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audio help

I've bought a little compact sony stereo as i'm trying to downsize. while my separates have served me well i don't think i'm losing anything in terms of sound. what i'm struggling with is the reduction in audio outputs. there's a phones socket on the front but if i plug in my phone to this i can't hear anything regardless of what function I use (tape, tuner, cd, minidisc) and on the back I have only have tape in and out socket and i really can't be arsed with plugging and unplugging cables every time i want to use the tape deck, laptop or phone.

So, my questions are:

1) why can't i hear my phone/laptop when i plug into the phones at the front.
2) how can i solve the issue of reduced audio sockets? do i need to buy a splitter? what are my options?

The stereo i bought is a Sony DHC-MD333 with TC-TX333 tape deck (which I still want to utilise as i have a load of tapes to go through).

http://www.ebay.es/itm/111787335777

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 1:48pm on Sun 13th December 2015. Viewed 13,560 times.

Sorry - I haven't got a bastard clue.

Published by Kuryakin at 2:18pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

1) it looks like the phone at the front is headphone output (so I wouldn't expect any 3.5mm input plugged in there to work other than another headphone or small speaker, as the output is likely to be 1watt at most). have you tried plugging headphones in there and a 3.5mm to phono line to the tape input at the back for your laptop/phone?

2) a splitter box should work, though hard to tell how much power from your phone or laptop (unless the latter has an audio card with separate outputs, mine has phones, speaker and mic) or this might also do (along with a phono to 3.5mm adaptor)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1M-Metre-TWIN-2-x-RCA-Phono-PLUG-to-PLUG-Sta...

Published by foolscap (not active) at 3:55pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

1) yes it's headphone. I haven't tried plugging headphone in because but are you suggesting this to see if it actually works for that purpose? I've plugged in a 3.5mm to phono to tape input for laptop/phone but i'm trying to avoid plugging/unplugging this for when i want to use the tape deck. Would this be a solution? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Jack-Stereo-Male-to-2-x-RCA-Female-Twi...

2) i've managed to blag one of these this afternoon but have just discovered it's for connecting TV to other AV devices: http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDTV-YPbPr-Component-Switcher-Splitter/dp/B001... I managed to connect it up with some partial success but not total, so I think I should ditch that option. The cable you linked to looks like a simple and viable option BUT would that not then mean that i could play a tape and laptop/phone at the same time essentially?

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 5:08pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

That should still work. Just plug in the audio lines: the splitter box input to the tape in on your stereo; the tape output into Audio 1; and your RCA to 3.5mm lead into Audio 2.

Worth a try before you buy anything else, like this (only £7): http://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-Audio-Selector-Switch-Connect/dp/B003...

Published by foolscap (not active) at 6:20pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

Thanks F. What's confused me is what to do with the red, green and blue thingies that would normally plug into the tv. The audio cable from this box splits two ways into those three and then the red and white cables. Shall I just leave them dangling like dangly things of dangledom?

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 6:43pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

yay, that works. I can comfortably flick between tape and phone without any greater faff than a flick of a switch. Thank you so much for your audio help :) (I owe you a pint!).

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 7:01pm on Sun 13th December 2015.

If you want to listen to stuff from your phone on the stereo and not have to connect it up, treat yourself to one of these:

http://www.johnlewis.com/logitech-bluetooth-audio-adaptor/p1914119?sku...

Then you can use your phone like a supercool remote control and skip tracks on it and whatnot while it is in your hand and the sound is coming out of the stereo like you are a fucking WIZARD.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

As Arthur C Clarke said and Bluetooth is right up there.

Published by Noodles Aaronson at 10:13am on Mon 14th December 2015.

Good point! I haven't really utilised bluetooth technology much but I think I should.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 2:40pm on Mon 14th December 2015.

while i like this suggestion noodles it's a bit pricey for me. I went into maplins today and they do one for 25, and I guess i could find one on ebay for cheaper, but with the WAN office shitmas do coming up I'm going to need all my spare cash for that. for the time being i'm going to have to stay wired.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 9:31pm on Mon 14th December 2015.

Fair enough. It's a toy gadget, really. So twerps who work in offices all day (like me) can pretend they are Batman.

It is unlikely that the quality of your life will suffer.

If alcohol is an alternative use of the money, I fully approve.

Published by Noodles Aaronson at 11:50am on Tue 15th December 2015.

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