sound from 'puter to receiver (1 Viewer)

[AaronCushing]

I'd like to run a stereo line from the output on my soundcard over to where my receiver is. In my equipment rack, I've got a 6-port Keystone plate , which already holds connects for satelleite, 2 subwoofer lines, phone, and ethernet. That leaves one blank space. I thought I'd just attach an eighth-inch chasis-mount stereo jack to a blank snap-in insert there, and tun a wire over to a similar plate in the office. What kind of wire to run though? Would a piece of Cat-5 do the trick, and just combine pairs, or should I run something different? FWIW, I'm only looking at about 15' of wire. Thanks for any help.

 

[Leo Kerr]

In my experience, if your card and receiver support it, run a single coax digital connection (usually marked S/PDIF or something similar.)

Most PCs are pretty horrid environments for analog signals, although there are some exceptions to that rule.

1/8" mini connectors are also pretty horrid.

Leo Kerr

 

[Eric Samonte]

Amen to that Leo. Use the digital connect if possible. Most soundcards nowadays have that anyway and running a single coax would be the most cost effective as well.

 

[AaronCushing]

Never thought about the coax. In truth, said computer (and soundcard) is at this point merely hypothetical. But soon it will exist, and when it does, there'll be a line between it and the receiver. Thanks guys.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Leo’s right, those 1/8” jacks are abysmal. If you end up going that route instead of digital, I’d convert the whole thing to 1/4”. I’d start with a regular 1/8” stereo cable, clip one end and solder on an in-line 1/4” stereo jack. Shouldn’t be a problem - since you were entertaining the keystone-mounted 1/8” jack, that tells me you can solder.

From that point, you can run a shielded two-conductor cable for your signal. Solder a 1/4” stereo plug at the computer end, to mate with the in-line jack, and install a 1 /4” stereo jack into your blank keystone plate. From there you can use a stereo 1/4” to RCA “y” adapter, to get the signal to the receiver. Make sense?

Before you go to all this trouble, I suggest first running a “throw down” connection between the computer and receiver to see how it works. I tried this one time and had a nasty hum. As Leo noted, computers can be a bad source for analog audio signals.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[AaronCushing]

thanks for the ideas Wayne. I'll give that a whirl if I can't make it work via coax.