Connecting Speakers to laptop.

[trigger1813]

This might be a very simple thing to do but I am unsure of where to start!

I recently moved in to a new flat, where there are 2 BOSE speakers fitted into the sitting room ceiling, there are a set of wires for each were are currently connected to a cd player which no longer works. I have took out these wires and now have 2 sets of the standard black and red cables.

What I am wondering is, is there anyway of putting these cables in to a plug (if thats correct name), like a headphone plug etc, for connecting to my laptop as I want to use it to play music through these speakers?

The connection on my laptop is a standard headphone 1.

Any ideas for a complete newbie?!

Trigger

 

[ceningolmo]

You probably could do what you are asking... but, the tiny little line amplifier inside your laptop is designed to drive the tiny speakers inside a set of headphones. It wouldn't really do anything if you hooked the speakers up directly.

However, you could still make use of those speakers. You just need a way to amplify the signal going to the speakers. I am sure there are plenty of good recommendations elsewhere in the Forums section regarding a quality 2 channel amplifier. But, the point is that you need some sort of a stereo receiver/amplifier.

Once you have that, you should be able to run a cord from your headphone/Line outlet on your laptop to one of the inputs on the receiver/amplifier. Once you do that, you will be able to listen to your music from your laptop on the speakers already installed. Unfortunately, your laptop will be tied to the amplifier with a cord...so, if you use your laptop in different areas of your apartment, this may be a bit restrictive.

In my personal opinion, a couple of ceiling mounted speakers probably aren't going provide you with any kind of really great stereo sound. So, you might be able to save yourself some money and just buy a nice set of portable/computer speakers. A good set of these will provide good sound at a reasonable price.

If you are really looking for a way to make use of the media that is on your laptop and you are still convinced you would like to use the Bose speakers in your ceiling, you may have another option. If you have a wireless network in your apartment, you can use a wireless media server. I have been using a D-Link DSM-320 for the past year or so and I am extremely happy with it.

This option will allow you send media/songs/video from your laptop or other computer on the network wirelessly to your stereo. Therefore your laptop can be in one room while it sends music to the stereo in another room.

I hope this helps,

Ross

 

[markw]

Several things.

Short version: You can't, You need an amp or receiver and sn adaptor


Long version: That plug on the back of a laptop won't driver speakers directly. It's made for headphones which don't require much power or to drive an amplified speaker system, which those Bose ain't.

To drive speakers, any speakers, will require an amp or receiver, to which you would first hook the red and black wires to the respective terminals on the back of the receiver/amplifier.

Rat Shack (and partsexpress, accessories4less and a multitude of others) sell cables that will do exactly what you need to connect the laptop to the receiver/amp. You need a cable with a 1/8" stereo plug on one end (to plug into the back of the laptop) and a pair of RCA plugs on the other, which would plug into any open aux (or linelevel) input on the amp/receiver.

From that point, simply select the appropiate input, adjust he volume and you're all set.

 

[markw]

He's got a very good point

In my personal opinion, a couple of ceiling mounted speakers probably aren't going provide you with any kind of really great stereo sound. So, you might be able to save yourself some money and just buy a nice set of portable/computer speakers. A good set of these will provide good sound at a reasonable price.

I've been looking into this for my 'puter and found the Creative Labs 3400 ($140 @ Best Buy) quite impressive. Now, I'm waiting for a sale.

 

[ceningolmo]

Mark... that is a nice set of speakers. My brother-in-law bought that set about a month ago and they sound great!

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=147776&_LOC=US

You can get 'em for under $100 through this site.

Ross

 

[markw]

Kewl! Thanks for the heads up!

Thinking along those same lines, we picked a similar doo-hickeys* to let the wife play her portable CD player in her cassette only car. It has also seen quite extensive use in the house by sending the output of her laptop to several home stereos. Granted, it's a small house but it goes at least one room in each direction.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=240-250

*truth in posting disclaimer. We use a unit of similar functionality. It cost $15 at our local WalGreens pharmacy and you HAVRE to turn it on/off manually. Gotta love the woman but I really, really wish she would remember to turn it off... Probably gonna order one ofthese, though. We'l lsave it in thecost odf AAA alkalines.

 

[ceningolmo]

Interesting little gadget!

That is an interesting little thingy!

I used to have a car that I had added an aftermarket cd changer to. The cd changer was added to the OEM stereo system through an FM modulator similar to the one in the link.

I always thought it worked great. The only problem was that the sound quality was degraded pretty significantly between what a CD could produce and what an FM signal could handle.

Do you find that you lose signal quality with your little gadget? Or, does it do well when compared with MP3, WMA, or WAV format?

Ross

 

[markw]

Hard to say...

Her car is a Toyota Corolla with a stock standard sound system. Roughly translated that means it's better than nothing. this buggersounds no worse, even noise wise, than a "real " local FM station

Likewise, it's main use in house is to transmit computer radio, mostly western swing and rockabilly from the 40's to the 70's, from her lil' Gateway laptop's stock "sound card" , if that's the correct terminology for whatever laptops use to make noise, to a nearby FM radio.

It's convenient to go to the website on tha laptop and have the sound come out a better system. Those "stereo" speakers in the laptop are easily bettered by telephones.

As such, considdering I don't really have as high expectation levle from it as I do from my "real" stereo system so I'd say it's more than satisfactory but, in all probability, not up true "audiophile standards, whatever they might be.

Butn, heck, it only cost $15 bucks.