ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (07/12/85)
> I just went looking for the first time for CD players, and I have a quick > question: Since my Kenwood receiver doesn't have a CD input, where to I > plug the darn thing in? The salesman said that I could use my extra tape > input, but he sounded like that wasn't a good solution. If you have an input marked 'aux,' use it. If not, a spare tape input will work just fine. I don't suppose your salesman gave you any REASON not to use the extra tape input, did he? I'll bet the reason was that he wants to sell you a new receiver, too.
smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) (07/12/85)
> > I just went looking for the first time for CD players, and I have a quick > > question: Since my Kenwood receiver doesn't have a CD input, where to I > > plug the darn thing in? The salesman said that I could use my extra tape > > input, but he sounded like that wasn't a good solution. > > If you have an input marked 'aux,' use it. If not, a spare tape > input will work just fine. I don't suppose your salesman gave > you any REASON not to use the extra tape input, did he? I'll bet > the reason was that he wants to sell you a new receiver, too. There are, in general, 4 classes of inputs to most receivers and preamps: a) phono -- these have a special preamp, and should only be used for compatible signal levels. Watch out for moving coil vs. moving magnet. b) internal tuners -- all bets are off unless you want to mess with the wiring inside. c) high-level inputs -- suitable for CD players, external tuners, TVs and VCRs with audio output jacks (not speaker or headphone jacks, btw). Often marked AUX or TAPE. d) tape monitor inputs -- electrically compatible with high-level inputs. However, these are generally selected independently of the normal class of inputs, the idea being that you can feed a signal from *any* normal input source to a tape deck (or external processor, such as a noise eliminator or equalizer), and select the tape monitor input to hear what's been recorded on the tape (assuming, that is, that your tape deck has 3 heads). If your extra tape input is of this class, you might not be able to tape CDs (assuming that you want to, of course), and there's some small chance of getting a very small amount of cross-talk from the live signal selected by the standard input selector switch. And of course, you're likely to use a different selector switch to activate the CD player, which can cause some confusion. Some receivers (e.g., the Heath AR-1500) have both TAPE and TAPE MONITOR inputs; others have multiple TAPE MONITOR inputs. My advice -- assuming you have no AUX input or spare TAPE input, go right ahead and use a spare TAPE MONITOR input -- and don't buy a new receiver unless/until you find the disadvantages of that hookup intolerable.
ryan@fremen.DEC (Mike Ryan DTN 264-8280 MK01-2/H32) (07/15/85)
---------------------Reply to mail dated 12-JUL-1985 13:35--------------------- >Posted by: decwrl!decvax!ucbvax!ulysses!smb >Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill > > c) high-level inputs -- suitable for CD players, external tuners, > TVs and VCRs with audio output jacks (not speaker or headphone > jacks, btw). Often marked AUX or TAPE. Not speaker or headphone jacks? Why not - I've got cables and adaptors to plug the mini-phone jack on the front of my TV to the AUX input on my receiver. No problem - it sounds much better than the TV's speaker does (but, of course, far inferior to my audio equipment). It does sound somewhat louder than my other sources, though. Mike Ryan ARPA: ryan%fremen.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA UUCP: {decvax,allegra,ihnp4,ucbvax,...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-fremen!ryan When the movie is over and everyone leaves the theatre, the accumulated sound leaves with them. It spreads out across the parking lot to become forever part of the landscape. The film is a gift to the surrounding community. -- D. Byrne Posted: Mon 15-Jul-1985 15:26 To: RHEA::DECWRL::"NET.AUDIO"
johnston@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA (07/16/85)
> Not speaker or headphone jacks? Why not - I've got cables and adaptors to plug > the mini-phone jack on the front of my TV to the AUX input on my receiver. No > problem - it sounds much better than the TV's speaker does (but, of course, > far inferior to my audio equipment). It does sound somewhat louder than my > other sources, though. > > Mike Ryan > ARPA: ryan%fremen.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA Is this really OK, or should I be glad that I'm not one of his receiver's input stages? - Gary Johnston USENET: ...!{pur_ee,ihnp4,convex}!uiucdcs!johnston CSNET: johnston%uiuc@csnet-relay.arpa ARPA: johnston@uiuc.arpa
shop@uwmcsd1.UUCP (Electronics Shop) (07/16/85)
> ---------------------Reply to mail dated 12-JUL-1985 13:35--------------------- > > >Posted by: decwrl!decvax!ucbvax!ulysses!smb > >Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill > > > > > c) high-level inputs -- suitable for CD players, external tuners, > > TVs and VCRs with audio output jacks (not speaker or headphone > > jacks, btw). Often marked AUX or TAPE. > > Not speaker or headphone jacks? Why not - I've got cables and adaptors to plug > the mini-phone jack on the front of my TV to the AUX input on my receiver. No > problem - it sounds much better than the TV's speaker does (but, of course, > far inferior to my audio equipment). It does sound somewhat louder than my > other sources, though. > > Mike Ryan That's fine if you are careful not to overdrive a line level input with transistors rated at 350 mW with a signal that is often higher in power, especially tv commercials (which are compressed and sent at maximum allowable volume). Most line level inputs are 10K impedance or more, and most headphone jacks on tvs are connected to the output of the power amp and not through a seperate headphone amp. It is usually easy to tap in before the driver or power amp and run that signal to the reciever or pre - amp. It is also best to capacitor couple the signal -- never know what dc voltages might be present, and not all pre - amps have capacitor coupled inputs and outputs. Thomas Krueger Engineering Electronics Shop Univ of Wi Milwaukee ihnp4!uwmcsd1!shop
jabusch@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA (07/17/85)
I don't think this is what the manufacturers ever intended. The
'aux' inputs are for equipment which gives signal levels rivalling those
of open reel decks, cassette decks, tuners, etc. All of these devices
fint into the same impedence range due to a semi-standardization among
manufacturers. CD's also fit into this category. The only difference
between the 'aux' inputs and the 'tape' inputs is the label. The phono
inputs for your turntable are the really different inputs: entirely dif-
ferent impedence ranges for small signals coming from cartridges or
moving-coil amps.
While standard speaker impedence is around 8 ohms, and the same
for headphones, mic jacks are not designed for this type of match. Most
microphones start out around 600 ohms and go up, and the actual output
impedence of the headphone jacks is relatively low. I don't have figures
in front of me, but I would assume these to be around 100 ohms or less,
depending on the type of discrete component that is driving the headphone.
While these are far different, you can get sound with relatively
little distortion through such a connection by adjusting the output
levels for the haedphones and the input levels for the microphones.
However, I wouldn't want to do it. It never seemed like a good idea to
me. I would always prefer to use equipment in the manner in which it
designed to be used. Also, damage resulting from this type of connection
would void any stereo warranty that I know of.
{ lots of disclaimers }
John Jabusch