Connecting PC - Hi-fi

[Marcg868]

Basically i know the idea of how to do it now i have a easy to answer question.

Basically what is the sound quality like when connecting your pc to hi-fi when using to 3.5 mm to phono cable? i know you can do a digital connection, but my HI FI has the fibre optic digital out and my PC only has a coaxial one.

Now would the 3.5mm to phono option give me good sound quality?

If not i need another option, as all my music is on my pc and i'm sick of listening to it on a cheapy 2.1 surround sound thing i got for £30 many moons ago.

Suggestions please
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[ms51ves3]

Mine is connected up with a 3.5mm to phono cable and I can't fault it.

[Hetzer]

The quality of the music-file itself is of far more an issue than the connection quality. I'm sure some pretentious audiophile would claim to be able to tell the difference, but for real people a decent set of 5.1 speakers running directly off their PC with a 150bps+ file does just fine.
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[KLR600]

I've got my stereo hooked up to my pc in the way you said and it's great, really good quality but then like Hetzer said, it depends on the actual quality of the file itself.
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[t121anf]

[Marcg868]

Thankfully alot of my music is 256 bps and i use 320bps for when i'm on the decks and the sound quality is ace

Any suggestions on good, but not too expensive cables then?
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[neil.]

Take your pick from https://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=411+500001+1003682+188391+187223+186799+186818+186820+5030148+186827+187647+187655&Ns=PRICE_PLS_002_PRICE1|0&Ntk=gensearch_003&Ntt=jack+phono&Ntx=&locale=en_CC&appliedparametrics=true&getResults=true&originalQueryURL=http%3A//cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp%3FN%3D411%2B500001%2B1003682%26Ntk%3Dgensearch_003%26Ntt%3Djack%2Bphono%26Ntx%3D%26No%3D0%26getResults%3Dtrue%26appliedparametrics%3Dtrue%26locale%3Den_CC%26catalogId%3D

The more expensive ones probably have decent screening and are tougher, but, depending on length, anything under a few meters wouldn't really make much difference, if any, in terms of inducing interference. After all, line level modulates around 1 volt and you'd need to work bloody hard to induce enough EMF (electro-magnetic spikes/interference) into the cable to making an audible interference. However, if something is generating enough, then by being an unbalanced line, and if you have a long cable run (say more than 10m), this type of connection will be more prone to picking it up.

It's a case of 'suck it and see'. After all, the most 'expensive' cables from CPC above are only £10, and there are some very decent ones for £5 there. Also, check what kind of metal your sockets have and match the cable to it (would either be nickel of gold plated). If you mix metals, you could encourage quicker corrosion as they'll react with each other. The 'gold plating sounding better' thing is a myth. I've worked as a studio and live sound engineer and technician and we don't use gold plated cables. It's just comes from the 'audiophile' bullshit world. You'll probably be fine.
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[colin1]

3.5mm to phono, is fine, but I'm also interested in the optical options.

I read somewhere that sound cards give fairly good sound quality, its just they carry a bit of noise too, and this goes if you use their optical output.

Anyone who has used an optical output, please tell us about it.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Banned]

Hi,,

I have an old but good morentz amp connected to my pc and TV, i stored the cd and tuner because i thought the pc would do and i binned ll my cds in poor condition from yesteryear.

I then through av forums found out about the lower quality of most digital tracks on the pc compared to the cd player.

Now for me having a average sound card and mostly mp3s in a low bit rate means i notice the cd quality more and returned it out of storage and brought some CEX dance compilations.

No doubt you can convert and or upscale / change tracks for the better via software and or in conjunction with a better sound card.

I'm not so sure, but i can tell you that i can not be bothered with all the technicality's etc.

I'm trying to get to my point here, i'm soon to buy one of these.

https://www.richersounds.com/product/cd-players-recorders-dacs/cambridge-audio/dacmagic/camb-dacmagic-08-sil

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/set_territory.php?TID=1&Redirect=/summary.php?PID=320

Then i can run optical from the TV and usb from the PC and connect to the stereo amp, should see a improvement.

This is a good suitable lead i use for a good price.

https://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/cables/35mm-stereo-plug-to-2-x-rca-plug-premium-05m.html

Hope this helps some who like me just want to hear a good sound without all the tech hassle that goes with it.

Yours
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[stinkwheel]

This any use?
https://cpc.farnell.com/_/pof-820/coax-to-optical-adaptor/dp/AV12736
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[KevTM]

The only problem with analogue out from a laptop/PC can be noise/interference from the computer itself, it is noticeable and really destroys the sound, especially at higher volumes. Probably more of an issue with laptops than anything else to be honest.

Having digital out from the PC then converted to analogue away from all the "noise" will provide better results (using a DAC). There are some great soundcards nowadays though with decent analogue outs.

Changing over to Linux alone improved the SQ from my laptops onboard sound! maybe the audio stack in Windows is crap?!

If you're looking to go the DAC route (which is handy for other things) you could even look at Beresford (TC-7510, TC-7520 etc) if you want to save some cash.

[ms51ves3]

[Banned]

There lies the answer that matters in music and visual, if you like the sound and or picture quality then why change something that to your ears or eyes appears fine.
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[KevTM]

Yeah I thought desktops would be much better/non-existent.. that's why I said mostly laptops My laptops output is guff, lots of noise/whining/stuff from it - Using a cheap USB soundcard thingy got rid of it.. though I use a DAC now anyway.

[Stelmer]

I've had my PC hooked up to my hi-fi and back again since 2001.

I play movies and TV through the hi-fi using a 15m 3.5mm to twin phono cables on a spare input and the old cassette output goes to the PC via another phono to 3.5mm cable. I mute the line in on the volume control.

Can't fault it one bit and I can put basically digitize any audio source onto my pc. Infact, most of my MP3 player is made from years spent converting cassettes and vinyl music to my PC using Polderbit.


It's not 5.1 but it does me and is incredibly useful. Even saved some old rare 78's onto my PC.

[Flip]

https://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3515978/3-5mm-Jack-To-2-x-RCA-Phono-Audio-Cable-Gold-5m-Lead/Product.html?ptsl=1&ob=Price&fb=0

https://images.play.com/covers/3515978m.jpg

I found Philips leads like above in a cheap shop for a pound each. Bought a couple but gave the other one to a friend. Wish I'd kept as they're very handy.

Works a treat for a stereo set up.

[Stelmer]

You can use them in cars too.

More and more manufacturers are putting 2 phono inputs in the glovebox.