Laurence Payne in uk.rec.audio:


I finally got round to making a couple 5m leads for PC -- amp, so
that I can put the computer back on the floor. I ordered a couple of
3.5mm stereo plugs from maplin, but they are both far too narrow to
accomidate the cable. Any ideas?

Use smaller cable?

The only plugs I can find only take VERY thin cable, even the maplin mini-
coax in too wide for stereo.

--
Jim H

In article ,
Jim H wrote:
Get a standard 3.5 mm stereo to dual RCA plug adaptor, and cut off the
RCAs and splice to the stubs.

Sounds like a good idea, but not sure if an adapter will fit at the
back, the soundcard sockets are pretty close. I'll look into it.


Ah - Arny's post isn't on my server yet. If space is tight, you can get
jack to phono on flying leads.

--
*If you remember the '60s, you weren't really there

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

Arny Krueger in uk.rec.audio:

"Laurence Payne" wrote in
message
Get a standard 3.5 mm stereo to dual RCA plug adaptor, and cut off
the RCAs and splice to the stubs.

Sounds like a good idea, but not sure if an adapter will fit at the
back, the soundcard sockets are pretty close. I'll look into it.


I think he means a cable. The standard computer audio cable - 3.5 mm
stereo jack to two phono plugs. Either splice into it, or get a
couple of back-to-back phono connectors and extend with a normal phono
lead.

Right on!

Cheers. I'll pick up some couplers from maplin, to use with my old 1m lead.
Don't know why I didn't think of that.

--
Jim H

In article ,
Laurence Payne wrote:
This is because a 3.5mm jack is really a headphone outlet so wouldn't
normally need screened cable. Although you can get twin screened mic
cable that will fit ok.

It's used for headphones on domestic and miniature equipment.

Yes. This is where it first saw the light of day, which is what I meant.

It's also the standard for line output on domestic soundcards.

And line or mic input on some too. Used because it's small. IMHO, it's a
dreadful connector for low signal use.

A screened 3.5 mm jack plug to two phonos is a very standard cable.

Or to two phono sockets.

--
*Life is hard; then you nap

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

Dave Plowman in uk.rec.audio:

You can buy these with line sockets rather than plugs - saves on
adaptors.

NZ47 from Maplin.


Perfect, thanks!

--
Jim H

Dave Plowman in uk.rec.audio:

It's used for headphones on domestic and miniature equipment.

Yes. This is where it first saw the light of day, which is what I meant.

It's also the standard for line output on domestic soundcards.

And line or mic input on some too. Used because it's small. IMHO, it's a
dreadful connector for low signal use.

I agree, not least because it is prone to fall out under the weight of its
own cable. Still, it's the best avaliable until I get a soundcard with
digital out and an offboard dac.

I wish someone would make a serious-ish amp with a 'usb-in' socket, so the
computer recognises it as normal, plug n play, digital speakers, bypassing
a soundcard altogether. I suppose that won't happen until the stigma of pc
audio is gotten over.

--
Jim H

In article ,
Jim H wrote:

I wish someone would make a serious-ish amp with a 'usb-in' socket, so the
computer recognises it as normal, plug n play, digital speakers, bypassing
a soundcard altogether. I suppose that won't happen until the stigma of pc
audio is gotten over.

How about the Yamaha CAVIT series of "external audio soundboards"? It
includes a receiver with a 30 watt amp.

Stephen

Laurence Payne in uk.rec.audio:

I wish someone would make a serious-ish amp with a 'usb-in' socket, so
the computer recognises it as normal, plug n play, digital speakers,
bypassing a soundcard altogether. I suppose that won't happen until
the stigma of pc audio is gotten over.

Plenty of cards with digital out, and amplifiers with digital in.
Can't see the point in converting to something USB can handle, just to
convert it back at the other end?

If an amp is going to have digital ins anyway, it would mean little extra
cicuitry to include usb as well as spdif etc.

Unlike games, music reproduction presents very little processing to the
soundcard, the decompression from mp3/wma/ogg is done by a codec running on
the main cpu, with a soundcard just providing a dac or, if using digital
outs, an overcomplicated adapter.

It is no more difficult for the pc to send small amounts of data to a usb
device than a pci one. Running a usb connection to an amp means a £3 cable,
in place of a £50 soundcard with digital outs.

IMO A usb system is also much more elegent, with fewer different connectors
and plug 'n' play setup.

--
Jim H

In article ,
Jim H wrote:
Incidently, I heard a 64k vorbis internet broadcast today. For the
bitrate the quality was astounding, IMO much better than anything DAB
is capable of.

DAB is capable of near anything you want. It's the bean counters that have
decided 'we' don't need the best quality.

--
*I like cats, too. Let's exchange recipes.

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

Jim H wrote:


I wish someone would make a serious-ish amp with a 'usb-in' socket, so the
computer recognises it as normal, plug n play, digital speakers, bypassing
a soundcard altogether. I suppose that won't happen until the stigma of pc
audio is gotten over.

Plenty of people make audio to usb interfaces. M-Audio, Edirol and
Tascam are three manufacturers that I can think of. Ok - so they aren't
exactly what you are looking for but they are getting there.

Cheers.

James.