Sending audio to two separate devices?

[Gamehendge Jazz]

The goal is to send (at separate times) a digital audio signal to two separate speaker systems. My current sound card (M/Audio 2496) sends a digital signal to my desktop speakers.

Would the solution be to install another sound card?

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You'd rather spend money on another card than just unplug/plug the wires? Sounds like a waste of money to me even if it would work.

How about an A/B switch possibly from Radio Shack or similar outlets? Seems it would stand a chance of being less expensive than another sound card. A couple threads in a Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=2+sound+cards&btnG=Google+Search) search only show difficulty in setting up a dual soundcard system.

[Gamehendge Jazz]

You'd rather spend money on another card than just unplug/plug the wires? Sounds like a waste of money to me even if it would work.

Well, the extra soundcard would be $85. The idea is to send as precise of a digital signal to the extra system as possibl.e

[John0904]

Would this work? Audio Splitter (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=278-2754)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

(at separate times)
Just use an A/B splitter but if you want top quality with as little loss of signal as possible, you'd be better off just pulling the wire for one set of speakers from the audio card and plugging in the others.

But if you meant for the 2 systems to work simultaneously, use the splitter in John's link.

Most sound cards these days have several selections on speaker arrangements. 2 channel as well as 4, also 2.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 surround sound for subwoofers, center speakers, fronts and rears.

What you need to do really hinges on the abilities of the card you plan on using or the speakers you have or plan to get.

BTW, what is a 'precise' signal? :confused: I've never heard the term and I've been messin with sound for over 35 years. ;)

[Gamehendge Jazz]

Would this work? Audio Splitter (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=278-2754)

Thanks for the link, but that won't work. My card has one digi out (RCA Coax).

But if you meant for the 2 systems to work simultaneously, use the splitter in John's link.

BTW, what is a 'precise' signal? :confused: I've never heard the term and I've been messin with sound for over 35 years. ;)

The signals are to be run independently, not simultaneously. My PC sits 25-30ft from the audio receiver that I am attempting to run a 30ft digi coax to. Currently, I send an audio signal to my desktop speakers for audio editing. So basically, it's desktop speaker use for editing and separate listening in the other setting.

"Precise"...just a word I through out there referring to an unaltered signal. :)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

My card has one digi out (RCA Coax).

Huh? then how do you get at least a stereo output? With RCA connectors you'd need at least 2, one for left, the other for right side signal if you want stereo as a minimum. I've yet to see a soundcard that does NOT have an 1/8" stereo outlet socket.

I use onboard sound on this particular pc with the output converted from 1/8th inch stereo to 1/4" stereo cable for approximately 25 feet because the wire goes over a doorway as it crosses the room. It consists of an adaptor which is stereo 1/8" male by 1/4"female which is connected to a long headphone extension cord. The other end converts the 'dual centered coax' 1/4" female connector to 2 RCA males that connect in to the 2 inputs (left and right) on the Home Entertainment 5.1 system.

It is not true surround sound but it does nicely as a stereo setup. A button on the amplified subwoofer where all the connections are made needs to be pressed or it does not 'hear' the signal. When using my standalone DVD player that is connected to it, it uses more RCA cables than just two, I can achieve true surround sound because there is a separate send for each function. Front left, front right, center, rear left, rear right and subwoofer. I think, not sure, 6.1 has left center and right center because my center speaker is actually a 2 speaker cabinet.

If you are only wanting stereo to be sent to your entertainment center then what I am currently using for cabling should be fine.

Coaxial (guitar cord) is single centered and coaxial (triaxial ?) michrophone cord has 2 center leads. They are laid side by side and contribute to a bunch of 'crosstalk'. This results in loss of stereo effect, the further run, coiled or lengthened the cord is. I'm not complaining, as all I have room for is to put all the smaller speakers on top of my tv and face them all at me anyway. :o

This thread possibly could lead into a serious audiophile discussion if you like, but if you'd rather, just list the equipment you plan to use and we'll explain the best way to set it up.

For example: If you have a soundcard that is capable of 5.1 output, it will use line out, plus line in as another out, and michrophone in as the subwoofer output. All of these are 'hot/ground front left, hot/ground front right, etc. If using only RCA cords to reach to wherever, you'd need 5 of them however long to send the decoded info to your theater. A multiple centered coaxial cable could handle all those signals but we are faced with the 'crosstalk' again. :rolleyes: The exterior woven braid of the coax is merely an insulator for RF (radio frequency) signals to help prevent noise or hisses, sound loss or 'blending' etc. It never mentions crosstalk and other issues. The braid is normally "-", negative, or ground.

