Question

Old Sony Amp - no line out

  • 24 October 2016
  • 15 replies
  • 1116 views

Hello Sonos Community,

We recently bought a play5 and a connect for my folks. Now i want to connect an old sony amp (ta-a200) to the connect so that i can play a cd or lp and can hear this from both the speakers connected to the amp and from the play5.
The amp has input lines for phono,tuner,cd and aux and two tape inputs. There are also two REC outputs for the tapes lines. Off course there are also speaker wire outputs onwhich two speakers are connected.
Now I connected the line out from the connect to the line in (aux). So that works i can listen spotify on both play5 and my speakers.
Now i want to play a cd or lp and here is where i can get all boxes play at the same time. I have used the line out from the amp (tape rec) and connected this to the line in from the connect. This works but only the play5 produces sound. Apperantly the amp can only output speakerwires or tape rec. If I unselect the Taperec I get sound from the speakers but not the play5.
I am thinking to use the speaker wire output and convert this to rca and connect this to the CONNECT line in. I have an open slot for the speaker wires so no problem. Just not sure if this works? I see simple adapters online (from wire to RCA) but also with some type of converter in between.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/191295233535?_mwBanner=1
http://m.ebay.com/itm/221060034967?_mwBanner=1

Any advice? Is this a good solution?

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15 replies

Userlevel 7
Hello JJKB.....

You have a lot going on. LOL. Assuming I understood everything correctly here's my suggestion.....

1. Exchange the Connect for a Connect:Amp - $150 (USD) up cost
2. Setup the Play 5 in Boost mode to establish Sonos Wireless Mesh - name it as a Zone
3. Setup the Connect:Amp as a Zone

Equipment Connections
1.Connect all audio sources to respective inputs on Sony TA-A200
2.Rec-Out from TA-A200 to Analog In on Connect:AMP
3.Wire Speakers to Connect:AMP

With this setup The Play 5 and TA-A200 can operate independently or grouped. You will have to start sources connected to the Sony TA-A200 manually then adjust volume via the Sonos Controller. As the Connect:AMP is always on you can turn the Sony TA-A200 off when playing tracks or music services resident on your tablet or Computer

A note of Caution: You'll have to find a balance between the volume control on the Sony TA-A200 and the Sonos Controller App when playing connected sources.

Alternate setup
If the router is hidden or too far away use the optional Sonos Boost component ($99-USD) to establish the Sonos Wireless Mesh then setup the Play 5 and Connect:AMP as Zones.

Here's a link on Boost mode setup:
https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3463?_ga=1.22613043.946089682.1474263

Here's a link on the Sonos Boost (optional component)
http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/boost.html?_ga=1.104777736.946089682.1474263267

Please post back with your decision and/or results. Cheers!
I don't understand why the current setup should not work. You can select "line-in" as a source for the "room" that is your Connect, or the room that is your Play:5. If you select it for the Connect and then group rooms you can play through both. Perhaps you have set an Autoplay room and would be better not to?

Maybe I'm missing something, but this seems simply resolvable without a change of equipment. In effect, TapeRec is a form of line out. It may not be ideal but if it works over one Sonos device it should work over all.

Here is a guide to using line-in:

https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1091/~/using-line-in-on-sonos
Thank you both.

Indeed I have considered the CONNECTAMP but it is still 150 Euro. And I thought the Sony amp could run two outputs simaltanously --> so for example the RecOut and speakers. But it seems that as soon I hit the recout button, the signal is only going via recout and no longer thru the speakerwire output.

I am aware of the grouping function and I tried this. But I think the problem is in the hardware (i could be wrong).

Let's put it differently. Assume I have no recout on the sony amp. Can I use the speakerwire output and connect this to the line in of the CONNECT?
This way I can connect different audio sources to my sony amp (cd, turntable, tape) and when I play something i get sound on the speakers (A output) and via the CONNECT (B output) streaming it to the play5.
I am just not sure if a speaker wire output can be converted to the line in safely.

@John B I used the recout and it works fine for getting sound on the play5. But I want speakers + play5. I am going to try it again because I can't believe the amp can not play music and record at the same time, essantially what I want.

