How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo

  • January 22, 2010
  • 1,815 Views
Please install Flash

You don’t have to listen to online music through tiny computer speakers. Follow these easy steps to hook your computer up to your stereo.

You Will Need

  • A 3.5 millimeter stereo Y-adapter cable
  • A computer
  • A stereo amplifier
  • A tape measure (optional)
How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Buy the right cable

Step 1: Buy the right cable

Buy a stereo adapter cable with a single, mini headphone plug at one end and two RCA plugs, left and right, at the other.

Measure the distance from your computer to your stereo with a tape measure to be sure the cable you buy is long enough.

How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Find the Line Out jack

Step 2: Find the Line Out jack

Find the Line Out jack on your computer’s sound card. If your computer doesn’t have one, find the headphone jack.

How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Plug in the cable

Step 3: Plug in the cable

Insert the mini headphone plug into the computer’s line out or headphone jack.

How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Attach to the stereo

Step 4: Attach to the stereo

Insert the two RCA plugs into the corresponding AUX or TAPE inputs on your stereo amplifier. Match the colors on the plugs to the colors on the inputs.

How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Set up the receiver

Step 5: Set up the receiver

Set the receiver to either AUX or TAPE input.

How To Hook a Computer Up To a Stereo: Play

Step 6: Play

Play an audio file on the computer. Adjust the volume on the computer or the receiver and enjoy your music.

As of 2009, a quarter of all U.S. music was bought from iTunes.

Something wrong?

Report This How-To

Cancel

Comments (0)

There are no comments. Be the first!

or to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends