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Amp to increase power. 3.5mm in and 3.5mm out between tablet and HIFI


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Hi, I have a tablet connected to my HIFI via 3.5mm. The problem is I max the volume on the tablet and HIFI and it is not loud enough.

 

It is the fault of the tablet and not the HIFI. Previously I used an old mp3 player and it was fine.

 

So I was wondering if there is a budget amp that takes a 3.5mm IN and amps it up with a 3.5mm out to my HIFI.

 

thanks

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Hi, I have a tablet connected to my HIFI via 3.5mm. The problem is I max the volume on the tablet and HIFI and it is not loud enough.

 

It is the fault of the tablet and not the HIFI. Previously I used an old mp3 player and it was fine.

 

So I was wondering if there is a budget amp that takes a 3.5mm IN and amps it up with a 3.5mm out to my HIFI.

 

thanks

 

If the tablet has USB, I would look at a USB DAC.

Will give you a better line output level and possibly a better DAC chip at the same time.

Also gets rid of the noise that usually accompanies analogue outputs from PCs, laptops and tablets.

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Guest AndrewC

Valamas,

   Does you tablet have a Bluetooth communication option?

   I bought a Philips (supposedly) High Fidelity Bluetooth interface Type AEA2000 (for under €30) as an input to my (truly) HiFi, and it works a treat.  The only thing worth mentioning (and the reason for just a little sarcasm) is that with a spec that says total Harmonic distortion: <2.0%, you'd be forgiven for arguing that it is not quite "High Fidelity"

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  • 3 weeks later...

I went ahead and purchased a FIIO E11

 

51Z3i-bGiPL._SX522_.jpg

 

Firstly, the product is USB powered. However, the product will not work while the power is connected. That is just one too many steps where I have to connect and disconnect the power. (tried a timer, alas not good enough as a hack).

 

Most importantly, it is not quite loud enough. Sure, it is louder than what i state in my initial post as just the tablet and hifi.

 

So, I am still looking for a solution. Please help me.

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The tablet is a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

 

We are using PowerAmp and have purchased it.

Tried a couple of apps on sound output (one called "Sound Booster"). They did not help.

 

Tablet is definitely 100% volume. 

 

Want to use the tablet if possible for screen interaction.

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I went ahead and purchased a FIIO E11

 

51Z3i-bGiPL._SX522_.jpg

 

Firstly, the product is USB powered. However, the product will not work while the power is connected. That is just one too many steps where I have to connect and disconnect the power. (tried a timer, alas not good enough as a hack).

 

Most importantly, it is not quite loud enough. Sure, it is louder than what i state in my initial post as just the tablet and hifi.

 

So, I am still looking for a solution. Please help me.

Perhaps one of the other Fiio's would have suited you better the EO7K works while charging and has a reasonable DAC for not that much more money I believe the E17 does the same.

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Perhaps one of the other Fiio's would have suited you better the EO7K works while charging and has a reasonable DAC for not that much more money I believe the E17 does the same.

Thank you. In reference to my statement that with the E11, the music was louder but not quite party with 20 people in the room. I am comparing the E11 to the E07K. Should I be looking at Output Power or other.

 

If it is output power, the E07K is 220mW (at 32 ohm) and the E11 is 180mW(at 32 ohm).

 

E07k Spec: http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?MenuID=105026002

 

E11 Spec (click specification after the feature product image):

http://fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000038781911

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Well in all fairness to the Fiio's they are headphone amps so they're designed to output a certain amount of power for headphones not run other stereos there is a limit as to what they can do I own the E11 and the EO7K they are pretty good devices for headphones I used to run a similar setup like you're trying to do but I used an iPod in a dock and it sent a stronger signal because it was through the 30 pin plug not the headphone jack I believe this is where your problem lies the jacks output is meant for headphones and it is limited.

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I went ahead and purchased a FIIO E11

 

51Z3i-bGiPL._SX522_.jpg

 

Firstly, the product is USB powered. However, the product will not work while the power is connected. That is just one too many steps where I have to connect and disconnect the power. (tried a timer, alas not good enough as a hack).

 

Most importantly, it is not quite loud enough. Sure, it is louder than what i state in my initial post as just the tablet and hifi.

 

So, I am still looking for a solution. Please help me.

 

Thought about something like this?

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MUSE-HIFI-USB-to-S-PDIF-Converter-USB-DAC-PCM2704-Sound-Card-Optical-Coaxial-S-/190801407052?pt=AU_Electronics_Audio_Amplifiers&hash=item2c6ca66c4c

 

Not necessarily suggesting this particular one, but there's plenty of similar products out there now.