Rgds,
Jelle
Deleted as not helpful!
I honestly don't know if you can convert a speaker wire output to give a line-in but I'd be sceptical of the quality of the result at the very least. I think the more common and a better way all round for this would be:

1. Rip your CDs to lossless and sell the CD player
2. Run the turntable into the Connect line-in (using a suitable phono pre-amp if not built-in)
3. Get the tapes digitised and lose the tape player too! Or get a switch that would allow you to use the tape and turntable through the Connect line in.

There are numerous advantages to this for quality and ease of use.
Userlevel 7
I hit the recout button, the signal is only going via recout and no longer thru the speakerwire output.

Hi Jelle (aka JJKB)

Whew!! I think I understand why the issues 🆒

You do not need to SELECT Tape Monitor which is what I assume you mean by "hit Recout button". Record Out (on rear panel of Tape 1 - for example) is always active waiting to capture whatever audio source is being used.

All you need do is...
1. Record Out from TA-A200 (Tape 1) to Analog Audio IN on Connect
2. Set up Connect as a Zone
3. Select input source (on Sony TA-A200) CD, Tuner, Aux, Phono or whatever source you have connected to Tape 2 - input
4. Group the Play 5 and Connect to listen to input source (Sony TA-A200) on both systems
5. You will still have to reach a volume balance between the Play 5 and Sony TA-200 volume levels as the Sony TA-A200 attenuator can be controlled independently.

Speakers connected to the Sony TA-A200 will only be active when playing a source connected to it. Streaming a music service or tracks from your tablet or computer will only be heard thru the Play 5. The only way to get your 3rd party speakers to play regardless of the source is to invest in the Connect:AMP as I suggested in my previous post and follow that setup.

Good Luck..Cheers!
Userlevel 7
I hit the recout button, the signal is only going via recout and no longer thru the speakerwire output.

You do not need to SELECT Tape Monitor which is what I assume you mean by "hit Recout button". Record Out (on rear panel of Tape 1 - for example) is always active waiting to capture whatever audio source is being used. All you need do is...
1. Record Out from TA-A200 (Tape 1) to Analog Audio IN on Connect
2. Set up Connect as a Zone
3. Select input source (on Sony TA-A200) CD, Tuner, Aux, Phono or whatever source you have connected to Tape 2 - input
4. Group the Play 5 and Connect to listen to input source (Sony TA-A200) on both systems
5. You will still have to reach a volume balance between the Play 5 and Sony TA-200 volume levels as the Sony TA-A200 attenuator can be controlled independently.Speakers connected to the Sony TA-A200 will only be active when playing a source connected to it. Streaming a music service or tracks from your tablet or computer will only be heard thru the Play 5. The only way to get your 3rd party speakers to play regardless of the source is to invest in the Connect:AMP as I suggested in my previous post and follow that setup.


Hi Jelle (aka JJKB)

Correction to my quoted Post :(- Maybe John B can delete it. Here are my corrections:

You Do Not need to SELECT Tape Monitor which is what I assume you mean by "hit Recout button". Record Out (on rear panel of Tape 1 - for example) is always active waiting to capture whatever audio source is being used.

All you need do is...
1. Record Out from TA-A200 (Tape 1) to Analog Audio IN on Connect
2. Analog Out from Connect to Aux in on Sony TA-A200
3. Set up Connect as a Zone
4. Select input source (on Sony TA-A200) CD, Tuner, Phono or whatever source you have connected to Tape 2 – input
5. Select Aux when streaming a music service or playing tracks from your Tablet or computer
6. Group the Play 5 and Connect to listen to input source (Sony TA-A200) on both systems
7. You will still have to reach a volume balance between the Play 5 and Sony TA-200 volume levels as the Sony TA-A200 attenuator can be controlled independently.

I believe this is what John B was getting at :)

Good Luck..Cheers!
@AjTrek1. I think your suggestion is probably like my original suggestion, but I now don't think it will work, hence the change of tack in my subsequent post. I wouldn't say I was totally confident either way.

I think the fundamental problem is that the various devices (CD player, turntable, etc) AND the Connect feed into the amp. To play a CD and get any sound in the first place, you have to select the CD player as the input source for the amp. But then you can't select the Connect as an input source as well and so cannot play from Sonos back through the amp.

We have to bear in mind that Sonos is designed to play music files not physical CDs, and that's why I made the suggestions in my previous post.

