How to combine two stereo inputs into one output?

[Rich Billionaire]

I have a pair of self-powered Alesis 520 speakers and I want to
connect both my xbox 360 and my computer to it. What's the best way to
do that? I tried using a $6 audio splitter, but it didn't work out too
well because the sound signals from my pc & xbox were both weakened by
that type of connection. Do I have to buy a mixer or can I use
something cheaper? I want to get good sound and I want something that
will allow both the pc & xbox 360 sound signals to come through at
full strength but I'd prefer to use something that I don't have to
switch on and off or that requires electrical power. I'd prefer to
have it be something automatic and passive, similar to an audio
splitter but without its signal loss problem. I think I read there's a
decent mixer for around $70. I guess I'll buy that if I have to. I may
also buy a subwoofer to add to my system, which would complicate
things even more. I guess I'll have to have a mixer if I get the
subwoofer, right? I used to use Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers but I
wanted to upgrade to something bigger, so I got the Alesis 520 studio
monitors. I can't use a receiver since these speakers are self
powered.

[MiNe 109]

In article >,
Rich Billionaire > wrote:

> I have a pair of self-powered Alesis 520 speakers and I want to
> connect both my xbox 360 and my computer to it. What's the best way to
> do that? I tried using a $6 audio splitter, but it didn't work out too
> well because the sound signals from my pc & xbox were both weakened by
> that type of connection. Do I have to buy a mixer or can I use
> something cheaper? I want to get good sound and I want something that
> will allow both the pc & xbox 360 sound signals to come through at
> full strength but I'd prefer to use something that I don't have to
> switch on and off or that requires electrical power. I'd prefer to
> have it be something automatic and passive, similar to an audio
> splitter but without its signal loss problem. I think I read there's a
> decent mixer for around $70. I guess I'll buy that if I have to. I may
> also buy a subwoofer to add to my system, which would complicate
> things even more. I guess I'll have to have a mixer if I get the
> subwoofer, right? I used to use Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers but I
> wanted to upgrade to something bigger, so I got the Alesis 520 studio
> monitors. I can't use a receiver since these speakers are self
> powered.

A possible short term solution is the Sima SVS-14 found at the Radio
Shack website and other places.

The real solution would be a preamp or external soundcard .

Stephen

[William Sommerwerck]

You don't need a mixer. Look around a simple switchbox.

[Roy W. Rising[_2_]]

Rich Billionaire > wrote:
> I have a pair of self-powered Alesis 520 speakers and I want to
> connect both my xbox 360 and my computer to it. What's the best way to
> do that? I tried using a $6 audio splitter, but it didn't work out too
> well because the sound signals from my pc & xbox were both weakened by
> that type of connection. Do I have to buy a mixer or can I use
> something cheaper? I want to get good sound and I want something that
> will allow both the pc & xbox 360 sound signals to come through at
> full strength but I'd prefer to use something that I don't have to
> switch on and off or that requires electrical power. I'd prefer to
> have it be something automatic and passive, similar to an audio
> splitter but without its signal loss problem. I think I read there's a
> decent mixer for around $70. I guess I'll buy that if I have to. I may
> also buy a subwoofer to add to my system, which would complicate
> things even more. I guess I'll have to have a mixer if I get the
> subwoofer, right? I used to use Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers but I
> wanted to upgrade to something bigger, so I got the Alesis 520 studio
> monitors. I can't use a receiver since these speakers are self
> powered.

One option is to feed the Xbox 360 into the computer's line inputs. Then
both sources can appear at the computer's line output. Of course, this
means the 'puter will have to be ON. If you're like most of us, it's ON
most of the time anyway.

A powered subwoofer is likely to have its own low-pass filter on the input,
some have L & R inputs, so you might be able to use "Y" cords to split the
computer's output to both destinations.

--
~
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[[email protected]]

Build the circuit on page 23 , just use two N-channel FETs instead of
triodes and use 12 volt B+.


http://www.pmillett.com/file_downloads/RCA_HiFi.pdf

You'll need differing resistor values of course.

[Rich Billionaire]

On 13 Sep 2008 00:15:00 GMT, Roy W. Rising
> wrote:

>One option is to feed the Xbox 360 into the computer's line inputs. Then
>both sources can appear at the computer's line output. Of course, this
>means the 'puter will have to be ON. If you're like most of us, it's ON
>most of the time anyway.

That works perfect! My sound card has a subwoofer line out too, and I
can use Windows to adjust the xbox volume.

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >,
Rich Billionaire > wrote:
>
>I have a pair of self-powered Alesis 520 speakers and I want to
>connect both my xbox 360 and my computer to it. What's the best way to
>do that? I tried using a $6 audio splitter, but it didn't work out too
>well because the sound signals from my pc & xbox were both weakened by
>that type of connection. Do I have to buy a mixer or can I use
>something cheaper? I want to get good sound and I want something that
>will allow both the pc & xbox 360 sound signals to come through at
>full strength but I'd prefer to use something that I don't have to
>switch on and off or that requires electrical power. I'd prefer to
>have it be something automatic and passive, similar to an audio
>splitter but without its signal loss problem. I think I read there's a
>decent mixer for around $70. I guess I'll buy that if I have to. I may
>also buy a subwoofer to add to my system, which would complicate
>things even more. I guess I'll have to have a mixer if I get the
>subwoofer, right? I used to use Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers but I
>wanted to upgrade to something bigger, so I got the Alesis 520 studio
>monitors. I can't use a receiver since these speakers are self
>powered.

You can get a switchbox to allow you to switch from one to the other.
Or you can make a summing cable... imagine a Y cable, with 1K ohm
resistors on each output so that the two outputs aren't directly tied
together.

With the summing cable you will lose some level. That's fine, you have
plenty of extra gain available, so just turn the volume up a bit.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."