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On 28 Oct 2003 04:27:52 -0800, (MG Lewis) wrote:

I recently recorded audio from cassette to my pc by using a cable with
a 3.5mm cable on both ends (I think they're called mini-jack plugs(?)
from the headphone socket of my hi-fi to the line-in socket on my pc.
I found the results to be quite acceptable.

I've now found another cable with 2 (i think they're called) RCA
connectors which plug into the back of the hi-fi in the line out
sockets.

My question is: are RCA cables considered to be better than the
mini-jack cables I used?

From a sound quality standpoint, both types of cables are fully
capable of passing a line level or amplified headphone stereo analog
signal without problems for your recording application. So, the
question really should be is there a difference between the line level
and amplified headphone output for your purposes.

For a receiver or amplifier output, the headphone out typically passes
through the tone and volume controls on the unit, where the line level
out doesn't. A cassette deck headphone out normally has no tone
controls, although it may have a volume control. A cassette deck line
level out may also have a volume control on the deck, but many don't.

To simplify things, I prefer to use an unmodified line level out for
your sort of application and not have to worry about adjusting tone or
volume controls and considering any noise (which may be minimal) such
controls add. If you do use an output that is varied by tone or
volume controls, then make sure you adjust those controls to the
settings you desire.

Gary E

|Gary A. Edelstein
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|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo