Options for 2 computers to 1 setup playing simultaneously

[sirsad]

I'm looking for additional options for connecting 2 computers to the same 2.1 audio setup such that they both can play audio at the same time. This for both convenience and watching sports while gaming.

Additional info:

a) Options can include an upgrade from my Klipsch Promedia 2.1.

b) I don't have a budget limit but I want the cost to be worth it as I'm not much of a audiophile (although I probably don't know what I don't know).

c) I have space for more "stuff" but having 2 different speaker setups is a waste as 1 will be better than the other leading me to want to swap back and forth like I do now.

d) There cannot be any delay in the sound.

e) I'm in an apartment and normally sitting less than 5 feet from the speakers so I don't need something loud.

f) Computer 1 is for gaming (World of Warcraft, Starcraft) using onboard audio

g) Computer 2 is for Music, movies, TV, youtube, and anything else I do while gaming. Its the hand-me-down system and also uses onboard audio


Here's are my known options:

Option 1 Use a splitter to combine the analog sound. Haven't tried this but it would require an extender cable since the back of each computer isn't 2 inches apart.

Option 2 Analog output from 1 computer to the analog input of the second computer. Tried this and the quality is garbage. Distortion and a lot of the sound is cut out.

Option 3 Purchase a better sound card for computer #1 with better input recording options (prefer digital in if that exists).

Option 4 Purchase an audio receiver or something that will combine 2 TOSLINK outputs from the onboard sound to the single cable to the speakers. Does this exist? It would probably require buying new speakers, which I'm fine with.

Any other options?

 

[beyonddc]

The Bose® Companion® 2 Series II has dual inputs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836166006&name=Speakers

 

[sirsad]

The Bose® Companion® 2 Series II has dual inputs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836166006&name=Speakers

Thanks. Definitely an option but I think I have decided to do a major upgrade in my audio setup.

Based on reading here, it seems like buying a receiver with bookshelf speakers would give the best quality. Only problem is that I don't know anything about audio receivers and I still need this setup to support simultaneous audio from two sources.

 

[beyonddc]

Thanks. Definitely an option but I think I have decided to do a major upgrade in my audio setup.

Based on reading here, it seems like buying a receiver with bookshelf speakers would give the best quality. Only problem is that I don't know anything about audio receivers and I still need this setup to support simultaneous audio from two sources.

If you have space for a receiver and speakers then I guess that would be a solution as well.

Depending on how many speakers you want to have, you can get a 2 ch, 5.1 ch or 7.1 ch receiver. 2 ch means support up to 2 speakers, 5 ch means support up to 5 speakers. The .1 simply means sub woofer.

Good luck

 

[sirsad]

If you have space for a receiver and speakers then I guess that would be a solution as well.

Depending on how many speakers you want to have, you can get a 2 ch, 5.1 ch or 7.1 ch receiver. 2 ch means support up to 2 speakers, 5 ch means support up to 5 speakers. The .1 simply means sub woofer.

Good luck

I have space for a receiver and plan to have only a 2.1 setup.

 

[Deleted member 176933]

I've never had a receiver that would play two sources at once.

 

[jojo69]

mixer

 

[XenIneX]

mixer

This. You should be able to grab a 5 channel Behringer studio mixer off Amazon for under $50 (plus a few bucks for patch cables and adapters).

 

[beyonddc]

I think the op simply mean he wants to hook up 2 inputs into his audio device.

I don't think he cares whether it will play at once but simply allow him to conveniently switch audio source without switching audio cables.

If that was the case then a receiver could solve that problem for him.

 

[Rockferd]

I think the op simply mean he wants to hook up 2 inputs into his audio device.

I don't think he cares whether it will play at once but simply allow him to conveniently switch audio source without switching audio cables.

If that was the case then a receiver could solve that problem for him.

I'm looking for additional options for connecting 2 computers to the same 2.1 audio setup such that they both can play audio at the same time.

I'd go with a mixer as well.

