Reddit mentions of UGREEN 3.5mm to 2RCA Audio Auxiliary Adapter Stereo Splitter Cable AUX RCA Y Cord for Smartphone Speakers Tablet HDTV MP3 Player(3ft)

You just need one of these. Super simple. And yes, the DAC in a macbook pro tends to be pretty reliable. I wouldn't listen to the people telling you to get a separate box just because.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PZ7QO2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm using this now and it is actually very nice quality and works perfectly.

personally I would get a 35mm to RCA cable like this one and plug it into the line in at the back of your deck. No need for separate mic headphone jacks. But yes, your iphone should work great for this purpose!

You could also get an [RCA splitter](Ugreen Gold Plated 3.5mm to 2RCA Audio Auxiliary Stereo Y Splitter Cable (3ft) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PZ7QO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_V-Cqyb156FM6B) (those are super common and come in any length) plus two of [these](Monoprice 107146 3.5mm Mono Plug to RCA Jack Adaptor, Gold Plated https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069MLDUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Z.Cqyb8ZMTS9G)!

OP this is technically doing something a little different from what the guy above suggested, but it should work great for your earmuffs, and will be a little more comfy to walk around with than two individual full length cables meeting at your phone.

USB is how your DAC connects to your computer.

Your DAC will have at least one of the following outputs:

• L/R coaxial RCA out
  
• 3.5 mm TRS stereo out
  
• 1/4" TRS stereo out
  
  (those three are all electrically compatible and can convert to each other with a socket adapter)
  
  
• 3.5 mm TRS SPDIF out (analog)
  
• coaxial SPDIF out (analog)
  
  (those two are electrically compatible and can convert to each other with a socket adapter)
  
  
• 3.5 mm optical SPDIF out
  
• TOSLINK optical SPDIF out
  
  (those two are optically compatible and can convert to each other with a socket adapter)
  
  
• HDMI audio out (rare)
  
  The electrical and optical SPDIF formats can be converted to each other using a cheap $20 adapter from a variety of Chinese sellers.
  
  Choose your DAC based in part on the inputs on your amplifier. The A-616 appears to take 2 channel analog stereo input, so presumably none of the digital options matter to you right now. But you may wish to consider buying a DAC with any digital output in case you add a modern amplifier with digital inputs or a more than two channel setup, or if you plan to do special things wiht gaming.
  
  In your case, a RCA to 3.5 mm cable will let you connect your computer to your amplifier. Your computer may also already have one or more of the digital outputs listed above for future use.
  
  The quality difference between a $1 DAC (USB or on-board) and a $10 DAC is massive. The difference between a $10 DAC and a $100 DAC... not as much. There's a small selection of $0.50-3 DAC chips that are repackaged onto most differently coloured DACs and sound cards ranging in price from $1 to $1000. Some people more than others listen with their eyes, so YMMV.

You can do something like this with a mixer. The questions mainly comes down to: What is it worth to you? Do you use an external DAC/AMP?


If you do use an external DAC/AMP: This will work and will be slightly cheaper.


IF you do not use an external DAC/AMP: This will need extra equipment: Your choice between a DAC/AMP or a USB Sound Card.

The Equipment

Mixer $40 - The mixer is what you will use to control volume of the 2 channels. You can also use it for a microphone if you choose to get one down the road!


Cables x2 $20 - These are for the Output of your computer.


Cable x1 $7 - This cable is for the Output of the mixer.


USB Soundcard $8 - This is OPTIONAL. You only need it if you don't have a DAC/AMP. However it would be a nice addition if you don't want to run a cable to the front of your PC.


Total: $67-$75

The Setup

1. Cable one goes from the rear headphone out of the PC to 2/3 on the mixer. Set this as the default device.
   
2. Cable two goes from the front headphone out of the PC to 4/5 on the mixer. Set the programs you want to output here, Discord Skype Curse TS3 Spotify etc.
   
