Hi... First Post!
I just purchased a Dell XPS media center PC and am trying to output multiple audio signals...
OK First ... My Gear
Dell XPS Media Center PC
- XFI Extreme Music Soundcard
Harmon Kardon AVR 225 (Livingroom System)
Older Rotel Stereo Amp (Kitchen and Porch)
Now... I run a digital out of the soundcard into the Harmon Kardon, and everything is great! But I need a second output to the Rotel amp for music in the rest of the house. I've run CAT 5 Twisted Pair under the house to the Rotel and I've tried to use the L/R Front output on the soundcard with a mini 8 jack for output. Here are the problems...
1. I keep loosing the left channel from the PC to the Rotel via the mini 8... It works great for a while, then I hear a little crackle and poof, the left channel is gone. To restore it, I need to power off the Rotel Amp, close Windows Media Center (Not shut down the PC), unplug the mini 8, plug it back in... Start up Media Center and some tunes and turn the Rotel amp back on. Sometimes I need to do this 3 or 4 times before the left channel comes back.
Please note - I've double and triple checked my connections and soildering and the cable is fine.
2. When I shut the PC down without powering off the Rotel amp, it hums like a bugger!
I thought I might be able to run RCA's out of the Harmon Kardon outputs, but because it is a Digital Input, it disables the RCA outs... ARRRRGGGG!
Just a couple of housekeeping things... I've tried the Headphones Out on the front of the PC... Same Problem... I plug my the mini 8 into my MP3 Player and the Rotel is ROCKIN!
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know... I'm very frustrated and tired of going though my little proceedure above 3 times a day to restore the left channel.
