computer hookup

[Roteller]

Hi, I would like to know if I can hook up my laptop to my home audio system to listen to my music files and if so what kind of sound quality would I be hearing? Also is it possible to control audio system with laptop wirelessly? I use an RSP 1066 by Rotel. If these ideas are possible could someone explain what equipment and cables I would need to purchase and how to go about it. Thanks for any information.

[markov]

Your laptops built in connections would be a good place to start in assessing the convenience and sound quality you'll get form it. The one connection almost every laptop will have is a mini stereo jack or headphone out. You can connect this to the RSP1066 via a stereo mini jack to rca connector and the then use the playback software of your choice.

If you think that you want to go wireless then an apple airport express is a good choice if you use iTunes. For this option you will plug in the airport express in somewhat near your processor and then connect it either the same stereo mini to rca connector or a mini toslink to toslink optical cable. Then in iTunes enable AirTunes and you are set. Just remember to utilize high quality music files.

[impala454]

If you want to go "audiophile" with it, do some searches on AVS for "bit perfect".

[Hdale85]

And use a USB DAC or something or digital output.

[whoaru99]

Some laptop analog outputs aren't too bad, some are lousy. You'll just have to try yours to find out where it lies in your perception of quality.

Some laptops have digital output capabilities too, perhaps yours does and could be connected that way.

You need to figure out what possibilites are inherent to your laptop since they're not all the same.

[Martyn]

Use either your laptop's network connection or wireless card to connect to a Squeezebox (www.slimdevices.com). Connect this to your amplifier using the usual RCAs. That's it! Your sound quality will depend mainly on whether you're using MP3 or lossless music files.

[cxc21]

I use the optical out on a Mac and a headroom DAC. Usb and analogue out were dismo.
Don't forget to set the audio out to the best possible sampling rate. On the Mac you have to set this in midi/audio setup not the sound prefs.

[iiaudio]

I have to agree on the Squeezebox. I don't know how I lived without mine. Lossless (FLAC or Apple lossless) is totally the way to go.

If you want to kick it up from there, look at and external USB DA. Check out the Benchmark DAC1 USB (http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/) or the Apogee Mini DAC (http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/minidac.php)

[Hdale85]

I like the HTPC front end better then the squeeze box Although squeeze box is cheaper if you don't have an extra PC available.