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Windows 7 audio through Stereo

69.63.63.176
Posted on October 28, 2009 at 06:34:35
ScoutR
 Hi everyone: I just upgraded to a new computer and Windows 7. Previously I had my Windows XP system hooked up to my Stereo. I would like to do the same with the new system, but quite frankly I am a bit intimidated by the whole system at this point and don't want to smoke it.

Is it possible to hook up the audio through my stereo with Windows 7 and if so how do I do it.

I did not get a seperate sound card, as I thought I would like to try the onboard audio first. I can't make sense of the connections though because it has tooooo many compared to my old system.

The sound connections are as follows:
Blue - Line In
Green - Line Out
Pink - Mic In
Orange - Centre Subwoofer
Black - Rear Speaker Out
Grey - Side Speaker Out

I have 2 sets of Mini to RCA jacks and all I want is plain old 2 channel stereo through a NAD C372 to plain old stereo speakers. Eventually I would like to be able to record my vinyl to the Hard Drive, but at this point I would be happy just to be able to get the sound coming through the Stereo. The speakers on the monitor are just horrible. :(

Could anyone give me a starting point on what to connect where, and then how to set it up in Windows 7. Most information I can find is how to set up audio through a home theatre or Digital amplifer. I don't want to go that route. I was quite happy with the setup I had with XP, but the computer quit so I thought I might as well upgrade. I like what I've seen so far with Windows 7, but I'm not so sure I made the right move when it comes to the audio portion of the system.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. A journey of a thousand miles...... :(((

RE: Windows 7 audio through Stereo, posted on October 28, 2009 at 07:44:48
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 2538
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Use the green hole. Just plug in your stereo and fire up Windows Media player to get started. Once you get the hang of it you can check out the gobs of good player software out there if WMP doesn't suit your fancy. I think you will be quite pleased once you get it all set up.

Rick

It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 06:57:31
ScoutR
 OK, I have tape 2 input on the NAD hooked up to the Green "Line Out" on the computer.

What I expected was to be able to listen to .wav files that I have stored on my computer through the speakers hooked up to the NAD when I select Tape 2 on the NAD.

The sound still comes out of the monitor speakers.

I tried switching the audio device in the control panel. My choices are:
HDMI Output
Speakers USB Audio
Speakers High Definition Audio
SPDIF Interface
Digital Output Device

The default was set at HDMI Output - that makes sense to me and when I don't have the stereo on then this is what I expect to use. I have the monitor hooked up with an HDMI cable

I can't seem to find how to get it off the HDMI monitor speakers to the NAD speakers.

The Audio Device setting that makes sense to me is the "Speakers High Definition Audio" but when I select that nothing happens. I tried to make it the default device, but then I get a high frequencly clicking noise.

I did not connect the Line in (blue connection from the computer) yet. I'm not worried about recording. Should I have set this up. In my mind I'm thinking that having the Line Out connected to the Tape Input on the NAD should allow me to listen to any audio device that is playing on the computer.

Am I wrong in my thinking, or do I have to look further into how to configure this for Windows 7.
RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 30, 2009 at 15:28:24
John Swenson
Audiophile

Posts: 2013
Location: No. California
Joined: October 13, 2002
 You are on the right track with the audio device in the control panel. The one you want is High Definition Audio (HDA) this is the onboard audio chip that drives the jacks you are plugging into.

Alternatively in Windows Media Player you should also be able to change the output to go to the HDA.

If you are playing a standard WAV file it will automatically send the two channels to the green jack. The others are for when playing a DVD with multi-channel sound.

John S.

RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 17:44:53
Doublej
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Boston
Joined: January 11, 2009
 Can you give us the brand of computer, make/model of the monitor make/model of the sound card and the audio drivers that you have installed? How old is the machine?

Are you using drivers from Microsoft or the manufacturers for the monitor and/or sound card? If they are from Microsoft I would check to see if there are drivers from the manufacturer and install them if they are available.

RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 20:40:50
ScoutR
 Everything is brand new. Custom built with the following components

Asus P7P55D Motherboard with onboard sound.

The Monitor is Veiwsonic VX2433 - I currently have it connected with an HDMI cable. Someone suggested I try connecting with the DVI cable to cancel out the possibility of conflicts. Do you think that might work. I'd like to be able to have the option of both, because I don't always want to have the stereo on, but if I have to make a choice I'd rather have the Stereo hooked up.

Operating System Windows 7 Ultimate

I can't say for sure what drivers are installed. I would have to ask the guys at the shop. I have done a couple checks myself and everything that I have checked has said that I have the most current drivers.

I just double checked to make sure all the connections were OK. Everything looks fine. I was at the shop today and they said I should be able to do what I am trying to do, it was something to do with the way I was configuring the sound in Windows. They said I could ring it back in though if I can't get it going. I don't look forward to that, but I might have too. :(

Appreciate any suggestions. If you need more info let me know. I have to go back to work tomorrow, but when I get time, I will provide more details if you think you can help.

Thanks
Wendy
RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 30, 2009 at 17:18:09
Doublej
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Boston
Joined: January 11, 2009
 I am not sure if it is possible to separate the audio and video portions of an HDMI signal under Windows 7 but if it's possible you'll likely need to have the Viewsonic driver installed. According to their website they don't have a Windows 7 driver but the Vista driver may work so try installing it and seeing what happens.

If this doesn't work then I would definitely disconnect the HDMI cable, connect the monitor to the PC via a VGA or DVI cable and then then reboot the machine for good measure. Then revisit the sound setup choices again. This should route the audio to the green(?) hole and thus to your stereo.

If the above doesn't work then it is time ensure that you have all of the latest drivers for the motherboard. Asus appears to have its own 'check for updates' program. If this has been installed on the machine run it and install all of the latest everything it finds.

If not go to the Asus website, download and install the latest 'check for updates' program and then run it.

If this sounds like too much work just bring the machine to the store and have them deal with it. Before bringing it in you might call them and ask them if they can use some sort of PC remote control software to troubleshoot your issue instead of having you bring the equipment to the store.
Thanks Doublej, posted on October 31, 2009 at 16:34:18
ScoutR
 I have found a bit of help, and at this point have managed to get sound through the stereo. At first it was very horrible sound, like an echo chamber. I managed to get that fixed in Windows Media Center, but the echo still exists in Windows Media Player.

Also the sound settings seem to keep changing on me once I get them set. Everything is new, I don't know if I've got wonky hardware or software (or user)

I think for now I will just be satisfied with the Viewsonic monitor speakers. I will do some more research and then check into getting a proper sound card installed.

Question: Do you bother with Windows Media Centre. I don't like what I've seen or heard so far, but I thought I'd give it a chance before I got something different. It looks pretty, but that's about the best I can say right now.

RE: Thanks Doublej, posted on November 1, 2009 at 14:53:23
Doublej
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Boston
Joined: January 11, 2009
 Glad to hear you got it partially working.

I am not sure what functionality you are looking for regarding Windows Media Center but consider Winamp, iTunes for the PC or VLC Player. Lately I have been using itunes.

RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 08:14:35
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 2538
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Unplug your monitor speakers. If they have a separate jack it probably cuts off the line-out.

The machine I have that has all of those holes uses XP and came with powered speakers that you just plug into the line-out so it's not a problem.

Your settings seem reasonable, as an experiment you can also try plugging your headphones into the green jack and see if they are work. Make sure that you have it set for stereo (2 ch) audio.

Rick

RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 09:32:54
ScoutR
 Thanks Ric. I can't unplug the monitor speakers, they are built in. I can mute them, and/or change them from being the default speakers, but I can't get anything to come out of the speakers from the NAD.

I had everthing working on XP also. It worked the way I expected, sounded great and no problem recording.

Windows 7 has me baffled though. It's not working how I expected and none of the settings are the same. I can handle the change, but the settings don't make sense to me.