3. The RCA to 3.5mm cable goes from the 2-Track Output to the Line In on your PC, the baby blue port.
   
4. Go to the Line In properties on Windows. Check off the "Listen to this device" box, and make it only audible through your DAC/AMP. If you don't have a DAC/AMP make it only audible through the front headphone out on your computer.

If you look at the back of the amp, you'll see the left and right RCA inputs. If you're connecting it to a phone or computer, you'll want this cable (There's a billion other options for these, I just clicked the first one I saw). Your motherboard should have a headphone out somewhere on the back to plug that in.

Here's a helpful diagram. Ignore the DAC in the pic, and get a cable like this to plug straight into your pc from your amp.

Yes, from the preamp you can connect an RCA-to-3.5mm(aux) cabe and hook it up to the speakers. You can look into the ART phono preamp, it's quite cheap and works ok: https://www.amazon.com/ART-Audio-DJPRE-Turntable-Preamplifier/dp/B000AJR482/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483211970&sr=8-1&keywords=art+phono+preamp

The cable you would need is like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Ugreen-Plated-Auxiliary-Stereo-Splitter/dp/B015PZ7QO2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1483212026&sr=8-8&keywords=rca+to+3.5mm

To get started you need an amp and a set of speakers. Your budget will determine quite a bit about what you get.

With your budget you're looking at some bookshelf speakers and an amp as an AVR will just eat too much of it. I like using an AVR for 2.1 setups like you've requested but this time it's just not going to happen unless the budget increases.

My shopping list for you

Amp - Sony STRDH130 $100 2.0 receiver will give you more inputs, bass and treble control and a remote.

Sub - Dayton Sub 1200 $120 on sale. The 12" should get you more an enough bass to shake the floor. Just be sure to adjust the level of the sub more than on the AVR as you don't want to overdrive the speakers as they will not produce a lot of bass and you can't cross them over.

Speakers - JBL Loft 30 $40 or Polk T15 $50 Neither of these are "great" speakers but they will get the job done. You can upgrade down the road if you fell they are lacking.

Misc - Speaker wire $11, RCA to 3.5mm $7, and electricians tool$11. You don't have to get the tool but it makes stripping so much easier if you don't have one.

Total: $299 for the Polks and $289 for the JBL setup

*with tool included

You'd have to do some testing to figure that out. I assume you have just a pair of powered speakers - IE you plug them into the wall and turn them on and control the volume with them?

If that's the case, first step is to use a different audio source to see if they work. Grab a mini-stereo to RCA cable like this, plug your phone into the speakers, and see if you can stream a song from it. If yes, the issue is with the table or the RCA cables. If no, the issue is with the speakers.

If your phone does play fine through the speakers, then the next step, unfortunately, is probably to drop a hundred bucks or so on a different turntable. Looking at your Aiwa's manual, it doesn't look like the RCA cables (possible culprit 1) are removable, and the cartridge (possible culprit 2) is definitely not replaceable.

Are you referring to when you're playing it in portable mode or docked? If portable, you should be able to use some sort of USB-C to RCA adapter (like this) or a AUX to RCA adapter in the headphone jack (like this). If it's docked, I think you can use a USB-A to RCA adapter (like this).

That sounds pretty complicated.

use this and connect to your pc. If you can find a cheaper one out there, you can use that too.

After that, use 2 of these to connect to the splitter above. Use one pair to go into your Audioengine A2 and the other pair goes into your subwoofer.

Not perfect, but maybe you could add something like this between the turntable and the Sonos? I've never done this, but might be an option.

Has a button to send the output to the Sonos or Headphones
https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Computer-Headphones-Converter-Switching/dp/B015FJ9WMW/

Then use RCA to 3.5 to connect it together
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-3-5mm-Auxiliary-Stereo-Splitter/dp/B015PZ7QO2

What type of cable would i use to connect the MORDAUNT SHORT
M20 to the smsl sa 36a? also would i use an rca to 3.5mm cable to connect the amp to my PC? like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015PZ7QO2/ref=twister_B00N9VLU9W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1