Main > Main Forum
Why do my MP3s sound horrible when connected to a receiver
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