laptop to amp

[joesdaddy]

What is the best way to connect my laptop to my av amp for music I have tried to connect it through the 3.5 head phone out to phono but the sound quality is not up to much is there a better way ? cheers Joe

[ChuckFickens]

Thats the only way.

I have one of mine connected to an amp just like that and it sounds perfect. make sure you have all the volume levels on the laptop set to maximum.

[beso]

There is quite a variability in the quality of the sound hardware in computers. Maybe your's is very ordinary.

You can get a USB soundcard and these generally have a better sound quality.

One thing to watch for is running the laptop and amp from different power sockets. This causes an earth loop and can cause humming. Even from the same outlet there may be some hum present.

If hum is the problem then try running the laptop on battery. If the hum disappears then an earth loop is the problem.

Ground loop isolators are available. They are inserted into the audio lead and use a small transformer and capacitor to transmit the signal without providing a DC connection to complete the loop. No doubt they also introduce some distortion but ones I have used seem to work OK.

[ChuckFickens]

beso, laptops aren't earthed!

[beso]

I had two laptops in the 1990s that both carried their mains earth through the power supply to the computer power ground.

[rojash]

beso, laptops aren't earthed!

joesdaddy , the poor sound quality could just be due to you overdriving the input of your amp. Try turning down the volume on the computer and turning up the volume on the amp.