Re-purposing Old Stereos as Audiobook Readers

conan50 · 03-09-2015, 11:42 PM

I like my little tablets but the audio is pretty lame on them and it is not always convenient to lug the devices around the house just to hear the audio. I've been trying to figure out what to do with an old RCA 80 watt stereo system, and decided to try using it to amplify my audiobooks. Using a cord with a 3.5 plug on the tablet and 2 Male RCA plugs to the audio on the stereo Auxiliary input, I can fill the room with the sound of my audiobooks. Of course it also works well for streaming music from the devices.
It is not a new idea by any means, but I thought it worth bringing up if someone has an old stereo lying about that could offer louder volume for their audiobooks instead of carrying the device around and using earbuds.

Apache · 03-10-2015, 05:20 AM

I have been doing this for years with my Bose at work and My Yamaha Stereo System at home. It definitely makes for a better listening environment.

Apache

HarryT · 03-10-2015, 05:23 AM

I was doing this for decent sound output from my PCs about 20 years ago. Nothing wrong with reminding people about the old ideas!

Ripplinger · 03-10-2015, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I was doing this for decent sound output from my PCs about 20 years ago. Nothing wrong with reminding people about the old ideas!

That's what I did, hooked up my first PC, an IBM PCjr (1984), to my stereo. Playing King's Quest was terrific on it!

I then hooked up my TVs that way with speakers placed in the back of the room and had what I called my "ghetto surround sound" a decade before home theaters were even a thing.

cromag · 03-10-2015, 06:03 AM

I use a similar set-up with a very old MP3 player for spoken-word podcasts. It works best if your player has a "line-out" port, but if you only have an earphone port you can find the right volume setting.

BTW, in the very old days I recorded those podcasts from my computer using a patch cable to my cassette recorder and listened on my cassette deck.

theducks · 03-10-2015, 03:35 PM

Isn't that what the 'Optical Out' port on your sound card is for

No Optical

I also have a Blutooth module connected to a spare input on the receiver
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...-audio-adapter that I can pair with my TAB2

crich70 · 03-11-2015, 05:42 PM

I plug the audio out on my Desktop into my Home Theater unit (via Aux in) and get surround sound when I watch a DVD on my computer.

conan50 · 03-11-2015, 07:16 PM

One handy thing is that my Tablet has Google Now so I can tell it what musician or group to play for music, get the weather, etc. Sort of my own version of the "Echo"

03-09-2015, 11:42 PM	#1
conan50 Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 14054112 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: kindle	Re-purposing Old Stereos as Audiobook Readers I like my little tablets but the audio is pretty lame on them and it is not always convenient to lug the devices around the house just to hear the audio. I've been trying to figure out what to do with an old RCA 80 watt stereo system, and decided to try using it to amplify my audiobooks. Using a cord with a 3.5 plug on the tablet and 2 Male RCA plugs to the audio on the stereo Auxiliary input, I can fill the room with the sound of my audiobooks. Of course it also works well for streaming music from the devices. It is not a new idea by any means, but I thought it worth bringing up if someone has an old stereo lying about that could offer louder volume for their audiobooks instead of carrying the device around and using earbuds.

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03-10-2015, 05:20 AM	#2
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have been doing this for years with my Bose at work and My Yamaha Stereo System at home. It definitely makes for a better listening environment. Apache

03-10-2015, 05:23 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I was doing this for decent sound output from my PCs about 20 years ago. Nothing wrong with reminding people about the old ideas!

03-10-2015, 06:03 AM	#5
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,285 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I use a similar set-up with a very old MP3 player for spoken-word podcasts. It works best if your player has a "line-out" port, but if you only have an earphone port you can find the right volume setting. BTW, in the very old days I recorded those podcasts from my computer using a patch cable to my cassette recorder and listened on my cassette deck.

03-10-2015, 03:35 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Isn't that what the 'Optical Out' port on your sound card is for No Optical I also have a Blutooth module connected to a spare input on the receiver http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...-audio-adapter that I can pair with my TAB2

03-11-2015, 05:42 PM	#7
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I plug the audio out on my Desktop into my Home Theater unit (via Aux in) and get surround sound when I watch a DVD on my computer.

03-11-2015, 07:16 PM	#8
conan50 Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 14054112 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: kindle	One handy thing is that my Tablet has Google Now so I can tell it what musician or group to play for music, get the weather, etc. Sort of my own version of the "Echo"

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