Hey,

I recently got my stereo back from my Dad's house. It's a Sony CFD-ZW165. I'm currently using computer speakers that were $10 10 years ago haha. It'd be really nice to get the speakers from my Sony stereo working with my computer. I've never really dealt with audio hardware before so I have no idea where to start or how to do it haha. A couple of people said I would probably need to splice the wires together (right now there are 2 wires coming out of each speaker, a black and a red) but that they didn't know exactly what to do.

If it helps, right now I'm using this computer (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00039102), HP a320n, which has onboard sound (Integrated AC97 audio). I also have a Diamond DT-688 sound card sitting around (not really sure why I haven't thrown it in) and might be able to get an Audigy 2 off a friend if needed.

Sorry for such a bad/inexperienced question and thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

speaking primitively, for a stereo setup, the speakers alone won't make any sense since the soundcards do not amplify that loud. what you need to do is to hook up the stereo by connecting your soundcard output (should be the green connector) right into your stereo's INPUT AUX or whatever it is called in there. When you want to play from the PC, switch to INPUT AUX in your stereo device.

Those wires are labeled red and black because: red is positive, black is negative - but you shouldn't connect THOSE ones to the computer. Keep them as they are in the stereo. It's the stereo only that will amplify all your music to shake your room.

All you need is a cable that is a P1 stereo jack in the computer's end, and the other end will match the connectors in your stereo equipment, that would be possibly a pair of RCA connectors. In hardware/utility/eletronic stores they sell these ones very cheap.

Sorry for my english, sometimes i dont make sense.

What if my stereo doesn't have an input? On the back of the stereo there are 4 inputs (2 black, 2 red; 1 of each for each speaker) and on the front there is a headphone jack. My stereo does not have a line-in plug. Is there any way I can get this working?

I've had a quick look at the user manual for your BBox, and it seems there is indeed no input. Perhaps you could use a car cassette player adapter, as for example http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MiniDisc-Discma...r/dp/B00005T39Y (this is a Genuine Sony Branded example -- there are others that are cheaper).

You might have to do a bit of surgery to get the cable out of the cassette deck.

I don't really know much about this, but it might work.

Best

Michael

That is a possibility I guess, but wouldn't that lower the sound quality? Or maybe not, I don't really know.

Would something like this work? http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7576_3...phone+jack.html

No, won't work. All the jacks on your player are output: speaker outputs and headphone outputs. No inputs are provided except internally for the built in parts; there is no place for a cable to go.

Making that box compatible with your soundcard output will require major surgery: installation of inut jack(s), adding a selector switch, and wiring the new input into the circuit board. This might be possible it you are good with DIY electronic projects and can figure out the circuit board well enough, but I suggest updated computer speakers instead.

Is there no way to wire my stereo speakers to accept the output from a headphone jack? (i.e. to rewire them so I could plug them into a headphone jack, as my current computer speakers work).

No, you need the boombox's amplifier or the speakers won't be loud enough.

Your best bet is to take MichaelW's suggestion. Or you could use an FM transmitter (with probably worse quality), such as:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001F22P...rd_i=B00067LYFW
http://www.amazon.com/iRiver-AFT-100-Mobil...r/dp/B00067LYFW

Buy some system that has proper inputs, or dedicated computer speakers. Don't mess up with this system, you can only break it. Considering your knowledge of that system, it's really better you buy something that you can just plug and play. New stereo (or used) which has line in, or computer speakers which have decent sound.