Splitting my speakers...

Money_Saver

I have wireless speakers which I want to hook up to my PC but at the same time want to use my desktop speakers. I know there is a splitter cable, does anybody know what's it called?
Thanks.
MS

aliEnRIK

So you want to run 2 pairs of speakers at the same time?
This isnt recommended as the load on the amp will be greatly heightened and liable to overheat/cause it to fail.

fwor

If both pairs of speakers are active (I.e. have their own power amps built in, and only require a line-level output) then it should do no harm to try connecting two in parallel across each output.

If you're lucky they will be roughly the same impedance and it will sound ok. If not, one pair will be louder than the other.

If you're using 3.5mm stereo jacks then this should do the job:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1221

If you are using a separate power amp then, as alienrik says, don't try to use a splitter as you'll probably damage the amp.

Conor_3

fwor wrote: »

If both pairs of speakers are active (I.e. have their own power amps built in, and only require a line-level output) then it should do no harm to try connecting two in parallel across each output.


If you are using a separate power amp then, as alienrik says, don't try to use a splitter as you'll probably damage the amp.

Seconded. Connecting two speakers to each output of an amp halves the impedance. Fine if you're using 8 Ohm speakers and the output can do 4-8Ohms but if it can't you end up with the amp going into thermal runaway and frying itself.

spud17

IIRC for future reference,the formula is e.g.8x8 divided by 8+8 = 4Ohms.

From my Hi-Fi days, transistor amps are damaged by too low impedance, valve amps by too high impedance.

fwor

spud17 wrote: »

From my Hi-Fi days, transistor amps are damaged by too low impedance, valve amps by too high impedance.

...and MOSFET amps are virtually bomb-proof, as they won't go into thermal runaway.

Joe_Bloggs

Do not connect the outputs of different audio amplifiers together! Perhaps we should ask how can the audio signal be distributed/routed given the audio task at hand.
More information is required as to the hardware that is being employed to do this.
J_B.

wiki A/V amp