Hooking up CD through tape input

C

Cartrivision1

Guest
I sold a Realistic mini receiver to a fellow who wanted to run a CD
player through it. I did not ask which brand/model CD player that he
has but I told him that the receiver had a 1/8 inch "mini jack" on
front labeled "tape", and regular RCA inputs on back for tape and
phono. His son has a similar model but his input on front is labeled
"CD/Tape". He told me that I mislead him and he cannot use it for
CD. I explained to him precisely what I had, including model number
(he responded to my ad) so I cannot figure out why he could not use
one for running a CD player and not the other?

The model numbers are STA-19 and STA-20. The STA-19 is the one that I
sold him. They look to be virtually identical but with a few slight
changes. Any opinions?



thanks
 
I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.
 
On Feb 14, 3:37 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:
I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.
Click to expand...
No, he said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input.......something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.
 
"Cartrivision1" <doidy1@juno.com> wrote in message
news:fd5f5b92-e02b-4bce-a84c-7073b0c48233@s33g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 14, 3:37 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:
I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.
Click to expand...
No, he said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input.......something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.



The output of a CD player is standard 'line level', so should be completely
compatible with any tape equipment. I've been repairing this stuff for a
living for more years than I care to remember, and I don't think that I've
ever come across any combination of CD output and tape input, that will not
match one another for level. The guy is doing something wrong ...

Arfa
 
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:24:38 -0800 (PST), Cartrivision1
<doidy1@juno.com> wrote:

On Feb 14, 3:37 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net
wrote:
I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.

No, he said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input.......something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.
Click to expand...
He might not know the difference between the tape input and tape
output. Tell him to:
1. Turn the input selector switch to tape.
2. Plug the cable into the tape *INPUT* jacks.
3. If that doesn't work, try one of the other inputs, such as AUX.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
 
In article
<92c38ac3-d03e-4ae2-9f00-776fa1b25e79@s33g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
Cartrivision1 <doidy1@juno.com> wrote:
I sold a Realistic mini receiver to a fellow who wanted to run a CD
player through it. I did not ask which brand/model CD player that he
has but I told him that the receiver had a 1/8 inch "mini jack" on
front labeled "tape", and regular RCA inputs on back for tape and
phono. His son has a similar model but his input on front is labeled
"CD/Tape". He told me that I mislead him and he cannot use it for
CD. I explained to him precisely what I had, including model number
(he responded to my ad) so I cannot figure out why he could not use
one for running a CD player and not the other?
Click to expand...
Is he old? At one time some amps could be connected to the head on a tape
deck - so that input had high gain and equalization. A bit like a pickup
input.
But these days an input labelled tape is just an ordinary line input and
likely identical to one labelled CD.

--
*He who laughs last has just realised the joke.

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 
I would not return the guy's money. He'll probably give you negative
feedback anyway.

By the way... On at least two occasions where eBay sellers returned my money
because the product was defective or mis-described, I left positive feedback
stating that I was pleased with the transaction, because I'd been treated
well. Unless you expect a similar reaction from this guy, don't return his
money.
 
Cartrivision1 wrote:
I sold a Realistic mini receiver to a fellow who wanted to run a CD
player through it. I did not ask which brand/model CD player that he
has but I told him that the receiver had a 1/8 inch "mini jack" on
front labeled "tape", and regular RCA inputs on back for tape and
phono. His son has a similar model but his input on front is labeled
"CD/Tape". He told me that I mislead him and he cannot use it for
CD. I explained to him precisely what I had, including model number
(he responded to my ad) so I cannot figure out why he could not use
one for running a CD player and not the other?

The model numbers are STA-19 and STA-20. The STA-19 is the one that I
sold him. They look to be virtually identical but with a few slight
changes. Any opinions?
Click to expand...

1. Give him his money back. In the end, no matter what you say, it's going
to be the best solution. Far better than trying to convince him you
are right, even though IMHO you are.

2. You can find a descripton of the unit on the lower left corner of page 15
of the 1988 catalog. http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1988_small/

I infer from what it says that it has a line level input for tape. It says
"Function switch for FM Auto, AM, phono and tape. IMHO that implies a
LINE LEVEL input which can be used for a tape player or CD player.

