Why can't I connect straight into a stereo?

[joeydavidson]

I've plugged into many stereos using a mic or rca input.

It can often sound good, maybe nearly as good as a proper bass amp but will distort if you turn it up too much. Home stereo speakers can sound good too - sometimes better then proper bass cabs...

[AstroSonic]

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe

I've plugged both active and passive basses into my portable headphone amps (Headstage Arrow and Fiio E6) listened through some headphones (AKG K550 and V-Moda M80) and have suffered no degradation in sound quality. Rather, the sound quality is far superior this way than when my basses are played through a Vox AmPlug or a Ibanez SW35 amp.

I wanted to try using either a tubed headphone (el cheapo Little Dot) amp or my tubed home electronics (VTL MB125; Rogue Magnum 99 and Dunlavy SC-IV speakers) to see what the bass would sound like. Basically, I wanted to incorporate some tubes into the chain.

I moved recently and waited about 2 weeks for the moving van to arrive. Had my bass, but the amps were in the van. Previous owner had left a ss receiver and a pair of cheap 8-inch 2-ways. After a few days I was climbing the walls without playing. Got a 1/4 inch to rca adapter at the local Radio Shack. It worked just fine on the aux input. Had to turn the volume up quite a bit, but was able to get enough output to push the speakers to the limit. I can imagine that some basses might have insufficient output to drive the home stereo amplifier. Certainly you can do no harm. With your stereo, you should be able to get some pretty nice hifi quality sound. Probably difficult to get any tube overdrive sound without endangering the speakers. If your bass has insufficient output to drive your stereo electronics, consider a stomp box. The Aguilar Tone Hammer works very well.

[rust_preacher]

The thing to do is to take the headphone out of your Vox practice amp into the RCA inputs of the stereo. As others have said, start at a moderate volume. As soon as you hear your speakers farting or distorting, back off the volume, be content with what you have right there.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by AstroSonic

I moved recently and waited about 2 weeks for the moving van to arrive. Had my bass, but the amps were in the van. Previous owner had left a ss receiver and a pair of cheap 8-inch 2-ways. After a few days I was climbing the walls without playing. Got a 1/4 inch to rca adapter at the local Radio Shack. It worked just fine on the aux input. Had to turn the volume up quite a bit, but was able to get enough output to push the speakers to the limit. I can imagine that some basses might have insufficient output to drive the home stereo amplifier. Certainly you can do no harm. With your stereo, you should be able to get some pretty nice hifi quality sound. Probably difficult to get any tube overdrive sound without endangering the speakers. If your bass has insufficient output to drive your stereo electronics, consider a stomp box. The Aguilar Tone Hammer works very well.

You can do huge harm to the speakers. When you crank your favorite music it is so compressed it doesn't stress your components.
Were you to crank a wav file of the same recording you'd think your speakers might blow.
So no it shouldn't be able to do what you ask except for very modest volume.

For some folks on a limited budget this can mean saving for a proper amp AND repairing or replacing the stereo speakers.

Since the world didn't end let me say until it does the more sound, actual musical tone, you can get out of an unamplified bass the better and more tasteful you will be live and loud.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

You can totally connect to any stereo that has RCA inputs (red/white double cable) - all you need is a 1/4" to RCA/component cable and a 1/4" female/female adapter so you can plug your cable in. You'll need to be careful, though, since normal stereo speakers aren't designed to handle a straight bass signal well and will often distort.

"since normal stereo speakers aren't designed to handle a straight bass signal well and will often distort." kind of makes this NOT a case of "You can totally connect to any stereo that has RCA inputs". That's because A STEREO ISN'T MADE TO HAVE INSTRUMENTS PLUGGED INTO IT!

You can drag race with a Ford Pinto, but it's not made for drag racing and a stereo isn't the same as an instrument amp, from input through output and speakers.

[AstroSonic]

Originally posted by Chadds:
"You can do huge harm to the speakers. When you crank your favorite music it is so compressed it doesn't stress your components.
Were you to crank a wav file of the same recording you'd think your speakers might blow.
So no it shouldn't be able to do what you ask except for very modest volume.

For some folks on a limited budget this can mean saving for a proper amp AND repairing or replacing the stereo speakers."

Originally posted by 1958Bassman
"You can drag race with a Ford Pinto, but it's not made for drag racing and a stereo isn't the same as an instrument amp, from input through output and speakers."

Exactly. Nobody would expect real dragster performance from the Pinto. A home hifi or a guitar amp CAN be used for quiet bass practice without harm to the equipment. It's about reasonable expectations and due caution.

Most of us would quickly back off the volume once farting was heard (as we would with a real bass amplifier). I enjoyed being able to practice for the remaining 10 days my practice amp was unavailable. The receiver and speakers were unharmed. Those who feel uncomfortable doing this kind of thing probably should not do it.

[Orangeclawhamme]

Originally Posted by wideload

That works because there's a preamp on that input (with a unique EQ profile). Other inputs will need a pre somewhere before it. By the way, what is this PHONO you speak of? I think m uncle still has some of those record things in the attic!

Watch out, I hear tell that you whipper-snappers get your ears around those record things, there's no turning back. I still use my turntable on occassion. Be especially careful if they are jazz or classical. Absolutely deadly. They might even alter how you play bass!