Simultaneous audio inputs with a Y-cable...

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rlakhani11

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Aug 8, 2013
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Hi,

So I want to take my sound card and PS3 (SCART=>RCA) audio inputs through a Y-cable and output them to a set of headphones. I'm aware of other audio input selector/mixer options but just wanna know the applicability and feasibility of this cable.

Queries:
1. Is this safe if I'm using one input at a time?

2. Will it damage my headphones or soundcard/PS3 audio-out in any way if I'm only turning both the PC and PS3 on together, let alone using them?

2. What if I actually start using them, say, playing on PS3 and listening to something on the PC at the same time?

Headphones: Sennheiser HD-439
Soundcard: Asus Xonar DX


Thanks very much for all your invaluable suggestions/advises.
 
Solution
Bejusek
No, you can't use a Y-splitter this way. It's meant to be used the other way around. The reason is quite simple. With two sources A and B outputting signal to the wire you will cause its interference. What is more, the two sources are electrically interconnected with this cable. This means that output from source A reaches B, and output from B reaches A. Both of them are outputs, not inputs, and it's difficult to say to what will happen with received power. Surely nothing good, some damage is to be expected.
On the headset end, things are not looking much better. With two sources playing simultaneously, interfered signal reaches headset. Apart from it being distorted beyond recognition, it can carry two much voltage, more than headset...
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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It`s fine I use one on my PC.

I connect it to my speakers and used the extra output of the Y splitter with headphones.

I just have to turn down the volume on my speaker unit since it has a built in amp.

By the sound of it your trying to do a pass through.

PS3 sound out into the sound card of the pc via the line in.
Then using the green playback or speaker/ headphone output of the sound card, then using a y-split so you can have sound to speakers and head phones.
That way you would hear the sounds from the PC and PS3.

You may get distortion of sound from the PS3 but it would simply be a case of lowering the Sound volumes of it on the PS3 settings.


 
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Bejusek

Bejusek

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No, you can't use a Y-splitter this way. It's meant to be used the other way around. The reason is quite simple. With two sources A and B outputting signal to the wire you will cause its interference. What is more, the two sources are electrically interconnected with this cable. This means that output from source A reaches B, and output from B reaches A. Both of them are outputs, not inputs, and it's difficult to say to what will happen with received power. Surely nothing good, some damage is to be expected.
On the headset end, things are not looking much better. With two sources playing simultaneously, interfered signal reaches headset. Apart from it being distorted beyond recognition, it can carry two much voltage, more than headset speakers are specified to accept, causing them to burn.

You need input switcher. Google for 3.5mm audio switch.
 
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Solution
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rlakhani11

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Aug 8, 2013
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First of all thanks man.

Secondly, no. I don't intend to simultaneously output the PS3/PC sound to speakers and headphones. What I need is simultaneous input from the PC and PS3 and output to a set of headphones.

But thanks once again for taking time to respond bro. :)

I know it's too silly to say but I've never seen an option to lower the volume on PS3 UI. Did you mean lowering the in-game audio?
 
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rlakhani11

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Thank you very much Bejusek. This was really a great explanation.

But plz tell me something. Did I damage any of these three (headphones/soundcard/PS3 audio-out) if I connected them with the said Y-cable (2 male inputs -to- 1 female output) for 10-20 seconds? Because I did yesterday :(. Should I be worried?
 
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Bejusek

Bejusek

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No, probably not.
If you didn't listen to two sources at once at max volume, headset should be ok.
As I wrote it is difficult to say what will happen with voltage received on soundcard outputs. I suspect soundcard OP-AMPs may get damaged first. Without knowing its electrical diagram, I really don't know. If it is still working, no harm was done.

Don't use this cable. 2in/1out switch is what you need and it costs 20 bucks max.
 
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rlakhani11

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My soundcard is always at ~80% volume. Not sure if there's a volume control in PS3 UI.

So if OP-AMPS are damaged, should the soundcard keep working fine after that? What will happen to it?

Thanks.

 
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Bejusek

Bejusek

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It would still work, but sound would be distorted with audible cracks and grates on some frequencies.
I believe that you didn't damage the card. 20 seconds without maximum volume are probably not enough to fry any components.
 
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rlakhani11

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Ok. So for now, before I get this audio switch, I've connected the PS3 to the soundcard's line-in, and outputting to the headphones. Working perfectly ;).

Thank you very much once again Bejusek.
 
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