Two sources into speakers - volume cuts out???

[liquid2g]

Hi,
I have a question that I really need help with.

I am running two sources into a set of amplified speakers.
Each source has a 3.5mm stereo output (one is my soundcard and the other is the aux out on my home stereo).

The amplified speakers have only one 3.5mm stereo input, so I am using a 3.5mm headphone splitter to run the two sources into the speakers.

I like to listen to both sources simultaneously, but the problem is when the pc is turned on, the sound from the other source (my stereo) reduces to about 1/3.

Is there any way I can stop this reduction in sound when the pc is turned on?
I do not really want to purchase a mixer just so I can run the 2 sources.

thanks - Luke
www.lazyafternoon.com.au

[KX]

Buy a mixer, that's exactly the purpose of mixer.
You can pick a small mixer for under 100$.

[Sonic Valley]

If you need to mix two or more sources...than you need a mixer. Simply splitting the signal won't cut it hence the loss in signal. Like KX said you can pick up a small one for 100 bux or less.

[liquid2g]

thanks, but it turns out there is another way, as pointed out be DAS on the Sweetwater.com forums.

"You need to get the two very low output impedances (stereo and sound card) isolated from one another. This can be accomplished by putting some 5k or 10k resistors in line - between the output of each device and that splitter."

For anyone interested more info here (thanks to John): http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/linesum.html

thanks guys

[wogg]

That will esentially be a voltage divider as far as your sources are concerned. The output voltage will still be cut nearly in half, causing a -6dB reduction.

That will still be better that what you were doing though.