Add RCA outputs to hifi that doesn't have them?

[MartinS]

Is there such a gadget? My old hifi doesn't seem to have RCA outputs, so I can't connect it to my Mac to import vinyl and tapes.

Is there anything I can do to add RCA outputs? I'm thinking of a little gadget from Maplin, something like that.

Ta.

 

[mark2c]

Hi Martin,

An RCA plug is basically the prong for signal and the outer case as the ground. On your old hi-fi you have to have a positive and negative connector/screws for speaker outs? Try bying an RCA cable and cutting one end off, stripping the wire and connecting the positive and negative leads to the terminal screws on the back. Try one and see of you get the signal you are looking for. If it works, cut another cable to go in true stereo, but make sure your hi-fi can function without a speaker load. It should be fine, but may have an internal short to ground with a no load situation. I am not into old SS gear, but older tube amps hence the speaker load caution. I just finished converting 12 Yamaha PM 1000's into preamps with output transformers to Neve 1073 specs with Neve and API EQ's. I way prefer tube technology, but these units are like dipping your signal in honey before tracking.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck.

 

[cradom]

The problem with that is you're getting speaker level outputs instead of line level outputs. There is a large difference in the two. If you want to tap and get line level, try just after the volume control, before it goes into the final amplifier.

 

[mark2c]

The USB preamp must be able to take speaker level input at reasonable levels and convert it to 1V for the output. Tapping off the circuit at the Volume will most likely give a mono signal. The tap would have to be before the power amp where the signal gets split, even then I have no idea what the voltage or gain whould be.

I will double check with my studio guy.

 

[Thorin]

MartinS,

if you tie RCA jacks to the speaker outs without lowering the power and matching the impedance, you might fry the input on your Mac.

You must use these:

http://www.shop.com/op/~Legacy_Speaker_Output_To_RCA_Converter-prod-31697220-41481345?sourceid=3

Or this:

http://www.m-99.co.uk/Car_Audio/High_Low_Impedance_Adapters/high_low_impedance_adapters.html