PS and CD-ROM Only - Possible?

Has anyone ever tried this or know why it wouldn't work?

Take an old power supply, and connect it to a CD-ROM drive, being
careful to keep everything grounded, of course. Could you then put an
audio CD in and connect the line out on the back of the drive to a
line in on a stereo?

Also, there is a headphone jack on the front of the drive. How do
these work? Does the sound signal have to go to the
motherboard/soundcard, and then back to this headphone jack, or does
the sound come from a small amp in the drive (there is a volume
control there)? Come to think of it though, I have never had any
noise come from one of those drive jacks on a complete computer system
even.

Let me know what you think.

Aaron

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Aaron wrote:

> Has anyone ever tried this or know why it wouldn't work?
>
> Take an old power supply, and connect it to a CD-ROM drive, being
> careful to keep everything grounded, of course. Could you then put an
> audio CD in and connect the line out on the back of the drive to a
> line in on a stereo?
>
> Also, there is a headphone jack on the front of the drive. How do
> these work? Does the sound signal have to go to the
> motherboard/soundcard, and then back to this headphone jack, or does
> the sound come from a small amp in the drive (there is a volume
> control there)? Come to think of it though, I have never had any
> noise come from one of those drive jacks on a complete computer system
> even.
>
> Let me know what you think.
>
> Aaron

And the survey says: "Try it!"

Actually, with a couple of qualifications, it should work fine.

The headphone jack on the CD reader is fed from a small amplifier in-built
to the drive's electronics. The output level is adjusted by the volume
control on the front of the drive.

You'll need a CD reader that has, in addition to the eject button, a 'play'
or 'Start' button. Some drives *may* start playing automatically; I tried
a unit with the extra button.

Power supply:

If you are using an ATX-style supply you'll need to either purchase a cable
that converts an ATX motherboard connector to an AT-style connector or
jumper the power switch-sensing pins on the ATX connector.
The ATX-to-AT cable does this for you.

An AT-style power supply should work just as well and has the advantage of a
switch wired into the power supply.

Once it's connected, apply power to the supply and operate the switch if
required.
Your CD drive should come to life.

The normal 'line-out' on an internal CD drive is a small four-pin (sometimes
three-pin) connector.
If you're skilled with a soldering iron and electronic components, you can
make an adapter that will let you use standard RCA-style cables.

- --
Ron n1zhi

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Ron Cook <> wrote in message news:<8dsgk1->...
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>
> Aaron wrote:
>
> > Has anyone ever tried this or know why it wouldn't work?
> >
> > Take an old power supply, and connect it to a CD-ROM drive, being
> > careful to keep everything grounded, of course. Could you then put an
> > audio CD in and connect the line out on the back of the drive to a
> > line in on a stereo?
> >
> > Also, there is a headphone jack on the front of the drive. How do
> > these work? Does the sound signal have to go to the
> > motherboard/soundcard, and then back to this headphone jack, or does
> > the sound come from a small amp in the drive (there is a volume
> > control there)? Come to think of it though, I have never had any
> > noise come from one of those drive jacks on a complete computer system
> > even.
> >
> > Let me know what you think.
> >
> > Aaron
>
> And the survey says: "Try it!"
>
> Actually, with a couple of qualifications, it should work fine.
>
> The headphone jack on the CD reader is fed from a small amplifier in-built
> to the drive's electronics. The output level is adjusted by the volume
> control on the front of the drive.
>
> You'll need a CD reader that has, in addition to the eject button, a 'play'
> or 'Start' button. Some drives *may* start playing automatically; I tried
> a unit with the extra button.
>
> Power supply:
>
> If you are using an ATX-style supply you'll need to either purchase a cable
> that converts an ATX motherboard connector to an AT-style connector or
> jumper the power switch-sensing pins on the ATX connector.
> The ATX-to-AT cable does this for you.
>
> An AT-style power supply should work just as well and has the advantage of a
> switch wired into the power supply.
>
> Once it's connected, apply power to the supply and operate the switch if
> required.
> Your CD drive should come to life.
>
> The normal 'line-out' on an internal CD drive is a small four-pin (sometimes
> three-pin) connector.
> If you're skilled with a soldering iron and electronic components, you can
> make an adapter that will let you use standard RCA-style cables.
>
> - --
> Ron n1zhi
>
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I tried it with ATX supply, and didn't do anything, presumably because
of the power on detection pins you mentioned. Which pins need to be
"shorted out?" ATX is plug with two rows, and AT is one row, with
black wires together in middle, correct?

If you know which pins need to be doctored, thanks. I think I'll
search online a little though too.

Thanks for the advice,
Aaron

(Aaron) wrote in message news:< om>...
> Has anyone ever tried this or know why it wouldn't work?
>
> Take an old power supply, and connect it to a CD-ROM drive, being
> careful to keep everything grounded, of course. Could you then put an
> audio CD in and connect the line out on the back of the drive to a
> line in on a stereo?
>
> Also, there is a headphone jack on the front of the drive. How do
> these work? Does the sound signal have to go to the
> motherboard/soundcard, and then back to this headphone jack, or does
> the sound come from a small amp in the drive (there is a volume
> control there)? Come to think of it though, I have never had any
> noise come from one of those drive jacks on a complete computer system
> even.

I would not use the headphone jack if you are looking for good sound
quality. The Digital to Analog Converter's used in the units tend to
be of poor quality.

hope this helps