Many people have fond memories of listening to their favourite music through a CD player, but if you’re not lucky enough to have one in your home, it is possible to connect a cd to an amplifier and play your favorite songs without having to buy a new device. You just need to know a few basics about how to do it and you’ll have your system up and running in no time.
First, make sure you’re using a quality CD player. They’re usually built with robust and stable casings, reducing the effects of vibration so they’ll be less likely to deteriorate or break over time. In addition, some players have digital outputs that can be connected to an external DAC for improved sound quality.
Next, you’ll need a set of wires to connect your CD player and receiver together. The best way to do this is to find a cable that has two RCA plugs (red and white sockets indicating left and right, respectively) on the one end and a 3.5mm jack on the other. These should be able to work with your receiver’s inputs, which are usually labeled “AUX” or “STEREO.”
If you have a CD player that has a built-in amplifier, then you can connect it to the speakers directly. This will give you the most control over the volume, but it won’t offer as high of a sound quality as the passive speaker setup does.
Another option is to use a Bluetooth transmitter, which transmits a Bluetooth audio signal from your source to your speakers via the mini-jack connector of a 3.5mm plug. This is a convenient method that can be used for quick listening to your CDs, but it won’t deliver the same sound quality as connecting a speaker to your amplifier would.
You can also connect your CD player to a pair of active speakers, which have built-in amplifiers that remove the need for an external amplifier or receiver. While this is the most convenient way to hook up your CD player, it does have a few drawbacks, including a small amount of hiss and a loss of quality in comparison to passive speakers.
A third alternative is to use a passive pre-amp instead of an amplifier. While this method does involve a little more wiring, it offers a number of advantages over the other two options.
In particular, a passive pre-amp allows you to adjust the power output of your amplifier or receiver without having to worry about the input impedance that can be an issue when using a variable output from a CD player. Passive pre-amps can be controlled with a potentiometer that has an input/output buffer, which provides a constant output impedance for your amp to work against.
Some passive pre-amps can even be hooked up to the outputs of a CD player, allowing you to change the volume levels at the push of a button. These are becoming more common and there are a number of companies that offer volume control devices.