Connect Home Theater Speakers to PC.

[therock003]

I have a set of 2 groundspeakers, used on an OLD home cinema TV Set, which are not being used now, so i'm thinking of connecting them to my PC.

Luckily, the Left Speaker already has Cinch (Red/White) input jacks.

First Question. Is there any kind of cable (Y-Cable) that has 3.5 jack male on one end, and red/white male on the other directly, with no need for converters?

Also the right speaker seems to want to connect with the left to take the audio information. Isnt that strange? What's worse is that i seem to ave misplaced this proprietary cable that's nesesary for it to connect.

And my final question will be. Do i need some sort of an amplifier, or will the mobos sound card handle the sound? Or do the speakers handle the amplification?

My speakers are Sony VA10.

[jagabo]

I have a set of 2 groundspeakers, used on an OLD home cinema TV Set, which are not being used now, so i'm thinking of connecting them to my PC.

Luckily, the Left Speaker already has Cinch (Red/White) input jacks.

First Question. Is there any kind of cable (Y-Cable) that has 3.5 jack male on one end, and red/white male on the other directly, with no need for converters?

Yes. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP

Also the right speaker seems to want to connect with the left to take the audio information. Isnt that strange?

No, it's quite common.

What's worse is that i seem to ave misplaced this proprietary cable that's nesesary for it to connect.

What type of connector does it use?

And my final question will be. Do i need some sort of an amplifier, or will the mobos sound card handle the sound? Or do the speakers handle the amplification?

My speakers are Sony VA10.

Do the speakers have an amp built in (is there a power cord going to the speakers)? If so, you don't need an external amp. Otherwise you will need an amp. Line out or headphone out from a computer is at too low a level for speakers.

[therock003]

Yes. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP

Is Mini-plug supposed to be 3.5 or 2.5? I havent heard it go by that name before.

What type of connector does it use?

It looks to me as though it is proprietary, ie not one of the common standard types.

Do the speakers have an amp built in (is there a power cord going to the speakers)? If so, you don't need an external amp. Otherwise you will need an amp. Line out or headphone out from a computer is at too low a level for speakers.

Yes the left one does have a power cord, so that means it has enough power to perform right? The Right one does not have any power cord, only this strange cable. So it can receive both the audio and power from this cable?

Will include pics tommorow, cause i cant seem to find any on the internet. This set is quite old (14 years old approx).

[jagabo]

Is Mini-plug supposed to be 3.5 or 2.5? I havent heard it go by that name before.

There are both 3.5 and 2.5 mm versions.

It looks to me as though it is proprietary, ie not one of the common standard types.

I usually see a mono pinplug or RCA used for that. But any 2 connector/conductor wire will do.

Yes the left one does have a power cord, so that means it has enough power to perform right? The Right one does not have any power cord, only this strange cable. So it can receive both the audio and power from this cable?

Yes, the power to the left speaker is for the amp. The cable that goes between the two carries a signal at speaker levels.

[therock003]

I found alternative versions of this cable from the British Amazon, from Belkin once again. I really like this brand but is there really a reason they make so expensive cables?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-iPhone-Adapter-Cable-3-5mm/dp/B000ZZQAVI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1...3&sr=8-1-fkmr1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-ADAPTER-1-3-5mm-2-RCA-PLUGS/dp/B00198HE9W/ref=pd_cp_ce_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-BelkinAV-Audio-Y-Splitter-Stereo/dp/B002KQ8QZ8/ref=sr_1...5347317&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metre-3-5mm-Phono-Plugs-Metal/dp/B001KEVSX8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6

Is there any difference between these products?

Here is this input i keep talking about. Can you make anything from this?

[redwudz]

I'd do a bit more searching for that cable. That's definitely proprietary and not likely to be easy or cheap to find a replacement. If that cable simply transfers a stereo audio signal to that speaker, no idea why it would use that type of cable. Maybe there is more than just the audio being transferred.

[jagabo]

I found alternative versions of this cable from the British Amazon, from Belkin once again. I really like this brand but is there really a reason they make so expensive cables?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-iPhone-Adapter-Cable-3-5mm/dp/B000ZZQAVI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1...3&sr=8-1-fkmr1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-ADAPTER-1-3-5mm-2-RCA-PLUGS/dp/B00198HE9W/ref=pd_cp_ce_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-BelkinAV-Audio-Y-Splitter-Stereo/dp/B002KQ8QZ8/ref=sr_1...5347317&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metre-3-5mm-Phono-Plugs-Metal/dp/B001KEVSX8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6

Is there any difference between these products?

Not really. Try this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-3-5mm-RCA-Audio-Adapter/dp/B000CI4VJQ
Or one of these and regular male/male RCA cables: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Phono-Female-3-5mm-Audio-Adapter/dp/B000Q8FEQQ

Here is this input i keep talking about. Can you make anything from this?

Never seen that. But is says "input" not "output". Is that on the speaker without the amp or the speaker with the amp?

[therock003]

Here is this input i keep talking about. Can you make anything from this?

Never seen that. But is says "input" not "output". Is that on the speaker without the amp or the speaker with the amp?

But i'm already saying it's an input on my quote! It is proprietary just like i guessed and my problem is that i cant find it. This is on the back of both speakers. The picture is from the one without the amp and rca inputs.

[jagabo]

I was worried that was in input to the amp -- from an external DVD player or something.

I think you're going to have a hard time finding that proprietary cable. You may have to open the enclosures and add your own connectors.

[therock003]

1)I do own one of these converters that you posted. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Phono-Female-3-5mm-Audio-Adapter/dp/B000Q8FEQQ

But is it realy the same quality as those pricey Belkin Cables?

I tried it via the converter for the speaker with the rca inputs, and it worked. Although sound was not as normal as i hoped. Maybe i will have to practise some tweaking.

2)As for building this proprietary cable, how is that possible? What specs, tools, items and what skills are required?

[redwudz]

I wouldn't expect to be able to build that cable using that type of connector. As jagabo mentioned, you may have to open up the speaker cabinets and just wire the active connection for the two speakers together with or without a connector. It seems a bit strange that they used that connector just for stereo, as it only needs two wires. Maybe there's more to those speakers or Sony just likes strange connectors.

As for the 'Y' cable, just about any one would work. That type of cable may be available at a regular stereo/audio store or a large chain store for very cheap. Belkin makes high quality cables that are built to last, but a cheap cable and a expensive one would work the same over short distances. Long cable runs or cables that are plugged in and unplugged a lot can benefit more by using a higher quality cable.