Edited by surprisetech
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It is hard to answer this question because Samsung don't appear to list how much signal comes out of their tablet at full volume .... and Panasonic don't list how much signal their stereo wants to receive.

 

 

Do you have another audio device with a 3.5mm (like a phone or ipod) which you can use as a quick test ?  (to see if it can drive the stereo to a louder volume).

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It is hard to answer this question because Samsung don't appear to list how much signal comes out of their tablet at full volume .... and Panasonic don't list how much signal their stereo wants to receive.

 

 

Do you have another audio device with a 3.5mm (like a phone or ipod) which you can use as a quick test ?  (to see if it can drive the stereo to a louder volume).

Yes, we are replacing a Microsoft Zune 80Gb. it is 10 years old. The sound quality and volume is excellent. Deafening volume. Police called form interstate ;P

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I would say the problem lies with the source, ie the tablet.

After some reading, it appears to be a common problem for all generation of 'tabs'.

The standard output volume is low

To be safe, double check all sound settings.

There are four different volumes to be set (Media, Ringtone, Notifications and System).

Be sure to check in your Settings/Sound/Volume and make sure that the volume is set correctly.

Mayby try the following.

Try an app called , "Equaliser App" .

Other then that it looks like you are stuck with it.

If the source volume is low, it wil be hard to amplify that.

Unless you use a proper amplifier,you wont get much out of them.

I don't think you hifi system wil be capabale.

even

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@Dave: Tried with earphones and speakers and compared to my MP3 players. Massive difference in volume. Cable correctly plugged in, checked it was fully shoved in.

 

@Damhooligan: the problem is the tablet. Have double checked all sound settings. My wife has too and is also tech savvy. 

 

I tried the equalizer app. Looked promising, but alas, the volume is still the same.

 

I think we are stuck with it. We wanted the tablet for the screen interaction too.

 

What do you suggest is a proper amplifier? Are you able to link something?

 

The hifi system is loud when a proper mp3 player is plugged in.

 

So we are either going to leave everything as is, or buy a mp3 player or try another amp. Wallet is not endless as the usual.

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Surprisetech's response above should overcome any device output limitations if you're hell bent on keeping the tablet. Also check that there isn't a volume limiter in place that's designed to protect from hearing damage (if the Samsung has one -- I know that on an Apple device this is located in a different menu to the regular volume controls).

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A USB DAC takes the tablet's audio shortcomings out of the equation.

 

Another USB DAC option if you don't mind adding your own case.  Wasn't sure if they were still available, but found a couple on ebay today.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HIFI-Stereo-TE7022-USB-2-0-Coax-WM8761-24BIT-96KHZ-Sound-Card-/191092971529?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item2c7e075809

 

I bought one of these two years ago and use it with the O2 Headphone amp.  Works great.  The board has a plug-pack input so that you can use an external supply, but it runs happily on USB power.

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/53178-portable-headphone-ampusb-dac-project/

 

Mine looks a little different because I removed the RCA connectors so I could hardwire the outputs.

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@Damhooligan: the problem is the tablet. Have double checked all sound settings. My wife has too and is also tech savvy. 

 

I tried the equalizer app. Looked promising, but alas, the volume is still the same.

 

I think we are stuck with it. We wanted the tablet for the screen interaction too.

 

What do you suggest is a proper amplifier? Are you able to link something?

 

The hifi system is loud when a proper mp3 player is plugged in.

 

So we are either going to leave everything as is, or buy a mp3 player or try another amp. Wallet is not endless as the usual.

it looks like your tablet is not made for sound output.

Not even sure the usb option will work at this stage, as the tablet might not even support that either..

So, the tablet seems to be the big problem.

A good idea could be ; a speaker and amp, all in one.

It also charges your tablet via the usb connection.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=567_895&products_id=18527

It should have plenty of grunt, but we still got that tablet as the source.

so there is no guarantee this option will work either.

At this stage , I'm most inclined to say, the tablet has to be replaced by something that does have a better sound output.

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it looks like your tablet is not made for sound output.

Not even sure the usb option will work at this stage, as the tablet might not even support that either..

So, the tablet seems to be the big problem.

A good idea could be ; a speaker and amp, all in one.

It also charges your tablet via the usb connection.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=567_895&products_id=18527

It should have plenty of grunt, but we still got that tablet as the source.

so there is no guarantee this option will work either.

At this stage , I'm most inclined to say, the tablet has to be replaced by something that does have a better sound output.

 

Must confess to being ignorant of the features and limitations of tablets.

Didn't think to check if a USB sound card device (i.e. USB DAC) would be compatible - was going by my experience with a number of different laptops.

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