You probably already know that you can play MP3 tunes on your computer, and you might even have a portable player to listen to tunes when you're away from the computer. But serious music fans want a third player: one that hooks up to their home stereo to fill the house with music.
You can make the tunes come out of the home stereo in several ways:
- Your computer is an MP3 player - connect it to your stereo.
- Connect your portable MP3 player to your home stereo.
- Hook up an FM transmitter to the back of your MP3 player and a receiver to your home stereo's input jacks. If they're not too far apart, you'll hear your music without a problem.
Connecting your computer to your stereo
The speakers that are connected to many computers sound like squawking menus at drive-up fast-food joints. To improve the sound, ditch the tinny speakers and connect your computer to your home stereo. Just run the right-sized wires between the right places to turn your computer into a mighty combination MP3/audio CD player. These two points will speed you on your way:
You need: A Y-cable (a 1/8-inch stereo plug with two RCA phono plugs, usually red and green) and an extension cable that's long enough to connect your computer and stereo.
Keep the volume turned down on the stereo and also on the sound card while connecting the cables - you don't want to pop anything.
To connect your computer to your home stereo, follow these steps:
1. Turn down the volume on your stereo and sound card.
If you can't find your sound card's volume knob - which is either somewhere on the back of the card or through its software program - simply turn off your computer (after saving any open files, of course).
2. Find the correct cable.
You need a shielded Y-adapter cable. This cable has a stereo 1/8-inch plug on one end and two RCA phono plugs on the other end. You can find the cable electronics stores, such as Radio Shack, and some computer stores.
The package of a stereo Y-adapter cable refers to it as "a male stereo 1/8-inch plug to two male RCA plugs." That sounds confusing, but that's often what the package says.
The best sound card manufacturers throw the cord in for free; others make you head to your favorite electronics store. If your computer and stereo aren't very close together, pick up a 12-foot stereo cable. A 20-foot stereo cable provides even more room. If your computer and stereo are more than 20 feet away, ask a salesperson how to buy the right cable and plugs to make your own extension cable.
3. Plug the 1/8-inch stereo plug into your sound card's speaker jack.
Hopefully your sound card has all its little jacks labeled so that you know which hole does what. If it doesn't, you have to open the card's manual. Then run the extension cord between your computer and your stereo system.
If you have a carpet, push the cord into the crack between the carpet and the edge of the wall. Use the right tool for the job: A spoon handle works well. No carpet? One alternative is to buy a rug . . . but whatever you do, don't leave the cord laying across the floor. If somebody trips over it, he will pull out the plug - and the music will stop.
4. Plug the cable's two RCA phono plugs into the stereo's Aux Input or Tape Input jacks.
Check the back of your stereo for some unused input jacks; you should see several pairs of stubby little metal heads. Use the Aux Input or the Tape Input jacks - whichever ones aren't being used.
One jack of the pair is probably red or labeled "Right" - push the cord's red plug into that jack. The other jack is probably black, white, or green - this jack is for your other plug, no matter what color it is.
Don't plug your sound card's output into your home stereo's Phono Input jack. Your stereo doesn't expect such a strong signal from that jack. (If you throw caution to the wind and plug the cord in there anyway, keep the card's volume very low.)
5. Turn on the stereo, and switch it to Tape Input or Aux Input.
Turn the stereo's input select switch to the jack that you've used, either Tape Input or Aux Input.
6. Play an MP3 file on the sound card, and adjust the volume.
Gradually turn up the volume on your stereo and sound card. If everything is hooked up right, the sound should start filling the room.
If the sound doesn't start filling the room, make sure that the stereo is turned to Aux Input or Tape Input - or whatever input jack you plugged the sound card into. If the stereo isn't turned to the correct input switch, your sound card won't come through. (Oh, is the stereo plugged in and turned on?)
Connecting your MP3 Player to your stereo
Hooking up an MP3 player to your home stereo is easy; just follow these steps:
1. Buy a shielded Y-adapter cable - Radio Shack part number 42-2481.
2. Turn down the volume on your stereo and MP3 player.
3. Plug the cable's 1/8-inch stereo plug into your player's headphone jack.
4. Plug the cable's two RCA phono plugs into the stereo's Aux Input or Tape Input jacks.
5. Turn on the stereo and switch it to Tape Input or Aux Input.
6. Play an MP3 file and adjust the volume.
