume is by the source unit... your laptop not your radio. 2) The only way to switch between your radio & your laptop is to switch wires.