Laptop to stereo to listen to mp3s?

litirspam

I want to connect laptop to stereo to listen to mp3s.
Have connected up but volume very low.
Connected from headphone socket to stereo via line in.
Do I need to buy a soundcard or what is the problem?
All help greatly appreciated.
Thanks

8T8

Have you tried raisng the wave volume in the volume control panel ?

litirspam

8T8 wrote:

Have you tried raisng the wave volume in the volume control panel ?

Yeah no difference. Thanks.

TomCo

Probably need an amp.

litirspam

TomCo wrote:

Probably need an amp.

Amp as in guitar amp?

Xavi6

yeah use a guitar amp instead of a stereo.then get a stereo sized lead to go from the amp into a jack lead adaptor that will then feed into the amp. works for me!!!

TomCo

No, like a hi-fi amp.

Im not sure about it though. I was able to plug my mp3 player into my stereo's line in and it sounded alright, although it is a large sony setup.

Edit: Didn't see the above post, yeah sure, try that if you have the gear. They sell adaptors off the shelves in Maplins if you don't have them.

Stephen

Some hifis (like my ould fella's ancient pioneer thing with turntable and all) have a knob for controlling the level of the aux input - has yours got something similar? My more modern (but still about 8 years old) cheapo Philips one just has an aux input with no input volume control, just the normal output volume, and it sounds good and loud when I connect anything to the aux. (3.5mm jack at PC end to 2 phono plugs - the red/white type - one of these.)

GrumPy

Stephen wrote:

one of these.)

I use one of those myself, connect laptop to 5.1 systems analog input.

litirspam

Irish GrumPy wrote:

I use one of those myself, connect laptop to 5.1 systems analog input.

Yeah I am using that but still no joy!!!

legologic

If you're using Win Media make sure all 4 volumes are up (that is wave, normal volume, win media volume and the volume control on the headphones output). If that doesen't work you can get small pre-amp's. Maplin's, Peats, power city or any electric store should have them. small ones can be got for about 20 quid. There are more expensive hi-fi ones if you're such a way inclined.

If you have a guitar amp it'll save you the bother of getting a pre-amp, you can either play through the amp directly or plug your laptop into it and it into the radio AUX. Just note that most guitar amp's are mono and most line out's are stereo so unless you get the right connections you may lose some of the sound using a guitar amp.

EDIT: to play through an amp you'll need one of these stereo minijack to mono jack and one of those 3.5mm Stereo to stereo lead. Or a guitar lead and a mono Jack female to stereo minijack male adapter. Just don't pay THAT much for 'em.

jum4

http://www.boostaroo.com/

cheap solution

--actually not so cheap!

niallb

If you get no difference by raising the wave level,
maybe you need to look for another volume control on the mixer.
There might be a seperate one for headphones.

Any chance there's a function key or volume control on the laptop
itself to raise the headphone volume seperately?

NiallB

Hmm_Messiah

probably not the answer you want, but I use one of those FM transmitters (for mp3 players etc) and set the volume, graphic equaliser via stereo remote, works well for me, and ...wireless

jozi

I've had my laptop connected to my amp trough the headphone jack into aux on my amp with a 3.5mm stereo to 2 phono leads.
Volume is a little lower than with the tuner but not by much really.
Check if you have the right drivers installed allong with looking for all volume controls and set them as high as they go (as long as sound doesnt ge distorted)

Anti

You can get a phono to left right chanel for plugging into the back of your stereo, just use the aux chanels, always red/white. cable is cheap, like 10 euros. Sound will be okay too. The other option is to buy a external soundcard like the audigy 2 zs. That has optical and digital outputs so you can connect it to you hifi via a better method and increased sound audiabitlty ( is that a word ) ??

Anyway g'luck

litirspam

Thanks everyone for your help.
I couldn't find the problem.
Reinstalled windows and it works fine now.
Thanks again.