QuestionQUESTION: I'd like to put some old PLs & tapes onto CD via computer. My question is about basic wiring, but any other help will be a real favor. The jack I plan to use on the receiver is stereo, as is (supposedly) the computer input jack. My question: As I've observed the jack setup it seems that both channels are outputted via the one jack. How is this done? I'm using 14 ga. speaker zip cord, and the jacks I bought show 2 solder connections per jack. That makes 4 wires in the harness, 2 hot leads & 2 grounds. But ready-made cables I see appear to have only 2 wires. Do the jack plugs for the stereo & computer somehow supply their own grounds? Do I need a 2-wire harness or 4-wire? Thanks.
ANSWER: Stereo output jack, such as headphones, are a single jack and plug that make connection to three wires; one for ground and one for left and right signal. The jack usually a small headphone size jack has three circuits built into it.
Since you did not give me any model information and since none of them are the same I cannot guess which set of connections for inputs and outputs you may have.
However, places like Radio Shack, Walmart, Kmart, Bestbuy, Circuitcity and others have many kinds of jacks, plugs and conversion apparatus so that you can go from any kind or output to any input. BUT: You must use shielded wires or you will run into hum problems. Do not use speaker wire for small signal purposes.
In most audio products that are intended for conventional in/out connections it will be done by rca connectors on each end. The outputs on a typical receiver are rca jacks. On a pc they are often a mini phone plug. You can buy audio cables that have the two rca jacks on one end and the mini phone plug on the other end. However, some receivers or boomboxes have the mini phone plug for outs. In this case, you would use a standard mini to mini cable available at any of the above mentioned shops.
Hope this settles it for you.
Cleggsan
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QUESTION: Thank you for the most prompt reply I've ever had. I apologize - the receiver is a Kenwood KR-V8540, and I'm using the headphone 1/4" output jack. My electronics is at best rudimentary, so please forgive if I have the wrong idea. It seems you're saying that, since there is only the one plug for stereo headphones, I can wire them directly to the computer, in stereo, if I use shielded cable. Does that mean that the shield (ground) can carry a channel? Or do I need a 'splitter' (which I have) to separate the stereo signal? Again, sorry if I seem dense. If you need a paper written, I'm your man. But electronics is a real science, and I catch on slowly. Thank you again.
AnswerYou want to feed the stereo signal from the kenwood receiver into the pc. Right?
If so, you should be using the tape outputs on the back and to the pc inputs on the sound board. Since you did not tell me which sound board your pc has installed I am guessing it is a mini phone plug. YOu can purchase a cable with RCAs on one end and mini phone on the other end. Or, you can purchase the rca phone cables (both ends the same) and an adapter plug that takes the right and left cables from the kenwood to mini-phone plug.
OR: If you insist on going from the headphone output, purchase a cable that goes from big phone plug to mini-phone plug.
IF: you want to make the cable yourself (which is a foolish thing to do) use shielded pair; wire from the two channel hots on the inside of the cable and the shield is the ground connection.
That's it. Have fun.
Cleggsan
