Help! Stereo System Switch Over Box

crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 01 2016 12:13 PM

A friend asked me to help him find a switch over box for two separate audio systems. We have both been searching the net with near zero results.

He needs to line-out audio from his laptop to either:

His conventional stereo system (amp and speakers)

Or to his active studio monitors (these have built-in amps)

It's crazy that we both can't find a simple switch box for this!

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 01 2016 12:44 PM

I think what you are looking for is an ab audio switch. You need a cable with mini plug from laptop headphone out to RCA plugs which connect to the switch box. Then the switch box has two stereo RCA out . google search turns up several choices.

—

Happy Sunsets!

Last edited: Feb 01, 2016 14:45:03

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 01 2016 02:43 PM

Duplicate post

—

Happy Sunsets!

Last edited: Feb 01, 2016 14:46:06

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 01 2016 03:07 PM

Thanks for the tip. We hadn't thought of using "AB" in our searches and it has brought some other devices to the top. Most of what we have seen so far are for several devices input but only one stereo output. Others are for audio visual or amp to 2 pairs of speakers.

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2016 07:32 AM

Just examples; you might also find something simple if you search for stuff used by gamers. Regardless of how labeled, if the switching is done manually it's just establishing a connection. Even if there's a 3rd (usually yellow) video connection you don't have to use it.

Right-angle adapter cable for your computer's audio out. (Right-angle to be gentle on the flimsy output jack internals on most computers.)

Sample switch box. This one is pretty spendy but tiny footprint and does simply what you want.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 07 2016 08:39 AM

Hi Wes thanks for trying to help out. We are still looking.

He is using a standalone Zoom R24 recorder + computer routed through a mixing console to conventional amp and speakers and a pair of active studio flat response speakers. Rather than continually swopping cables over to audio systems A and B it would be an advantage to use a switch box of some kind.

(your sample switchbox link) Amazon is great for customer reviews and by the looks of things a simple passive switch can introduce unwanted noise. I've seen a few other switchers with ground buttons on each in/output so I'd guess these would be to eliminate hum.

Here's a the last one he sent me, I had to laugh because it is total overkill !! JBL

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2016 09:42 AM

crumble wrote:

Here's a the last one he sent me, I had to laugh because it is total overkill !! JBL

Agree; that's a bit much. That JBL box redefines spendy.

Passive switches don't create noise though; they're just forwarding it on for your enjoyment. The noise is there to begin with, and quite often the culprit is the cabling or the way it's routed. It's carrying or receiving something already there. I have a tiny a/b switch here in the room (also a ham station) to select between a paddle & traditional straight Morse key before going to the radio. No issues, but the runs are decent wire and no further than needed, not laying about the room acting like antennae. Might want to try the inexpensive route first however; commenters chirping about noise are sometimes folks that already have issues in their room.

Good luck.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Top

crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 07 2016 10:54 AM

Badger wrote:

Passive switches don't create noise though; they're just forwarding it on for your enjoyment. The noise is there to begin with, and quite often the culprit is the cabling or the way it's routed.

That's just what we needed to know, I'll forward your advice to him. Much appreciated

Top

Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2016 02:52 PM

crumble wrote:

That's just what we needed to know, I'll forward your advice to him. Much appreciated

Good luck. Doesn't mean there won't be noise; every time we think we have a solution (and introduce some more cables to fix it) it's like the dinner bell for gremlins. As the music side of the room upstairs grew I actually had to put some clamp-on ferrite chokes on a couple of things because I was getting pounded by a nearby short-wave station...
and it was bubble-gum music.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Top

tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2016 03:10 PM

Hope this works. Audiofiles please correct me. Can you run a mini pin cable out of the laptop terminating with stereo RCA plugs. Then run a stereo Y from each side resulting two left an two right outs these now connect to the amp and powered speakers. Lots of wire and connections but low cost if it workie.

—

Happy Sunsets!

Top

crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 07 2016 04:10 PM

My friend Roger thanks you all for your help.

We have finally found the special code word which is "Audio Switcher" !!

Wes, thanks for pointing out the SEC switch but unfortunately it is unavailable from these shores. He is going for this one eVilbay

Top

Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2016 04:32 PM

crumble wrote:

My friend Roger thanks you all for your help.

We have finally found the special code word which is "Audio Switcher" !!

