Newbie problem, help wanted - PC audio to receiver

[Nam]

Hi,

I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to channel audio
from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the receiver gives very
low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound with its 2.5mV
sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much noise.

My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini system (with
PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works well enough for
my small room. With the same source, same cable, same speakers, the
maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a trillion times
more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.

What could be wrong with the Sony? Or my settings? Any help is much
appreciated!

Nam

[TT]

"Nam" <nam@nospam.com> wrote in message news:41865020.75CDA537@nospam.com...
> Hi,
>
> I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to channel audio
> from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the receiver gives very
> low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound with its 2.5mV
> sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much noise.
>
> My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini system (with
> PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works well enough for
> my small room. With the same source, same cable, same speakers, the
> maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a trillion times
> more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.
>
> What could be wrong with the Sony? Or my settings? Any help is much
> appreciated!
>
> Nam

Use the soundcards "line out" or even the "headphone" jack and input it
into any RCA in e.g. Tape/Aux in on the amp. If you are using headphone
jack adjust the volume to suit a reasonable level on your amp. If it is to
loud it will distort and to soft you also could get distortion at high
attenuator levels. Tip: Don't use the phono input

BTW you will need a 1/8" to 2 RCA stereo cable.

Regards TT

[Nam]

TT wrote:
>
> "Nam" <nam@nospam.com> wrote in message news:41865020.75CDA537@nospam.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to channel audio
> > from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the receiver gives very
> > low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound with its 2.5mV
> > sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much noise.
> >
> > My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini system (with
> > PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works well enough for
> > my small room. With the same source, same cable, same speakers, the
> > maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a trillion times
> > more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.
> >
> > What could be wrong with the Sony? Or my settings? Any help is much
> > appreciated!
> >
> > Nam
>
> Use the soundcards "line out" or even the "headphone" jack and input it
> into any RCA in e.g. Tape/Aux in on the amp. If you are using headphone
> jack adjust the volume to suit a reasonable level on your amp. If it is to
> loud it will distort and to soft you also could get distortion at high
> attenuator levels. Tip: Don't use the phono input
>
> BTW you will need a 1/8" to 2 RCA stereo cable.
>
> Regards TT

Thanks TT. That's exactly what I'm doing, i.e. 1/8" from soundcard's
line-out to 2-RCA input on the amp. But the result is terrible as I
described above.

Nam

[Phil Allison]

"Nam"

>
> I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to channel audio
> from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the receiver gives very
> low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound with its 2.5mV
> sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much noise.
>
> My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini system (with
> PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works well enough for
> my small room. With the same source, same cable, same speakers, the
> maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a trillion times
> more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.
>


** Do you still have the Akai ? Can you do a test with it again ?

Can you test the Sony with a tuner or DVD player on the aux inputs ?

You need to figure out if it is the Sony or the PC that has the problem.



............ Phil

[TT]

"Nam" <nam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:4186E6D4.10B6E9F7@nospam.com...
:
:
: TT wrote:
: >
: > "Nam" <nam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:41865020.75CDA537@nospam.com...
: > > Hi,
: > >
: > > I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to
channel audio
: > > from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the
receiver gives very
: > > low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound
with its 2.5mV
: > > sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much
noise.
: > >
: > > My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini
system (with
: > > PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works
well enough for
: > > my small room. With the same source, same cable, same
speakers, the
: > > maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a
trillion times
: > > more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.
: > >
: > > What could be wrong with the Sony? Or my settings? Any
help is much
: > > appreciated!
: > >
: > > Nam
: >
: > Use the soundcards "line out" or even the "headphone"
jack and input it
: > into any RCA in e.g. Tape/Aux in on the amp. If you are
using headphone
: > jack adjust the volume to suit a reasonable level on
your amp. If it is to
: > loud it will distort and to soft you also could get
distortion at high
: > attenuator levels. Tip: Don't use the phono input
: >
: > BTW you will need a 1/8" to 2 RCA stereo cable.
: >
: > Regards TT
:
: Thanks TT. That's exactly what I'm doing, i.e. 1/8" from
soundcard's
: line-out to 2-RCA input on the amp. But the result is
terrible as I
: described above.
:
: Nam

Try some headphones in the sound card (or use the headphone
jack) and see what it sounds like and try another device in
the amp to see if it is a faulty input.

Process of elimination.

