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Why do my MP3s sound horrible when connected to a receiver
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unclet:
When playing a MP3 while the normal Harman/Kardon computer speakers are connected, then the sound is pretty clear and nice.  When I have the audio jack from the computer split into red/white RCA jacks and then connect the RCA jacks to a nice Kenwood receiver (VR-407), then how come the sound is not nice at all?  It seems like there is a bunch of hiss, clicks, other general noise and also seems like the sound is muffled as well.  This obviously makes listening to the MP3 through a receiver not the best.

I thought I read about someone who purchased a (MP3 --> receiver) converter box which allowed MP3 files to interface with a receiver properly (whatever this means).   Anyway, is this something I will need to fix the problem?  Is a stereo receiver not equipped to handle MP3 sound from a computer properly? 

Hopefully someone has some ideas for me ..... otherwise I have no idea what to do here.

(EDIT)
Here is the site which I was referring to which indicates they used a "Creative Labs Soundblaster MP3+ external USB sound card" ... which is ... "specifically designed to decode MP3s for home stereo purposes".

from BYOAC member --> scylla2

    http://drobins.wave.prohosting.com/jukebox.html

The description is located under the "Audio Components:" section.    Any ideas if this would solve my problems?  Or does this small box simply let you tweak the highs/lows/treble/bass settings stuff?



JimmyU:
That's weird.  What's your sampling rate (kb/s) on your MP3's?
unclet:
I don't know the sample rates since I got them from many different people.   Although I bet most of them are 128kbs.   Of course, these are not fantastic CD-quality MP3 files, but they sound absolutely fine (to me) through my computer speakers.  I just want them to sound the same through the receiver as they do through the computer speakers.

Does the Kenwood Receiver (VR-407) I am using expect more power or something? 

What does an amp do?  I never thought I would need anything more than speakers, but I have no idea what is going wrong.
polaris:
i think its just a case of the mp3 being poor quality, a good system is enhancing the fact that the initial sound is crap, making it a louder crap sound.
Paul Olson:
It would have to be poor quality MP3s, or a bad connection or cable to the receiver. I always had trouble trying to hook my laptop up to my receiver, it just always sounded bad. I try to keep the MP3 bitrate at 192 or above because I can hear the difference with lower bitrates playing through good speakers.

Paul
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