Wes, thanks for pointing out the SEC switch but unfortunately it is unavailable from these shores. He is going for this one eVilbay

Yes, perfect (and because it's not an active box it doesn't care what's an innie or an outie). That plus the little adapter type cable I mentioned before & you're in business.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Top

crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Feb 01 2016 12:13 PM A friend asked me to help him find a switch over box for two separate audio systems. We have both been searching the net with near zero results. He needs to line-out audio from his laptop to either: His conventional stereo system (amp and speakers) Or to his active studio monitors (these have built-in amps) It's crazy that we both can't find a simple switch box for this! Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Feb 01 2016 12:44 PM I think what you are looking for is an ab audio switch. You need a cable with mini plug from laptop headphone out to RCA plugs which connect to the switch box. Then the switch box has two stereo RCA out . google search turns up several choices. — Happy Sunsets! Last edited: Feb 01, 2016 14:45:03 Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Feb 01 2016 02:43 PM Duplicate post — Happy Sunsets! Last edited: Feb 01, 2016 14:46:06 Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Feb 01 2016 03:07 PM Thanks for the tip. We hadn't thought of using "AB" in our searches and it has brought some other devices to the top. Most of what we have seen so far are for several devices input but only one stereo output. Others are for audio visual or amp to 2 pairs of speakers. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Feb 07 2016 07:32 AM Just examples; you might also find something simple if you search for stuff used by gamers. Regardless of how labeled, if the switching is done manually it's just establishing a connection. Even if there's a 3rd (usually yellow) video connection you don't have to use it. Right-angle adapter cable for your computer's audio out. (Right-angle to be gentle on the flimsy output jack internals on most computers.) Sample switch box. This one is pretty spendy but tiny footprint and does simply what you want. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Feb 07 2016 08:39 AM Hi Wes thanks for trying to help out. We are still looking. He is using a standalone Zoom R24 recorder + computer routed through a mixing console to conventional amp and speakers and a pair of active studio flat response speakers. Rather than continually swopping cables over to audio systems A and B it would be an advantage to use a switch box of some kind. (your sample switchbox link) Amazon is great for customer reviews and by the looks of things a simple passive switch can introduce unwanted noise. I've seen a few other switchers with ground buttons on each in/output so I'd guess these would be to eliminate hum. Here's a the last one he sent me, I had to laugh because it is total overkill !! JBL Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Feb 07 2016 09:42 AM crumble wrote: Here's a the last one he sent me, I had to laugh because it is total overkill !! JBL Agree; that's a bit much. That JBL box redefines spendy. Passive switches don't create noise though; they're just forwarding it on for your enjoyment. The noise is there to begin with, and quite often the culprit is the cabling or the way it's routed. It's carrying or receiving something already there. I have a tiny a/b switch here in the room (also a ham station) to select between a paddle & traditional straight Morse key before going to the radio. No issues, but the runs are decent wire and no further than needed, not laying about the room acting like antennae. Might want to try the inexpensive route first however; commenters chirping about noise are sometimes folks that already have issues in their room. Good luck. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Feb 07 2016 10:54 AM Badger wrote: Passive switches don't create noise though; they're just forwarding it on for your enjoyment. The noise is there to begin with, and quite often the culprit is the cabling or the way it's routed. That's just what we needed to know, I'll forward your advice to him. Much appreciated Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Feb 07 2016 02:52 PM crumble wrote: That's just what we needed to know, I'll forward your advice to him. Much appreciated Good luck. Doesn't mean there won't be noise; every time we think we have a solution (and introduce some more cables to fix it) it's like the dinner bell for gremlins. As the music side of the room upstairs grew I actually had to put some clamp-on ferrite chokes on a couple of things because I was getting pounded by a nearby short-wave station... and it was bubble-gum music. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Feb 07 2016 03:10 PM Hope this works. Audiofiles please correct me. Can you run a mini pin cable out of the laptop terminating with stereo RCA plugs. Then run a stereo Y from each side resulting two left an two right outs these now connect to the amp and powered speakers. Lots of wire and connections but low cost if it workie. — Happy Sunsets! Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Feb 07 2016 04:10 PM My friend Roger thanks you all for your help. We have finally found the special code word which is "Audio Switcher" !! Wes, thanks for pointing out the SEC switch but unfortunately it is unavailable from these shores. He is going for this one eVilbay Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Feb 07 2016 04:32 PM crumble wrote: My friend Roger thanks you all for your help. We have finally found the special code word which is "Audio Switcher" !! Wes, thanks for pointing out the SEC switch but unfortunately it is unavailable from these shores. He is going for this one eVilbay Yes, perfect (and because it's not an active box it doesn't care what's an innie or an outie). That plus the little adapter type cable I mentioned before & you're in business. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top

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Help! Stereo System Switch Over Box