Just how deep you want to go is up to you. What you have at hand or plan to use is the limiting factor. :D

Edit:
Here (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F001%5F002&product%5Fid=12%2D2057) is a good start to doing what my setup needs. It's just a little too short.

[Gamehendge Jazz]

Huh? then how do you get at least a stereo output? With RCA connectors you'd need at least 2, one for left, the other for right side signal if you want stereo as a minimum. I've yet to see a soundcard that does NOT have an 1/8" stereo outlet socket.
Digital Coax: SPDIF (http://www.cascademedia.net/products.asp?catid=140&prodid=1025)
Soundcard: M/Audio Audiophile 2496 (http://www.cascademedia.net/products.asp?catid=104&prodid=683)

No multi-channel. Just two-channel stereo. Much of my audio is at 24/48 and 24/96, hence the need for a digital connection. Prefer the original sound (bit & sample rates) of the recording rather than a receiver-upsampled signal.

I transfer DAT's to my PC for editing...the M/Audio card has a digi in as well.

[jcnoernberg]

You can use any y-splitter with an SPDIF cable... as long as you are using them one at a time. Since you have a digital signal, the cable type is of little importance... a 1 is a 1, a 0 is a 0... its not like analog where the copper quality matters (to an extent)... And I'm not just saying this, This is how I've wired sound rooms up in the past for stores (to hook up a dozen digital surround sound receivers to one dvd player spdif output). it works.

Huh? then how do you get at least a stereo output? With RCA connectors you'd need at least 2, one for left, the other for right side signal if you want stereo as a minimum. I've yet to see a soundcard that does NOT have an 1/8" stereo outlet socket.


s/pdif (also known as "digital coax" or the Sony Philips Digital InterFace) is capable of transfering upto 8 channels of 16/24 bit audio simulataneiously via one "rca" style connector.

I use onboard sound on this particular pc with the output converted from 1/8th inch stereo to 1/4" stereo cable for approximately 25 feet because the wire goes over a doorway as it crosses the room. It consists of an adaptor which is stereo 1/8" male by 1/4"female which is connected to a long headphone extension cord. The other end converts the 'dual centered coax' 1/4" female connector to 2 RCA males that connect in to the 2 inputs (left and right) on the Home Entertainment 5.1 system.

It is not true surround sound but it does nicely as a stereo setup.
that's where dolby's pro logic comes in... a great dsp simulation of surround sound from stereo sources.


A button on the amplified subwoofer where all the connections are made needs to be pressed or it does not 'hear' the signal. When using my standalone DVD player that is connected to it, it uses more RCA cables than just two, I can achieve true surround sound because there is a separate send for each function. Front left, front right, center, rear left, rear right and subwoofer. I think, not sure, 6.1 has left center and right center because my center speaker is actually a 2 speaker cabinet.

you must not have a dolby digital/dts decoder, they weren't in dvd players until maybe 8 years ago? Or you have an SACD/DVDA dvd player... before then they had 6 rca preouts, which were analog audio transfers. using the spdif is better, because it is a pure digital transfer, and the d/a conversions are kept to a minimum. this allows you to set a precise eq or other dsp effects with a split hair precision. If you are only wanting stereo to be sent to your entertainment center then what I am currently using for cabling should be fine.


Coaxial (guitar cord) is single centered and coaxial (triaxial ?) michrophone cord has 2 center leads. They are laid side by side and contribute to a bunch of 'crosstalk'. This results in loss of stereo effect, the further run, coiled or lengthened the cord is.
yet another reason to go digital!


I'm not complaining, as all I have room for is to put all the smaller speakers on top of my tv and face them all at me anyway. :o

This thread possibly could lead into a serious audiophile discussion if you like, but if you'd rather, just list the equipment you plan to use and we'll explain the best way to set it up.

For example: If you have a soundcard that is capable of 5.1 output, it will use line out, plus line in as another out, and michrophone in as the subwoofer output. All of these are 'hot/ground front left, hot/ground front right, etc. If using only RCA cords to reach to wherever, you'd need 5 of them however long to send the decoded info to your theater. A multiple centered coaxial cable could handle all those signals but we are faced with the 'crosstalk' again. :rolleyes: The exterior woven braid of the coax is merely an insulator for RF (radio frequency) signals to help prevent noise or hisses, sound loss or 'blending' etc. It never mentions crosstalk and other issues. The braid is normally "-", negative, or ground.

Just how deep you want to go is up to you. What you have at hand or plan to use is the limiting factor. :D

Edit:
Here (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F001%5F002&product%5Fid=12%2D2057) is a good start to doing what my setup needs. It's just a little too short.