Regards TT

[Nam]

Phil Allison wrote:
>
> "Nam"
>
> >
> > I've just got an old Sony STR-D911 and I'm trying to channel audio
> > from my PC soundcard to it. The problem is the receiver gives very
> > low output. The phono input gives the loudest sound with its 2.5mV
> > sensitivity, but still miserable, and with too much noise.
> >
> > My previous setting of using an old Akai AC-MX92 mini system (with
> > PC output connected to aux input on the Akai) works well enough for
> > my small room. With the same source, same cable, same speakers, the
> > maximum volume on the Sony is about as loud as, and a trillion times
> > more noisy than, the Akai at 1/5 its maximum volume.
> >
>
> ** Do you still have the Akai ? Can you do a test with it again ?
>
> Can you test the Sony with a tuner or DVD player on the aux inputs ?
>
> You need to figure out if it is the Sony or the PC that has the problem.
>
> ........... Phil

TT wrote:
> Try some headphones in the sound card (or use the headphone
> jack) and see what it sounds like and try another device in
> the amp to see if it is a faulty input.
>
> Process of elimination.
>
> Regards TT

Thanks Phil, TT.

I still have the Akai and in fact have switched back to using it. The
PC + Akai setting is doing fine as it has always so it's highly likely
that the Sony is the problem.

I had already tried connecting the soundcard line-out to all different
inputs on the Sony (it has no input labelled as "aux" though). I'll
borrow some other device and try it on the Sony but I'm starting to
think I've been duped into buying the faulty Sony :-(

Nam

[Phil Allison]

"Nam"
> Phil Allison wrote:

>> You need to figure out if it is the Sony or the PC that has the problem.

>
> I still have the Akai and in fact have switched back to using it. The
> PC + Akai setting is doing fine as it has always so it's highly likely
> that the Sony is the problem.
>
> I had already tried connecting the soundcard line-out to all different
> inputs on the Sony (it has no input labelled as "aux" though). I'll
> borrow some other device and try it on the Sony but I'm starting to
> think I've been duped into buying the faulty Sony :-(
>


** A few hi-fi amps had unusual RCA sockets that included a shorting switch
that closed when no plug was inserted - these switches would not open with
plugs that were not fully inserted or had slightly short centre pins.

Try some other leads and make sure the plugs are pushed fully home.



................ Phil

[Phil Allison]

"Phil Allison"

>
> ** A few hi-fi amps had unusual RCA sockets that included a shorting
> switch that closed when no plug was inserted - these switches would not
> open with plugs that were not fully inserted or had slightly short centre
> pins.
>
> Try some other leads and make sure the plugs are pushed fully home.
>


BTW Make sure you have not got the " MUTE " button engaged.




.............. Phil

[Nam]

Phil Allison wrote:
>
> "Nam"
> > Phil Allison wrote:
>
> >> You need to figure out if it is the Sony or the PC that has the problem.
>
> >
> > I still have the Akai and in fact have switched back to using it. The
> > PC + Akai setting is doing fine as it has always so it's highly likely
> > that the Sony is the problem.
> >
> > I had already tried connecting the soundcard line-out to all different
> > inputs on the Sony (it has no input labelled as "aux" though). I'll
> > borrow some other device and try it on the Sony but I'm starting to
> > think I've been duped into buying the faulty Sony :-(
> >
>
> ** A few hi-fi amps had unusual RCA sockets that included a shorting switch
> that closed when no plug was inserted - these switches would not open with
> plugs that were not fully inserted or had slightly short centre pins.
>
> Try some other leads and make sure the plugs are pushed fully home.
>
> ............... Phil

Phil, you're da man! Thanks!

That seems to be the very problem. I tried other plugs with slightly
longer centre pins and all is fine now. Computer out, DVD out, etc. all
work fine with all inputs on the amp.

Nam

[Phil Allison]

"Nam"
> Phil Allison wrote:
>>
>> ** A few hi-fi amps had unusual RCA sockets that included a shorting
>> switch
>> that closed when no plug was inserted - these switches would not open
>> with
>> plugs that were not fully inserted or had slightly short centre pins.
>>
>> Try some other leads and make sure the plugs are pushed fully home.
>>
>> ............... Phil
>
> Phil, you're da man! Thanks!
>
> That seems to be the very problem. I tried other plugs with slightly
> longer centre pins and all is fine now. Computer out, DVD out, etc. all
> work fine with all inputs on the amp.



** Wow - that was a real **long shot** that came home, just like a 100:1
winner at the Melbourne Cup.

IIRC the old Phase Linear pre-amps had the same silly problem.

BTW Thanks for letting me know the outcome.



............. Phil