A simple problem, but hard to solve !

[joeri]

Hello Headfiers...

I have a littlle problem. I have a great pc speaker set ( gigaworks ) and a crappy soundcard for playing music ( audigy 2zs ). So , when i wanna listen to my music, i manually switch the green plug that goes into the soundcard to my iPod. It sounds so much better, but i hate having to switch the plug all the time.

I don't want to use the line-in on the extra (decoder?)box that comes with the soundcard, because that means my rather noisy PC has to be turned on.

So this is my question : How can i change the source for my PC speakers without psysically changing plugs ?

Perhaps there is some sort of router ?

Thanks in advance,i know i can count on you guys !!

 

[Nospam]

Well, you could try using a y-cable for the speaker input, so you have both the computer and iPod plugged into the speakers.

Yeah, you may get feedback, and the sound quality will probably suffer. However, it's cheap to try out... it may be "good enough" for what you want.

 

[joeri]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nospam Well, you could try using a y-cable for the speaker input, so you have both the computer and iPod plugged into the speakers. Yeah, you may get feedback, and the sound quality will probably suffer. However, it's cheap to try out... it may be "good enough" for what you want.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll try it out. I'll see if i can find it anywhere.

Do i strike you as a guy that settles for "Good enough" , though ?

 

[enzoferrari650]

If you get a decent quality splitter, I'd doubt you'd be able to tell the difference.

 

[joeri]

I guess you're right. So how do i tell if i got a decent quality one ?

 

[enzoferrari650]

Use the search, lol. I cant really help u since i dont know too much.

 

[Chinchy]

Don't bother with Radio Shack. I tried that once, getting the mini-mini Y splitter, and hooking up one end of the Y to the computer, the other end to another source, and the output to the speakers. The overall volume level drops, and I don't recall it sounding tremendously great. Dunno if they have some sort of switchbox you can use, but that would probably be a better choice, albeit more expensive.

You're probably just better off switching the plugs, although all that in/out action may eventually start breaking the contact pins or something...

 

[joeri]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinchy You're probably just better off switching the plugs, although all that in/out action may eventually start breaking the contact pins or something...

No way man thats to much hassle. I'd have to reach behind the desk more then once a day. There must be more alegant ways to fix this.

I just got a y splitter and a cable. the first thing i noticed was that the plugs wern't gold. So that MUST automatically mean less contact,and a drop in soundquality right ?

And yes, i did notice a volume drop. But since i have 700 wats of power in a medium size living room, ( small for USA standards, heheh ) this isn't much of a problem. I just turned up the volume.

It sounds allright good, i think. But i think that when my PC is powerd up ( it slightly interferes with the signal from the iPod, making it sound a little bit distorted.

How likely is that ?



And does anybody know about some kind of switchbord for this sort of thing ?
:

 

[tortie]

You need a switcher.

http://fidaudio.com/

Check out his Quintête Audio Switcher.

 

[joeri]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortie You need a switcher. http://fidaudio.com/ Check out his Quintête Audio Switcher.

It looks like a do. It's 90 dollars ( plus postage ) though ! Oh well if it's on my wishlist. Any millionaires reading this want to make a donation ?

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[dd3mon]

You can buy things like this (switch box) very cheaply at retail stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, possibly radio shack). They aren't exactly "audiophile approved" but for computer audio they'll be fine (really).

-dd3mon

 

[BowerR64]

dude look into a better sound card, you will probobly ejoy this more. I got a pretty good one for $30. new, you could probobly pick up a better one then what you have for beans. Im using the Sblive value, check out the price of one of those off ebay or somthing.

My motherboard came with onboard audio and i upgraded to an SBlive and i can totaly hear the difference.

sblive on e-bay for $9. buy it now

another one on e-bay for $12. buy it now