Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions How to connect computer audio to receiver

How do I connect my computer audio to an AV Receiver? My current computer is an older model. I do not see any RCA jacks for audio outs. It does have USB jacks. If I can make such a connection, I need to know what type of cable to run, as I am in the process of closing in the walls soon. I don't know if it would make any difference, but the type of audio I am most interested in running through my stereo system is live streams of major league baseball broadcasts, as I can not get AM reception where I live.

Bob,

A good idea would be to get a new audio card with a SPDIF out. Otherwise known as optical cable. creative labs sell some good ones for home theatre pc's.

Can't I also use a mini headphone plug in the computer connected to an RCA jack adapter, and then run RCA cables to the inputs on the receiver?

Yup. As long as you don't have a dreaded ground loop hum like mine appears to.

Is there a better alternaitve that would avoid the ground loop hum?

I doubt that you will have a problem. I just happen to this time around--I've done it several times in the past.

You can get 1/8" stereo mini to L/R RCA cables all in one. I use a USB DAC on my office setup. But if you have a free digital input on your receiver I would get a new sound card and connect that way.

save your money on the sound card.

apple tv all the way!
http://www.apple.com/appletv/

Bob, for several years I've used the Xitel HiFi Link (paid about $40)to listen to stations streaming classical music from all over the world(using Classical Webcast ). Basically this is simply wiring to take the clean digital output from the USB output on the computer, a DAC to convert it to analog, and more wiring to send it into unused analog inputs on a receiver. Works very well, of course, and there are a couple other similar items at slightly lower prices.

Your suggestion of using the computer's headphone output works, but sometimes can be a bit noisy since it's analog material in an interference-prone computer environment. If your listening is talk rather than music this might not be significant, and in any case, streaming audio isn't of the highest quality.

John, I like the looks of that Xitel unit, but I have one question. You said it plugs into a USB output on the computer. Is there actually a USB output that would be different from a USB input? I know I have USB input jacks on my computer, but I am not sure about USB outputs. Xitel's website says you can plug it into any USB port. Are all USB ports both in and out ports? (I know less about computers than I do aout surround sound.)