How do I connect MP3 and laptop to a Marantz Integrated Amplifier PM-66SE?

[IainPatton]

I'm being given an old (but good) Marantz Integrated Stereo Amplifier PM-66SE. How do I link it up with a laptop or MP3 player so I can stream etc. Sorry if this is a basic quesion but I just dont know. Thank you, Iain

 

[TrevC]

Get yourself a Behringer UCA202 or 222 DAC, use it to connect from USB on the laptop to any of the line inputs. Prepare to be amazed. For the MP3 player buy a 3.5mm jack to RCA phono lead. You could also use that lead on the audio out on the laptop, though the quality may not be as good.

 

[IainPatton]

Thanks that is excellent as I haven't understood how to link analogue with digital. Do people find storing on a laptop or a MP3 is the best approach? With music everywhere nowadays ie laptop, phone, streamed etc I find it all very fragmented and want all my music together in a coherent and easy to access place. Iain

 

[TrevC]

I use a laptop because i don't have an MP3 player, but I do use Spotify on my phone as well. Have it on both, why not?

 

[davedotco]

If you have music on a laptop then the Behringer dac mentioned above is a 'no brainer' at just £25. Phones, MP3 players and the like are more difficult, in part because they do not have usb out.

I have an all Apple environment, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Macbook pro, all connecting via Airplay, dead simple, con you do something similar?

If not via Airplay then via Bluetooth AptX.

 

[MeanandGreen]

I store a back up of my music in iTunes on my iMac, but I also have the same library of my music on my iPod touch which is docked on an Arcam drDock connected to my amplifier. It's a digital dock in the sence that it bypasses the iPods DAC and uses the docks DAC instead.

I control my music using an app called Tango Remote which is installed on my iPod, iPhone and iPad. Of course a dock like this is of no use unless your MP3 player is an iPod, but thought I'd throw the idea out there incase you do have an iPod.

I would personally find using the computer every time I want to listen to music an inconvienence.