In order to use it, he has to connect the LINE LEVEL output of the CD player
to the TAPE IN. There may be a TAPE OUT on the back, he should ignore it.
Then he should set the function switch to TAPE and be able to hear what
he wants.

Looking at the picture, there is a TAPE IN jack on the front panel over
the PHONES jack, he should use that. There is no picture of the back in
the catalog, nor does Radio Shack have an online manual.

If he does not hear anything, he should try the FM or AM settings with an
appropriate antenna. If he hears nothing, then his setup is probably wrong.

If he only has an earphone jack on the CD player, he is trying to force it
to do something it was not designed to do. He can do it by setting the volume
control on the Radio Shack unit to a comfortable level using the AM or FM
tuner, set the CD player to minimum volume and play a CD, then he should
adjust the volume control on the CD player until he hears what he wants.

Then he should mark the spot on the volume control and remember to put it
back there BEFORE he tries to use it with the amp.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the situation.
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the Wikipedia.
 
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:24:38 -0800 (PST), Cartrivision1
<doidy1@juno.com> wrote:

On Feb 14, 3:37 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net
wrote:
I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.

No, he said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input.......something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.
Click to expand...

Yea, he's plugging into the low impedence headphones jack, as the
cheap portable chinese made CD player he has doesn't have line out.

The radio/receiver would make no difference at all. But he might try
the phono input that may be a lower level input.

Or tell him to buy a real CD player?
 
He said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input... something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.

Yea, he's plugging into the low impedence headphones jack, as the
cheap portable Chinese-made CD player he has doesn't have line out.
The radio/receiver would make no difference at all. But he might try
the phono input that may be a lower level input.
Click to expand...
Hold on a second, here.

Any "Walk-device" headphone jack should be able to put out at least half a
volt, more than enough to drive just about any amplifier. It merely requires
turning up the volume. A true line output isn't needed (though it would
probably provide better sound).

Furthermore, the phono input on this receiver is for magnetic pickups. * The
output of even a headphone jack will drive it into distortion -- not to
mention having the signal's bass boosted and treble rolled off.

* The manual says that a turntable with a ceramic pickup should be plugged
into CD/Tape.
 
PeterD wrote:
The radio/receiver would make no difference at all. But he might try
the phono input that may be a lower level input.
Click to expand...
IMHO a really bad thing to do. At best it will overload the phono input
and produce distorted sound with too little trebble due to RIAA equlaization.

At worst it will burn it out, and then you won't be able to use it or sell
it to someone else. :-(

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the situation.
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the Wikipedia.
 
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:37:43 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates that
the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable with
RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.
Click to expand...
all inputs except for a phonograph are line level or max 1VPP.
 
In article <3h8e88.987.17.8@news.alt.net>,
Meat Plow wrote:
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:37:43 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates
that the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it
to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable
with RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.


all inputs except for a phonograph are line level or max 1VPP.
Click to expand...
Hope not unless the pot is a discrete one and straight after the input.
You'll get a great deal more than 1v P to P out of many CD players.

--
*If only you'd use your powers for good instead of evil.

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 
On 2/15/2010 3:08 AM Dave Plowman (News) spake thus:

In article
92c38ac3-d03e-4ae2-9f00-776fa1b25e79@s33g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
Cartrivision1 <doidy1@juno.com> wrote:

I sold a Realistic mini receiver to a fellow who wanted to run a CD
player through it. I did not ask which brand/model CD player that he
has but I told him that the receiver had a 1/8 inch "mini jack" on
front labeled "tape", and regular RCA inputs on back for tape and
phono. His son has a similar model but his input on front is labeled
"CD/Tape". He told me that I mislead him and he cannot use it for
CD. I explained to him precisely what I had, including model number
(he responded to my ad) so I cannot figure out why he could not use
one for running a CD player and not the other?

Is he old? At one time some amps could be connected to the head on a tape
deck - so that input had high gain and equalization. A bit like a pickup
input.
Click to expand...
Well, yeah, I remember that. Inputs were associated with their
equalization schemes; phono (magnetic) inputs were RIAA, and tape head
inputs were NAB equalized. I remember as a kid fooling around with a
Viking tape deck that lacked any electronics; it was made to be plugged
directly into an amplifier (or preamp).