 

[sirsad]

I've never had a receiver that would play two sources at once.

Doh, that sucks.

I think the op simply mean he wants to hook up 2 inputs into his audio device.

I don't think he cares whether it will play at once but simply allow him to conveniently switch audio source without switching audio cables.

If that was the case then a receiver could solve that problem for him.

The primary purpose is to play the two sources at the same time.

This. You should be able to grab a 5 channel Behringer studio mixer off Amazon for under $50 (plus a few bucks for patch cables and adapters).

This is 2 analog signals going to the mixer. So how much does the quality of mixer impact the quality of sound?


It seems like the only way I could switch to bookshelf speakers is to have 2 audio receivers to a mixer that combines the sound to a single set of speakers. Which seems like an excessive amount of stuff to buy.

With that said, my options seem to be

1) Buy a mixer and upgrade each of my computer's sound cards as needed.

2) Buy a sound card that has spdif in for the first computer, connect the second computer's on board optical out to the optical in of the new card and let windows do the mixing. As far as I can tell the Xonar PCIe cards don't have optical in but the Creative ones do. Specifically the soon-to-be-released Sound Blaaster Z series.

 

[XenIneX]

This is 2 analog signals going to the mixer. So how much does the quality of mixer impact the quality of sound?

Not overly much. Mostly, the cheapness comes out of the pots, which will start to go scratchy after a few tens of thousands of cycles, rather than the hundreds of thousands or more that better ones manage. Since you probably won't be changing levels frequently once you get things dialed in, it won't be an issue. Otherwise, it's a pretty transparent -- your speakers will definitely be the limiting factor in fidelity.

It seems like the only way I could switch to bookshelf speakers is to have 2 audio receivers to a mixer that combines the sound to a single set of speakers. Which seems like an excessive amount of stuff to buy.

No, no. Computers go into mixer inputs; mixer output goes in receiver; receiver goes to speakers.

You'll need:
the mixer,
two stereo 3.5mm patch cables (m/m),
three stereo 3.5mm (f) to dual mono 1/4" (m) Y-adapters, and
one stereo 3.5mm (m) to dual RCA (m) cable.

Select lengths as needed.

With that said, my options seem to be

1) Buy a mixer and upgrade each of my computer's sound cards as needed.

2) Buy a sound card that has spdif in for the first computer, connect the second computer's on board optical out to the optical in of the new card and let windows do the mixing. As far as I can tell the Xonar PCIe cards don't have optical in but the Creative ones do. Specifically the soon-to-be-released Sound Blaaster Z series.

I don't think option two will work very well for you. Windows 7's mixer tends not to be kind to eclectic audio topologies. This is doubly true if you use a microphone; you'll end up with trouble selecting audio sources, and it'll just end up being a pain in the ass. By comparison, the mixer will be set-and-forget.

I won't get into my opinion of Creative sound products...

 

[sirsad]

No, no. Computers go into mixer inputs; mixer output goes in receiver; receiver goes to speakers.

You'll need:
the mixer,
two stereo 3.5mm patch cables (m/m),
three stereo 3.5mm (f) to dual mono 1/4" (m) Y-adapters, and
one stereo 3.5mm (m) to dual RCA (m) cable.

Select lengths as needed.

The desire was to avoid buying a sound card and just pass the digital signal to the receiver.

I don't think option two will work very well for you. Windows 7's mixer tends not to be kind to eclectic audio topologies. This is doubly true if you use a microphone; you'll end up with trouble selecting audio sources, and it'll just end up being a pain in the ass. By comparison, the mixer will be set-and-forget.

I won't get into my opinion of Creative sound products...

Yeah, this is kinda why I wanted to avoid getting a sound card. Seems like they all either don't do what I want them to do or have driver issues.

 

[sirsad]

Just wanted to mention that I went with a Sound Blaster Z and I am using the onboard TOSLINK output from my second computer to the Sound Blaster Z's TOSLINK input. So far I haven't had any issues. There is a slight delay but the quality is great.