[[email protected]]

folks, I would like to run a line from my computer to my stereo
receiver so that that the computer can be used as an input. Can
someone please tell me how long that line can be without picking up
too much noise. Relatated question - how long can a speaker wire be?
I'm assuming it's a lot longer?

thanks very much in advance for any advice.

[Arny Krueger]

wrote in message
oups.com

folks, I would like to run a line from my computer to my
stereo receiver so that that the computer can be used as
an input.


Can someone please tell me how long that line
can be without picking up too much noise.

The most common source of noise in lines between computers and stereo
receivers is ground loops which can exist in a line of any length from
inches to miles.

The usual source of the ground loop is the double ground connections
provided by the ground pin on the power cable for the PC, and an antenna or
TV set with antenna that is also connected to the receiver directly or
indirectly.

The easiest way to elminate ground loops are isolation devices for either
antenna lines or audio lines. A surprisingly good audio line ground isolator
can be found at Radio Shack.

Once you deal with the grounding issues, there are usually no additional
problems until you exceed several 100 feet or more.

Relatated question - how long can a speaker wire be?

As long as it needs to be, if you are willing to invest in cable with
sufficiently thick conductors. Practially speaking, again 50-100 feet need
not be a problem.

I'm assuming it's a lot longer?

It's generally more practical to extend line and mic level cables than
speaker cables.

[Harry Lavo]

wrote in message
oups.com...
folks, I would like to run a line from my computer to my stereo
receiver so that that the computer can be used as an input. Can
someone please tell me how long that line can be without picking up
too much noise. Relatated question - how long can a speaker wire be?
I'm assuming it's a lot longer?

thanks very much in advance for any advice.


This is experiental, not theoretical: I've run 50 feet of Radio Shack Gold
with no problem, coming out of a Presonus Firebox. A lot will depend on the
output impedance of your sound card; preamp inputs normally have a
high-enough impedance not to be a problem.

[George M. Middius]

Snottyborg puked:

un-Krooful post snipped

Arnii, what's wrong? That was more than 150 words and not a trace of snot.
Are you getting therapy, or did you just forget your Usenet mission?




--

Krooscience: The antidote to education, experience, and excellence.

[Walt]

Arny Krueger wrote:
wrote

folks, I would like to run a line from my computer to my
stereo receiver so that that the computer can be used as
an input.

Can someone please tell me how long that line
can be without picking up too much noise.

The most common source of noise in lines between computers and stereo
receivers is ground loops which can exist in a line of any length from
inches to miles.

The usual source of the ground loop is the double ground connections
provided by the ground pin on the power cable for the PC, and an antenna or
TV set with antenna that is also connected to the receiver directly or
indirectly.

The easiest way to elminate ground loops are isolation devices for either
antenna lines or audio lines. A surprisingly good audio line ground isolator
can be found at Radio Shack.

Once you deal with the grounding issues, there are usually no additional
problems until you exceed several 100 feet or more.

Relatated question - how long can a speaker wire be?

As long as it needs to be, if you are willing to invest in cable with
sufficiently thick conductors. Practially speaking, again 50-100 feet need
not be a problem.

I'm assuming it's a lot longer?

It's generally more practical to extend line and mic level cables than
speaker cables.

What Arne said. Ground loops are the most common problem with long
line-level interconnects - length is not really the culprit here so much
as that with increased length comes the increased liklyhood that the
electronics at each end are plugged in to different electrical outlet
circuits each with their own ground.

The next most common problem is induced noise from radio frequencies and
AC - but this is usually a minor problem unless you live next to a radio
or TV tower or if you run the wires really close to high current power
cables.

Next comes high frequency roll off from cable capacitance. Very
predictable (and correctable with EQ), and only applicable at the
hundreds of feet or more.

So, the short answer is that line-level analog audio signals can go
hundreds of feet *if* you do a few things right. More than that and you
should think about another distribution method.

//walt

[Walt]

Soundhaspriority wrote:
wrote in message

folks, I would like to run a line from my computer to my stereo
receiver so that that the computer can be used as an input. Can
someone please tell me how long that line can be without picking up
too much noise. Relatated question - how long can a speaker wire be?
I'm assuming it's a lot longer?

Get one of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

It will eliminate any potential ground loop problems.

If there's no ground loop problem, it's a waste of $60 and introduces
transformers into the chain, which may cause some audible degredation.

Run a long RCA-to-RCA cable from the soundcard to the receiver, plug in
both ends and see if it hums. If it does, try lifting the shields at the
soundcard output. If that doesn't cure things, *then* think about an
isolation transformer doohickey. But no need to just throw money and
gear at a (perhaps) non-existant problem.

//walt

[[email protected]]

Thanks everybody. Very helpful!