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"
 
Well, yeah, I remember that. Inputs were associated with
their equalization schemes; phono (magnetic) inputs were
RIAA, and tape head inputs were NAB equalized. I remember
as a kid fooling around with a Viking tape deck that lacked
any electronics; it was made to be plugged directly into an
[integrated] amplifier (or preamp).
Click to expand...
I remember that deck -- and I remember Knight electronics that had a
tape-head input. Tape-head inputs were not common.
 
On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:07:12 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

He said that the output from the CD player was not strong enough
for the tape input... something like the output of a tape player is
100 times stronger than that of a CD. Or vice-versa. I told him that
there should not be a difference. Oh well.

Yea, he's plugging into the low impedence headphones jack, as the
cheap portable Chinese-made CD player he has doesn't have line out.
The radio/receiver would make no difference at all. But he might try
the phono input that may be a lower level input.

Hold on a second, here.

Any "Walk-device" headphone jack should be able to put out at least half a
volt, more than enough to drive just about any amplifier. It merely requires
turning up the volume. A true line output isn't needed (though it would
probably provide better sound).
Click to expand...
I agree many will do the trick just fine, but I've found more than a
few that just would not. Not sure why, either!

Furthermore, the phono input on this receiver is for magnetic pickups. * The
output of even a headphone jack will drive it into distortion -- not to
mention having the signal's bass boosted and treble rolled off.

* The manual says that a turntable with a ceramic pickup should be plugged
into CD/Tape.
Click to expand...
 
On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:09:04 +0000 (UTC), "Geoffrey S. Mendelson"
<gsm@cable.mendelson.com> wrote:

PeterD wrote:
The radio/receiver would make no difference at all. But he might try
the phono input that may be a lower level input.

IMHO a really bad thing to do. At best it will overload the phono input
and produce distorted sound with too little trebble due to RIAA equlaization.

At worst it will burn it out, and then you won't be able to use it or sell
it to someone else. :-(

Geoff.
Click to expand...
I don't think he'd damage it, most of these are well protected.
Agreed, the sound may not be optimal <g> but then again, maybe the guy
will like the way it sounds?
 
On 2/15/2010 11:27 AM William Sommerwerck spake thus:

Well, yeah, I remember that. Inputs were associated with
their equalization schemes; phono (magnetic) inputs were
RIAA, and tape head inputs were NAB equalized. I remember
as a kid fooling around with a Viking tape deck that lacked
any electronics; it was made to be plugged directly into an
[integrated] amplifier (or preamp).

I remember that deck -- and I remember Knight electronics that had a
tape-head input. Tape-head inputs were not common.
Click to expand...
Yes; you could buy assembled Knight stuff or "Knight-Kits". I had their
70-watt stereo amplifier (yes, integrated); great piece of audio
equipment. Too bad it was stolen (probably by my heroin-using neighbor)
in 19-ought-73; I'd probably be using it today.


--
You were wrong, and I'm man enough to admit it.

- a Usenet "apology"
 
On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:17:41 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<dave@davenoise.co.uk>wrote:

In article <3h8e88.987.17.8@news.alt.net>,
Meat Plow wrote:
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:37:43 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I can't find a manual for the STA-19, but the STA-20 manual indicates
that the CD/tape input is a high-level input -- as you would expect it
to be.

The guy is probably an idiot who doesn't understand he needs a cable
with RCAs on one end, and an 1/8" stereo jack on the other.


all inputs except for a phonograph are line level or max 1VPP.

Hope not unless the pot is a discrete one and straight after the input.
You'll get a great deal more than 1v P to P out of many CD players.
Click to expand...
I don't really give a shit what players put out I was just stating the
standard. You know what a standard is right?
 
I don't really give a shit what players put out I was just
stating the standard. You know what a standard is, right?
Click to expand...
Is there an output-level standard for consumer audio products (as there is
for professional equipment)? The need for general compatibility keeps output
levels within (probably) a 6dB range, but I know of no official standard.
 
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