Getting line-level audio out of a Toughboo

I've resurrected my oldish Sony FH-E737CD component hi-fi system that I've had since the rave party and DJ-ing days in the early 1990's to replace a TDK Tremor S150R setup and one thing that's become evident is that even though I can get audio fed into the hi-fi system via the line-level inputs (max 1 volt peak to peak) intended for connection of some sort of external audio device like a DAT machines, etc. like most Toughbooks my CF-29 doesn't output line-level audio - only a headphone-level signal which is both the wrong level in voltage swing terms and probably also impedance.

Has anybody tackled the issue of getting line-level audio output from their toughbook system to feed into another audio device? I am currently listening to some music via the hi-fi system and I have the TB's master volume along with the Winamp volume both up full, and my Sony hi-fi master volume set at about 45 percent to get an acceptable listening volume within the room.

Craig.

 

Here are 3 solutions.

E-MU 1616M Cardbus

IndigoDJ

Indigo IO

 

This thread from a different forum may help.

line level out

 

Had no idea Creative Labs made PCMCIA stuff - I found that they have a product called the SoundBlaster X-Fi that is a PCMCIA device.

Craig.

 

I think the X-Fi is expresscard. The Audigy ZS ?? is PCMCIA.

 

And not exactly cheap!

Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Sound Card

Sounds like just what sunrk is looking for:

PC Mag review

“Just when it seemed like Creative couldn't possibly shoehorn any more functionality into its Sound Blaster product line, the company surprised us once more by reinventing its state-of-the-art Audigy 2 ZS sound board as a credit-card sized model designed for notebook computers. It's a boon not just for gamers, but also for music hobbyists and pros who want to use a notebook as a mobile audio lab.

This feat seems even more incredible when you realize just how much the company has packed into the miniscule PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook. This PC Card device can record high-definition 24-bit/96-kHz stereo audio from any unprotected analog or digital source, play 6.1-channel Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES DVDs, and render 3D game soundtracks as immersive 7.1-channel audio. It ships with low-latency ASIO 2.0 drivers that deliver real-time performance when using a compatible music-creation application to record and edit multichannel mixes. It can play DVD-Audio discs inserted into any late-model DVD drive, and its integrated MLP decoder handles both stereo 24/192 and 5.1-channel 24/96 DVD-Audio content. THX certification and a new THX calibration and setup console help ensure a theater-like experience when playing DVD-Video movies through THX-certified speakers.”

Impressive!

 

That PCMCIA Audigy ZS is just the right thing. I don't take my CF29 on the road since it's my home system so a sound card that does extend outside the case is going to be fine. I couldn't use it in my CF18 that I do take on the road but the 18 isn't meant to do the stuff the home system does.

My only beef with the 18 is, btw, the semi-rugged design of the monitor housing. Those plastic bits that fit to the sides and top are held on by very small screws that do not do a very good job of holding the plastic bits secure

At least with the 28's and 29's (I have not seen a 30 or 31 in person) they have a full magnesium casting around the monitor. Might get another 29 to replace the 18 just for the extra ruggedness. I already have people at work jealous that my 18 looks better than their consumer-grade notebooks.

Anyway back to the topic... THanks to the link to the other forum thread about adapting headphone outputs. I have seen quite a lot of solutions to that but everything is external to the computer. Hence the desire to use a PCMCIA-based solution where at least the interface is already provided internal to the machine.

Craig.