How do you hook a stereo to a computer?

shaynster
shaynster Posts: 10
edited February 2010 in Electronics
I'm wanting to hook a Yamaha RX-797 receiver up to my computer, what does my computer need to hook it up? What kind of cable from computer to receiver?

Thanks,
Shayn
Post edited by shaynster on
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2010
    Depending on your sound card, probably an 1/8th jack to RCA adapter....into your choice of input on the Yamaha.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • shaynster
    shaynster Posts: 10
    edited February 2010
    I'm not sure what sound card I have. I'll check it out. Is that the best or the easiest way to do it?

    Thanks,
    Shayn
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    well the best way would be Coax-digital or Toslink, if your sound card has that. Course that depends if your receiver has digital inputs too.
    IF you are stuck using analog, I would use a 1/8" stereo to rca converter plug and then use "better" quality cables.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2010
    It looks like you've got a stereo receiver with no digital inputs, so this one is easy actually since you only have 1 option. Grab a 1/8 to RCA adapter and a decent set of RCA cables and hook it into the inputs of choice on your receiver.

    Don't expect great performance without a dedicated sound card, as the DACs on those built in jobs aren't that great. Even an inexpensive sound card like the one linked below would be a huge improvement over the on-board sound. If you've already got a dedicated sound card disregard this statement.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited February 2010
    The best and easiest way would be a Music Streamer (three models to pick from) from High Resolution Technology. The MS+ is excellent and can be had for only $200 from MusicDirect.com. It hooks up to your computers USB and outputs stereo via regular RCA cables. This is the best sounding option for the least money with minimum headache. Read some reviews, the HRT gear is well received.

    Mike
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited February 2010
    The following link is an example of the simplest adapter to get you from your sound card headphone-out jack to RCA phono-plug-based cables that will plug into the back of your Yahmaha . . .

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000HHHH0C/websitementcommu

    #############################################

    If you don't have extra RCA phono cables, here's the whole thing in a 7' version . . .

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006YZ3Y/websitementcommu

    #########################################################

    Download and install (free) Apple iTunes and you have a basic computer to hi-fi interface.

    If you love it, you will then start finding ways to buy digital music servers and better cabling! :D



    P.S.: most typical PC/Laptop sound cards are lower quality so they won't give you audiophile grade sound, but I was surprised at how good my stock Dell laptop card sounded.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited February 2010
    I am using optical to receiver and it does 96KHZ nicely....but I would get a decent priced souund card for the price of the cable above...
    Video: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
    Receiver: HK AVR445
    Source: OPPO BDP-93
    HT: POLK SPEAKERS RTi6, FXi3, CSi5, VTF-3 MK2
    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited February 2010
    Ohh (forgot about this) here's probably the best no nonsense solution, but it won't sound as good as the HRT gear. http://devilsound.com/DAC/. Again this DAC is also well reviewed and will be way better than a cheap computer soundcard, especially via a mini-stereo plug.
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  • 98Badger
    98Badger Posts: 317
    edited February 2010
    I like the USB DAC option. The music streamer mentioned by SolidSquall is probably one of the least expensive USB options. I use a Cambridge DACmagic and it works very well. The drawback is that it downconverts hi-rez files. If you just want to play WAV, flac or mp3, it should work just fine for you. I didn't care for the sound quality using the 1/8th adapter, but I didn't spend a lot of time one it either.
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  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited February 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Depending on your sound card, probably an 1/8th jack to RCA adapter....into your choice of input on the Yamaha.

    This is what I'm doing - 1/8th jack to rca into the back of my Adcom GFA-555.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2010
    I thought you were just looking for a cable to connect, but if you're looking for a more comprehensive option...

    You could also go with something like the M Audio USB Fast Track. It's $79 on sale at Best Buy this week. It plugs into your Computer's USB port and then has a headphone jack and RCA jacks you can use for outputs. It has recording inputs and stuff as well, but I never use those (I have one that I use on my laptop)

    You'll be hard pressed to beat that for 80 bucks.

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/M-Audio+-+Pro+Tools+Recording+Studio/9470654.p?id=1218110869525&skuId=9470654&st=m-audio

    Oh and don't worry too much about the negative reviews, those are just retards who can't figure out how to work it. You'll need a decent PC with at least a gig of ram, but as long as you're running hardware from the last few years you should be fine.
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  • shaynster
    shaynster Posts: 10
    edited February 2010
    Thanks for all the advice.

    Shayn
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