I'll have to take some time to recover from all the other changes I guess and then I'll have another go at the Audio.

Thanks for your time. If you're considering a switch to Windows 7 my advice would be don't do it unless you plan to keep your XP setup for music. :((((
RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 09:59:35
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 2538
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Thanks for the advice. My XT machine does sound good. But so does my Vista laptop and I can't imagine that Windows7 is all that different. I know that several of the people here are already using W7 and as I recall are happy. Try doing a search within this forum to see what they have to say and who they are. You can respond or email them to see how they did it.

I bet that you are only ONE setting away from success! Now if you just knew which one...

Rick

RE: It doesn't work-please help, posted on October 29, 2009 at 20:49:35
ScoutR
 LOL You are probably right. There is always that one elusive setting. I remember having some issues when I set up the XP system, but once they were resolved I was happy. That's over 6 years ago though, and I have not really thought about it too much since then.

Windows 7 seems OK. It's fancy. I did not really need it and was quite happy with XP, but the old computer broke down and I figured I might as well go for broke and get the latest of everything because I won't upgrade again until I'm forced into it.

Anyway, I was at the shop today, the kids there said I should be able to do what I'm trying to do, and if I can't get it going to bring it in and they will take a look. It's just possible that there is a faulty part. Everything is new, and under warranty, but I just don't want to tear it all down again. :(((

Thanks for your help. I'll do some more looking around. If you think of anything else, I'll be watching for any replies.

Wendy
Just to clarify, posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:29:05
ScoutR
 Thanks Rick and Doublej. Just to Clarify. I use the Green Line Out and hook it to any input on the NAD, or does it have to be the Tape input? Then select that input on the NAD and the music should come through the speakers?

Which colour connection would I use in the future if I want to set it up to record. I'm thinking either the Blue Line In or the Pink Mic In to the tape Out on the NAD.

I'm sorry, I'm not ususally this dense, but I'm on technology overload right now. I seem to have forgotten everything I once knew, and am overwelmed right now catching on to all the new stuff. Change does not come as easy as it once did. :(

Wendy
RE: Just to clarify, posted on October 28, 2009 at 18:43:37
Doublej
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Boston
Joined: January 11, 2009
 Any input should be fine.

Based on what I could find on the web, your integrated amplifier has no phono input so you will need to connect the turntable to a phono preamplifier and then connect the phono preamplifier to the NAD using any input and then connect the NAD tape out to the blue hole on the computer.

RE: Just to clarify, posted on October 28, 2009 at 18:54:14
ScoutR
 Your research is correct, the NAD does not have a phono input, but I have that covered. Thanks for taking the time to look it up. I should have mentioned in the original post that I had a phono stage.

I'll be hooking up the sound for output tonight and then trying it out tomorrow when I start up again. Wish me luck, I sure hope it works, because I'm used to a lot better sound on my old XP setup. Everything else on this one is better though. :)

RE: Just to clarify, posted on October 28, 2009 at 16:19:26
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 2538
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Use the Line in to record.

I'm in the process of evaluating recording applications so I can't offer good suggestions, but I do know that's the right hole.

Rick
RE: Just to clarify, posted on October 28, 2009 at 18:51:33
ScoutR
 LOL, thanks I'll be looking at new apps too, but right now getting the right hole is what I'm looking for. :)

RE: Windows 7 audio through Stereo, posted on October 28, 2009 at 11:45:31
Doublej
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Boston
Joined: January 11, 2009
 What Rick said with one of these:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040107&p_id=2120&seq=1&format=2

Your new machine has 5.1 home theater outputs.

If it doesn't sound 'right' then you should go into the control panel and make sure the sound card is set to output 2 channel and the speaker setting is full range.
RE: Windows 7 audio through Stereo, posted on November 5, 2009 at 09:53:33
Albert B. Broman
Audiophile

Posts: 661
Location: Pac NW
Joined: July 10, 2000
 agreed, test.

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