| BlueStreak |
I'm ready to connect my PC to the stereo so I can enjoy my MP3 collection. Anyone know what kind of wire I need to use to run 50' or so? Does the wire need to be shielded? I whipped something up real quick and got a little hum when no music was playing. I just used junk wire, which is my reason for asking. I know the plugs may also have something to do with it.
Who's done this already? |
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| Warzau |
Are you willing to spend some cash or got some old computer parts lying around. BTW 50' is too long a stretch for patch cords you essentially made a radio antenna.
If you have a old Pentium at least 300 MHz but faster the better. use a old video card with video out. use that as the computer near you receiver and then use it to stream from you networked computer since you can wire it directly 50 is a easy length for a CAT-5 cable.
Or you can get a New HP Digital receiver a 199 or 299 version. Wireless is the 299 version or the Turtle Beach Audiotron same thing but wired. |
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| whynotmdx |
Get a balun to run it 1000 feet over cat 5.
I haven't seen a cheap audio only, but here is one with svideo too so you can see the PC screen if you have a video card with svideo as well.
$120 for a pair
http://www.svideo.com/svaudiobalun17.html |
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| crmsnidol |
I pump my MP3's 2 ways through my system inside and out in the yard.
1. I burn MP3 CD's containing around 180 songs and play them on a cheap DVD player that does MP3 (Apex brand). I can set it to shuffle play and never hear a repeat in 10 hours.
2. I have a Creative Nomad Zen that I aux-in on my home system, create a playlist and let it go all day.
The third way that I wasn't happy with was using a 900Mhz transmitter from my PC to stereo. I could never get it tuned perfectly and got static. |
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| Wazowski |
| My entire music collection is on an iPod. iPods work with Windows and Mac and presently range in capacities up to 30 GB (read: 3 weeks worth of music played continuously 24/7). It sounds great hooked up to my home stereo via RCA's. When I'm done listening on my home stereo, I take the iPod with me in my MDX and have my entire music collection while cruising on the road. |
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| crmsnidol |
My MP3 catalog is searchable and in a DB. Here is the current info:
I also have another 2.32GB of MP3's on my C:| drive waiting to burn. I have 10GB loaded on the Zen and have never felt that there wasn't enough music on there. |
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| BlueStreak |
12846 MP3 files? Makes my collection of 1500 look anemic!
On to my original post, I do have a cheap MP3/DVD player connected to the stereo, however I wanted to connect the stereo to the PC and have use of the full library witout having to worry about CD's. I used a shielded cable and ran 25 or so feet and the hum I asked about went away. Don't have 50' of cable to try. The woreless device didn't get very good ratings so I'm not sure this is for me.
I saw an article on FlashTrax today. Has anyone seen one of these? I little more than a PDA and an iPod, but will play MP3's and display picx from a camera. Cool device.
On the X, I struggling with getting the Apline changer that handles MP3's or getting something like a FlaskTrax or iPod and connect via the Aux ports. If I get the 30GB portable unit, it will work in the X and with the home stereo so it just might be the best option. |
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| crmsnidol |
I think the portable hard-drive based player is the way to go if you need dual purpose home and car use.
Here is a pic of the Nomad Zen: |
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| BlueStreak |
| I did just what you suggested. Personal MP3 player and use it in the X, on the stereo, and when riding on the tractor. The way to go :4: |
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| crmsnidol |
| Congrats. if you have outdoor speakers or even good PC ones, you can put them in the yard, garage, wherever you're working and connect to the MP3 player too. I love it. |
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