In my recent thread under the title 'A switch', I gathered lots of information about connecting one printer to 2 or 3 computers.

As yet, I have not fully performed connecting a single printer to 2 computers.

I have a similar question about connecting my stereo to 2 or 3 computers.

At the moment I run two computers with one monitor. The rotten Deltaco switch helps to switch the computers.
[Deltaco KVM3102]

I connect only a single computer to my stereo and it works.

For example, I can go to the youtube, video sharing website, and listen to a song by Celine Dion.

At the moment a cable from the stereo goes to a single computer.

Is it possible to buy a single cable which connects to my stereo and two computers?

As a matter of fact very soon it will be 3 computers.

What would be the solution for me?

Your thoughts are welcome.

I don't know about a cable. But probably the best solution would be to get a mixer.You would be able to listen to audio simultaneously from multiple sources and control the volume of it. It would also let you connect some input (mic/guitar, etc) easily.

sycamorex

What is the meaning of a mixer?

Is it a switch?

Please tell me more about it.

Here is a wikipedia entry for an audio mixer (mixing console). The ones on the photos are professional and expensive ones, but you can buy simple ones probably for around 50 euros.

That is the one I've got.

Thanks sycamorex.

So this is a piece of hardware.

I thought there should be a cable or a simple switch.

For example, I run 2 computers with one keyboard with a tiny switch.

There is a simple keyboard combination to change the computers.



Is a mixer is the sole solution?

I think a piece of hardware is cumbersome.

I think that there is no pre-built cable to do what you need.

You have two solutions:
1) Build the cable by yourself buying the jacks and the cable (for a stereo sound you need 3 cables: a + for each channel and a shared -). This is the cheapest solution, but you need to have a little practice on this kind of do-it-yourself works.
2) Go to a hi-fi shop and ask them to make the cable for you. This is the easiest solution.

I'm not sure, but for 2 computers can't you just use a jack splitter, like this:
http://www.google.com/products?q=aud...Products&hl=en

Did youŕe stereo has only one input ?
If yes and you are a handy man you can make a switch box youŕe self.
But remember it must be a make before break contact , if not
if you are switching from one computer to other you get nasty noise in youŕe stereo..
Such boxes are made before there must somewhere a drawing how to make it
Sometimes they call it a passive preamp and than you can also adjust the volumes of the different computer

I thank both lucazorizi and H_TexMex_H for the replies.

lucazorzi
I have a friend who is good at fixing cables,repairing electronis gadgetry, etc.
He worked with making card readers and similar stuff for a couple of years. He got soldering irons, meters,etc.

I could ask him.

What are those cables?

Are they screened cables?

Do you know more about them?
..............................................................................

H_TexMex_H
I will ask a Hi-Fi about those jack splitters.
If I am lucky, I will find a one for a low price.
I don't want to spend 100 dollars for these things.
A device or a cable which is under 25 dollars is worth.

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ronlau9

My stereo is very old. Do you know the old stereos with big amplifiers and big cassette players?

I connected it to the computer.
I don't use it for listening classical music or rather music.

I bought a separate modern,stereo unit to listen to music. I don't want to connect it to the computer.

It is not in the same room, after all.

Also note that I have bought an advanced splitter with 3 outlets and an amplifier ...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ci_sku=7336055
http://www.opentip.com/Electronics-C...-p-949635.html

that would be even more lucky for you to find. Just make sure that's what you need, cuz I can't really tell. A splitter basically just allows you to plug in more than one headphone into a headphone jack ... and this can also be used with computers I'm pretty sure.

Maybe you'd actually stop and think to do something properly for once, like using a decent sound server like PulseAudio? For such a keen guy you seem to only be aware of technology from 15 years ago...

acid_kewpie

It is always nice to hear from you. You have been here for many years.

If you use a simple splitter, you will have two OUTPUTs connected together. Electronics circuits do not always like that.

The use of a splitter for--eg--headphones is OK because you are sharing the output with two INPUTs. Even that could be a problem in some cases.

As already stated, some kind of simple mixer might be the best approach. (or a switch)

If you are connecting line level outputs from your computer, it shouldn't be a problem using a simple splitter. You will probably see a 6-8 db drop in volume however. The output line impedance is usually 1/2 the input impedance of input devices, so a 10K line output will be connected to another 10K input and a 20K input, for example. That has a combined impedance of 6.6k. Check the specs on your sound card to see if that would be a problem.
You could have a situation where the ground of one computer introduces a buzz, making this solution undesirable.