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How to use one set of speakers for multiple PCs?

tempest

tempest

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SE Michigan
I have multiple DOS and Windows boxes (486, Pentium, Pentium III, etc.) for gaming, but they all require a set of speakers for their sound cards. Is there a way (like a splitter cable) to use one set of speakers with all these PCs? I also have a Roland MT-32 that I need to hook up to the speakers as well so without some kind of 'speaker switch' this is going to get out of hand pretty fast.
 
FWIW, another set of speakers (or 2) is most likely going to be easier than anything you can rig up. :)

Haven't you got $25?

Alternatively, I'm sure you could wire a three way switch to feed the sound around.
 
tempest said:
Oh I have plenty of speakers, it's more of a matter of room.

Would this work as well? http://www.ebay.com/itm/291757753493
Click to expand...

That's a mono, microphone/line level mixer. The two I linked to are stereo, and the correct input level (impedance). Personally, I'd go with the second, active mixer I linked, as you can use regular 1/8" male to male stereo cables with it. BTW, the active mixer I linked includes the power supply, you don't have to buy one. You probably will need to buy some 1/8" male to male cables, unless you have some already....
 
tempest said:
Here's an older model on ebay, maybe I can get it cheap? http://www.ebay.com/itm/272237285044
Click to expand...

That should be good. It's a passive version of the second mixer I linked. They're available for $52 new from Amazon, prime eligible: http://www.amazon.com/rolls-MX41B-Stereo-Channel-Mixer/dp/B0002D03AW so don't pay too much for a used one on eBay. You can get the male to male cables for $2.40 with free shipping as an add-on item: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-MU10MMS-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio/dp/B004G3ZTU8

An active mixer will isolate the inputs from each other, a passive mixer electrically connects them together. Shouldn't be a problem with all four computers connected to the same power source.
 
If you're really on the cheap, get a bunch of 470 uF electrolytics and tie one end of each to the "hot" lead of each speaker output (most speaker setups for PCs have a common ground) and the other ends together to the common speaker lead. It's a pretty crude mixer, but then most vintage PCs have pretty awful audio quality anyway. The value of the caps isn't critical--anything from about 100-2200 uF should work.
 
Use line outs or some resistors to convert to line, then feed a standard HiFi amp and use the input selector.
 
Don't buy this. I have it and it's unusable because of noise on the line.
 
mityay said:
Don't buy this. I have it and it's unusable because of noise on the line.
Click to expand...

It must be a really poor switch then, as its purely passive it should not add any noise at all. I actually use a "Vintage" Tandy switch with phono sockets. You could also use any of the AV (Audio/Video) switches on Ebay such as this:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Port-In-1...-Switch-Switcher-Splitter-TV-DVD/200978396547

but then you would need leads with 3.5mm stereo jack on one end and phono plugs on the other.
 
Its possibly also worth checking out thrift shops if you have one nearby that sells electrical goods. In the UK many of them seem to have surplus mixers at reasonable prices. No idea why or how, perhaps folks form bands and then don't use them...
 
mityay said:
Don't buy this. I have it and it's unusable because of noise on the line.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning.

g4ugm said:
It must be a really poor switch then, as its purely passive it should not add any noise at all. I actually use a "Vintage" Tandy switch with phono sockets. You could also use any of the AV (Audio/Video) switches on Ebay such as this:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Port-In-1...-Switch-Switcher-Splitter-TV-DVD/200978396547

but then you would need leads with 3.5mm stereo jack on one end and phono plugs on the other.
Click to expand...

I do have a few of those video switches, but as you said I'd have to get a bunch of adapters to use it. I'm also not sure how good the quality would be.
 
also switches bleed, so if you have a bunch of motors going oh like a desk full of PC's with fans and drives they are more susceptible to picking up noise just from the construction of the switch being a bunch of floating connectors more or less exposed to the whole world

its not totally unacceptable, it may be perfectly fine if your not using a borg cube hooked up to a stadium amp, but dont be suprised if you hear some humming in the background
 
In the past, I'd have just picked up a project box from $parts_store, a two-deck rotary switch, and some 1/8" stereo jacks. Just make sure to get a break-before-make switch. Using a metal box and connecting the jacks' shield to it would cut down on interference. A pair of high-value (like, 1 megohm) resistors from the output jacks to ground will prevent hum when you switch between inputs.

Fairly certain I did exactly that when I built my first tube amp.
 
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