Headphone Jack versus Line Out

[Guest]

I really don't understand why the Sound Card companies don't print their
instructions better.
DO NOT USE Headphone OUTPUT to a LINE LEVEL INPUT or a AUX INPUT.
The Aux or Line In or Output is a low voltage, usually around 150 mv, the
Mic In is about 5 Micro Volts and if you connect a Headphone Output to a Mic
In or a AUX or LIne IN, you will creat a Major Mixmatch and could very easily
cause damage to the Sound Card. If you end up with a recording it will be
distorted and of low quality, even if the volumn on the source is turned
down, you are pushing your luck. You could buy an Attentuating Cable from
Radio Shack that would dampen the output using a resistor on the line, but it
is far mor recommended that you use a Line/Aux OUPUT to go into a Aux/Line
INPUT. MIc In is only for microphones and headphones are only for Headphones
or small speakers. Using the Headphone out as a regulated line level out is
only going to create problems.

 

[pjp]

If you think you know enough to start interfacing pc, stereo, tv etc.
together than I'd make the assumption you know that already.

Note also : the Line-Out jack is not always save. I still use ones in some
of my pcs that drive non-powered speakers (e.g. 5 Watts or so) which can
easily exceed what my stereo pre-amp expects. I actually feed one system
into my stereo using such a card but I run it into my reel-to-reel which
allows me to limit the signal strength before it gets to the amp while still
allowing me to adjust the volume on the pc to almost any desired level (amp
and speakers wired parallel).

 

[Guest]

My response is within your message......


--
I Have forgotten so much of what I once knew.
"A Stranger is a Friend you haven''t met yet."

If you think you know enough to start interfacing pc, stereo, tv etc.
together than I'd make the assumption you know that already.

I do, been involved with Audio for close to 40 years.

Note also : the Line-Out jack is not always save. LINE OUT should ALWAYS be SAFE to use to go into another LINE LEVEL INPUT. If you check the Milivoltage levels they should be approx 150 mv. They are LOW LEVEL Regulated.

I still use ones in some of my pcs that drive non-powered speakers (e.g. 5
Watts or so) which can easily exceed what my stereo pre-amp expects. I
actually feed one system into my stereo using such a card but I run it into
my reel-to-reel which
allows me to limit the signal strength before it gets to the amp
You would have a Pre-amp level control to control the amount of output.
This was used to make SMALL adjustments in the output to maintain the same
volumn level when you switched between Tuner, Turntable, Tape etc.

while still allowing me to adjust the volume on the pc to almost any
desired level (amp and speakers wired parallel). I am confused by this
statement. Amp has Line OUTs and NOT speaker Outputs. Speaker Outputs are
usually terminals of some sort and have inpedance of 4 ohms to 16 ohms. Line
or AMP outs have NO inpedance levels and if you are refering to an AMPs
Speaker OUTPUTs you are living on the very edge. Speakers should NEVER be
hooked up with more than ONE unless you know what you are doing, for instance
if your amp has an 8 ohm output and you hook up two 8 ohm speakers in
Parallel then you have created a 4 ohm load on an output that requires and 8
ohm resistance, if you connect in series you end up with TOO much resistance
or 16 ohms and will over drive your amp. Now if you hook up four speakers,
you could hook up too in parallel and the other two in parellel and then hook
the two parallel banks in series and you would have four speakers giving a 8
ohm load to the amp.

I posted the Topic as information for people to be able to access, I wasn't
posted because I didn't know. I see way too many posts of people connecting
Headphone outputs to line inputs and thought tbefore they fried their boards
they should know the facts.

 

[pjp]

And I knew what you added already also

My response is within your message......


--
I Have forgotten so much of what I once knew.
"A Stranger is a Friend you haven''t met yet."

If you think you know enough to start interfacing pc, stereo, tv etc.
together than I'd make the assumption you know that already.

I do, been involved with Audio for close to 40 years.

Note also : the Line-Out jack is not always save. LINE OUT should ALWAYS
be SAFE to use to go into another LINE LEVEL INPUT. If you check the
Milivoltage levels they should be approx 150 mv. They are LOW LEVEL
Regulated.

I still use ones in some of my pcs that drive non-powered speakers (e.g.
5
Watts or so) which can easily exceed what my stereo pre-amp expects. I
actually feed one system into my stereo using such a card but I run it
into
my reel-to-reel which
allows me to limit the signal strength before it gets to the amp
You would have a Pre-amp level control to control the amount of output.
This was used to make SMALL adjustments in the output to maintain the same
volumn level when you switched between Tuner, Turntable, Tape etc.

while still allowing me to adjust the volume on the pc to almost any
desired level (amp and speakers wired parallel). I am confused by this
statement. Amp has Line OUTs and NOT speaker Outputs. Speaker Outputs are
usually terminals of some sort and have inpedance of 4 ohms to 16 ohms.
Line
or AMP outs have NO inpedance levels and if you are refering to an AMPs
Speaker OUTPUTs you are living on the very edge. Speakers should NEVER be
hooked up with more than ONE unless you know what you are doing, for
instance
if your amp has an 8 ohm output and you hook up two 8 ohm speakers in
Parallel then you have created a 4 ohm load on an output that requires and
8
ohm resistance, if you connect in series you end up with TOO much
resistance
or 16 ohms and will over drive your amp. Now if you hook up four speakers,
you could hook up too in parallel and the other two in parellel and then
hook
the two parallel banks in series and you would have four speakers giving a
8
ohm load to the amp.

I posted the Topic as information for people to be able to access, I
wasn't
posted because I didn't know. I see way too many posts of people
connecting
Headphone outputs to line inputs and thought tbefore they fried their
boards
they should know the facts.