Connect laptop to hi-fi speakers

[dwarfer16]

Hi all,

For my girlfriends birthday she would like some speakers for her laptop and she would also like a new hi-fi system. But I am curious as to what connection is required to connect the two together. The only options on the laptop are usb or the headphone jack (so no coaxial or optical). Also she is only really looking to get a small cheapie micro hi-fi with about £65 to spend on either separate laptop speakers and micro hi-fi or on a combined system, which is why it would be good to get one that could do both. I know that some micro hi-fi systems come with a usb port at the front (which you can you for mp3 players) but I read on a post somewhere that someones said that a usb cable A to A would work to connect them together but I am wondering if that would actually work on not? If not, are there any other options available? Thanks.

-dwarfer16

[Funkstar]

As long as the stereo has an Aux input, this is all you need:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...=31700&doy=1m7

Sure there are higher quality cables and connection types, but for a stereo of that price and a laptop, that will do just fine.

An alternative would be to get a USB sound card with diggerent outputs.

You won't be able to connect the laptop directly over USB, the stereo system will be expecting a mass storage device, not a PC.

[dwarfer16]

Thanks Funk, that's just what I'm after!

I thought the idea of a usb A to A wouldn't work exactly because of what you said - the hi-fi would be expecting a mass storage device! Thanks.

-dwarfer16