Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ulysses.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!smb From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: CD player hookup question Message-ID: <1008@ulysses.UUCP> Date: Fri, 12-Jul-85 16:35:23 EDT Article-I.D.: ulysses.1008 Posted: Fri Jul 12 16:35:23 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 12:46:32 EDT References: <1061@pucc-i> <3983@alice.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 42 > > I just went looking for the first time for CD players, and I have a quick > > question: Since my Kenwood receiver doesn't have a CD input, where to I > > plug the darn thing in? The salesman said that I could use my extra tape > > input, but he sounded like that wasn't a good solution. > > If you have an input marked 'aux,' use it. If not, a spare tape > input will work just fine. I don't suppose your salesman gave > you any REASON not to use the extra tape input, did he? I'll bet > the reason was that he wants to sell you a new receiver, too. There are, in general, 4 classes of inputs to most receivers and preamps: a) phono -- these have a special preamp, and should only be used for compatible signal levels. Watch out for moving coil vs. moving magnet. b) internal tuners -- all bets are off unless you want to mess with the wiring inside. c) high-level inputs -- suitable for CD players, external tuners, TVs and VCRs with audio output jacks (not speaker or headphone jacks, btw). Often marked AUX or TAPE. d) tape monitor inputs -- electrically compatible with high-level inputs. However, these are generally selected independently of the normal class of inputs, the idea being that you can feed a signal from *any* normal input source to a tape deck (or external processor, such as a noise eliminator or equalizer), and select the tape monitor input to hear what's been recorded on the tape (assuming, that is, that your tape deck has 3 heads). If your extra tape input is of this class, you might not be able to tape CDs (assuming that you want to, of course), and there's some small chance of getting a very small amount of cross-talk from the live signal selected by the standard input selector switch. And of course, you're likely to use a different selector switch to activate the CD player, which can cause some confusion. Some receivers (e.g., the Heath AR-1500) have both TAPE and TAPE MONITOR inputs; others have multiple TAPE MONITOR inputs. My advice -- assuming you have no AUX input or spare TAPE input, go right ahead and use a spare TAPE MONITOR input -- and don't buy a new receiver unless/until you find the disadvantages of that hookup intolerable.