One modification to my eventual suggestion above. OP could use the Play:5 line-in for one of the devices.
Userlevel 7
@John B

I see your point. I was thinking that with the Connect using its Analog Input plugged into Tape 1 Output the Connect would basically act like a recorder for a selected source (so to speak) and send the music over the SonosNet to allow the Play 5 to output the same. In essence the Connect would capture the audio as well as the wired speakers.

On the reverse if the OP streamed music or tracks from his/her tablet or computer over the SonosNet the Connect would capture it and play it back through the Sony TA-A200 speakers by having the Connects Analog Output into the Aux input. Then the OP would select AUX as the source. The OP would never select Tape 1 as a Audio (playback) source.

That was my thinking as twisted as it may sound ???

PS
I have a CD player plugged into a Connect in my Sonos Setup. Sometimes I get a slight bump as they are not files as you say in the strict sense of the term but overall the sound is OK.

Cheers!
Thanks Guys,
Fyi - At this moment the line out from the CONNECT is linked to the line in (aux) on the amp. This is already working -> i have sound on my play5 and on my speakers via the amp. I select aux input on the amp.

I also have the recout from the amp connect to the line in on the CONNECT. My idea was that when I play a cd This could be heared via the speakers (as normal) and via the recout-linein CONNECT-stream to play5.
I can select the CD as input on the amp and click on the REC tape button. My idea was this would start the rec out line. And it does, but it stops the output on the speakers.

Above option by the way would in theorie result in a vicous circle when I play radio via SONOS and select AUX on the amp and the rec tape button???

Your tips are highly appriciated. Indeed digitalizing the CDs is the best my folks can do. But this is a lot of work. I already suggested to just use spotify or something.

I also just like it to get this working...and experiment a little bit.
@John B
I see your point. I was thinking that with the Connect using its Analog Input plugged into Tape 1 Output the Connect would basically act like a recorder for a selected source (so to speak) and send the music over the SonosNet to allow the Play 5 to output the same. In essence the Connect would capture the audio as well as the wired speakers.

I think that is what @JJKB was hoping for - to play the CD direct through the amp and speakers and also direct the sound through the Connect's line-in to make it available to the Play:5. But he hasn't yet found a way of getting the amp to do that simultaneously.

Leaving aside all else, there are numerous disadvantages to this approach, including only a remote chance of perfect sync. It is better, if you must use external devices, to direct them into the Sonos line-in rather than the amp. That is the fundamental issue here.

There are two lines-in available here and using them both may be helpful. (But it would still be better to rip the CDs and put them on a NAS.)
@ John B that is exactly what I was thinking.
I understand now that even if it works it would result in a sync issue.

The play5 is located elsewhere in de room and I can not (easily) use its line In.

Nevertheless I get the point. Better to look into rip the cd's. or just use the play5. Sound fills the room on its own 🙂
@JJKB - our last posts "crossed", but I think confirmed my understanding. With the right software, ripping CDs is not so time-consuming and can be done gradually. I hope you sort it out.
Userlevel 7
Badge +22
wow it sounds like this has been made over complicated.

and I do say rip the CD's by the way.

But .....

Your connect Output should be connected to a free input on the receiver - lets say AUX.

The connect Input should be connected to the analog out from the receiver (the tape 1 record out).

You should never have to turn on the record monitor button. Doing so is listening to what is hooked to tape 1 input which you have nothing hooked to. So hitting monitor button is playing nothing.

to listen to CD on sonos set receiver to CD input (your Cd player assuming hooked to the CD input on the receiver). In Sonos go to Input (and select that connect input) and you will hear the CD playing via your receiver.

to listen to Sonos music you chose the aux input on the receiver to hear the connect playing to your receiver.
Userlevel 7
Thanks Guys,
I can select the CD as input on the amp and click on the REC tape button. My idea was this would start the rec out line. And it does, but it stops the output on the speakers.


@JJKB

You NEVER need to select Tape Rec on the input/output that the Connect is plugged into. That's why you are losing sound as you are trying to select the Connect as a second source and it's not. It should never be selected from the front Panel of the Sony TA-A200. Just leave it along and you may get what you are looking for although as John B has alluded to it may not be perfect. 🆒