Connecting outputs of 2 sounds cards to one set of 5.1 Speakers

ddog · Nov 29, 2016

Long story short, I am trying to connect the outputs of two sound cards to one set of Logitech 5.1 (X530) speaker set and I would also like for them to be able to play at the same time.

I will be using the onboard audio and an add on sound card on the same PC.The logitech cable connections are 3 (3.5mm) radio jack style connections. Is there an audio switcher or some other audio solution that can perform this task?

Corwin65 · Nov 29, 2016

You will probably have trouble using more than one sound card at a time.

If you care to share what you wish to do, I might be able to help.

greens · Nov 29, 2016

ddog :

It is possible and not possible.
Playing both audio tracks at the same time would cause major phasing issues i'd imagine. If someone plays a + and another plays - you end up with 0 (no sound) Kind of like how noise canceling headphones work, only by accident. In fact i'm not 100% sure it would work at all, in most situations with multiple audio sources, the first source wins and that is the sound that gets played.

But yeah, here is how i would do it!

3.5mm jack from source 1 to RCA red and black.
3.5mm jack from source 2 to RCA red and black.
Take one RCA Y splitter and combine the red with the other red.
Take another RCA Y splitter and combine the black with the other black.

Now you have a mixed signal for your right and a mixed signal for your left.
You could use an RCA to 3.5mm to get it back to a plug, or you can use the RCA plugs on an some kind of amp device.

greens · Nov 29, 2016

There is absolutely no problem with using multiple sound cards and is the only way to have a PC output seperate audio to seperate devices. It is extremely common in housholds where the wife watches a TV connected to a PC that the husband games on. The question isn't regarding multiple sound cards, but rather using a single driver to ouput the signal.

ddog · Nov 29, 2016

Corwin65 :

I actually have a Virtual Machine setup that I plan on using the cards for. The host or physical machine (fedora) will be running the add on sound card while I will have a windows VM running on the onboard sound. So essentially each OS will have it's own sound card. Both OS will be running at the same time so that is why I would like to be able to have both sources work at the same time if that is even possible.

greens · Nov 29, 2016

ddog :

I think you need a mixer to actually achieve what you're looking for. If you don't use a mixer you're going to get a mess of voltage to the speakers.

A simple mixer should run around 50 bucks, they are very common and can be found online.

You don't need studio quality where you're mixing a guitar in with drums for example, just a simple little mixer.

ddog · Nov 29, 2016

greens :

ddog :

It is possible and not possible.
Playing both audio tracks at the same time would cause major phasing issues i'd imagine. If someone plays a + and another plays - you end up with 0 (no sound) Kind of like how noise canceling headphones work, only by accident. In fact i'm not 100% sure it would work at all, in most situations with multiple audio sources, the first source wins and that is the sound that gets played.

But yeah, here is how i would do it!

3.5mm jack from source 1 to RCA red and black.
3.5mm jack from source 2 to RCA red and black.
Take one RCA Y splitter and combine the red with the other red.
Take another RCA Y splitter and combine the black with the other black.

Now you have a mixed signal for your right and a mixed signal for your left.
You could use an RCA to 3.5mm to get it back to a plug, or you can use the RCA plugs on an some kind of amp device.

Would this be able to give a 5.1 output with the center and sub?

greens · Nov 29, 2016

ddog :

greens :

Would this be able to give a 5.1 output with the center and sub?

I honestly don't think this would work period, it would create interference. But yeah a mixer would do it, you'd need a couple channels, the sub and center are mono... it is going to take some creative solution for sure, but possible.

ddog · Nov 29, 2016

greens :

I have been looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/Rolls-MX42-Stereo-Mini-Mixer/dp/B00102ZN40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480450533&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+stereo+mixer

Connection wise, I have an adapter that came with the logitech. It converts the front, rear and center 3.5mm connections to a pair of RCA connections like this : https://www.amazon.com/Rolls-MX42-Stereo-Mini-Mixer/dp/B00102ZN40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480450533&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+stereo+mixer

I connect this to the output of the mixer and then using a 3.5mm to RCA cable (https://www.amazon.com/Generic-Audio-Video-Cable-Extension/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1480449996&sr=8-6&keywords=3.5mm+to+RCA) from the line out of each sound card to the inputs of the mixer, I should be able to get this to work? Lol, now seeing the bigger picture with the cable connections.

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