Connecting iMac to stereo

I have a stereo system that was marketed as something that one can plug their iPod into. I don't have an iPod but I do have an iMac. The only inputs on the stereo are RCA auxiliary. Does anyone know if USB to RCA cables exist? Am I destined to never be able to use my iMac with better speakers?

$3.50

Am sure you can find this at your local Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. Probably cost ya $10 or more there though.

Riding on the back of this thread, advice please about splitting audio. I have two computers fairly close to one another, and I move from one to the other for different jobs. I have an audio cable (3.5 to 2xRCA) from one computer to an amp, now I'd like to put that cable in to a splitter socket, perhaps like a Y, two computers' audio in, one audio socket out to amp, all 3.5 mm. I can then toggle between computers for sound and music while I'm working. Thanks.

Don't know what stores you have there, but you should be able to find a splitter. Here's a quickie find on Amazon.

As you see on this one, it is designed for composite video. That's more than likely what you'll find in the cheap price range. There's not too many people wanting to split only audio any longer, so an audio only device will probably be hard to locate. Not sure I've seen one since the 70's. I didn't find one even on monoprice.com (and those guys carry about anything you could want related to cabling) with just a quick search. Looking for composite, S-video or VGA splitter will be the cheapest boxes.

Doesn't the iMac have headphones out? You just need male mini stereo (1/8") to male RCA stereo.

Alternately - if you have some $$, get an Airport Express and use airtunes.

egutin said:

Doesn't the iMac have headphones out? You just need male mini stereo (1/8") to male RCA stereo.

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You'll notice, that's what I gave him a link to.

bobtomay said:

Don't know what stores you have there, but you should be able to find a splitter.

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Thank you, in the end I bought a cheap switcher with two input, one output. It does the job, but there's annoying hum and buzz, a mate says it's a fault in the amplifier, but it doesn't happen when one computer or the other is connected directly to the amp, not through the switcher.

needlewithaprun said:

The only inputs on the stereo are RCA auxiliary. Does anyone know if USB to RCA cables exist?

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I think this Amazon.com: EasyCap USB 2.0 Video Capture Adapter with Video Editing Software: Electronics is what you may be after (just use the audio sockets), but you'll need another RCA->RCA cable, readily available and cheap. Bobtomay's suggestion of a 3.5 mm to RCA may after all be the more feasible option.

Update: this too may suit your purposes Amazon.com: USB2800D DVD Maker Edit Burn USB 2.0 Mpeg 4/2/1 Encoding: Electronics

hugh, I've seen some cheap powered switches that will introduce hum into the signal. One thing you may want to try if you haven't, turn off (sometimes just muting will work) the computer you're not using and see if that eliminates the hum while listening to the other. If it does, the switch is possibly not separating the signal well enough. Also, try repositioning the cables and/or the location of the switch, you never know sometimes what may be introducing hum.

bobtomay said:

hugh, I've seen some cheap powered switches that will introduce hum into the signal.

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Also a powered hub (Targus) with its audio pass-through!

One thing you may want to try ... turn off the computer you're not using

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Yes, have done this. The switcher is an el-cheapo with simple depress on/off and selector switches, and I haven't checked inside for possible insulation issues, not that I'd know immediately what I was looking for. The switcher is close to a number of devices, but all are switched off. I doubt that cable positioning is the cause, because there's no problem with just one computer direct to the amp.

My mate, who knows far more than I do about these things, says the probable cause is a faulty amp. I'm sceptical about that because of what I've referred to earlier, but I'm going to try a spare amp I have.

Thanks for your interest and input.

Having same problem

I have a stereo splitter that has a stereo (skinny standard earphone jack size) on one end and RCA left/right on the other end. I have tried two different RCA cables (started with a short one, now have a long one), and when I connect them to my iMac's earphone jack and plug'm into my older stereo amp's RCA 'in', i get a terrible hum.

Here's what I know:

• splitter plugged into iMac produces bad hum
• ipod headphones sound clear when plugged into the iMac
• splitter plugged into ipod touch sounds clear (i tried putting it as close to the iphone plug as possible to try and introduce any potential interference such as cables crossing etc but no problems.
• splitter plugged into new macbook pro sounds clear also.

Therefore, I've narrowed it down to the iMac. Suggestions?