Audio system with iPod - how can I do it?

teknodude

Member
Apr 11, 2002
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Ok folks... just want to figure out how I can do this...

I'm getting an iPod (latest 3rd gen) with a dock and also Creative 6700 6.1 speakers. I will be hooking up my Creative speakers to my PC and obviously the iPod dock will also be connected to the PC.

Is there a way that I can wire stuff up so that when the iPod is docked it can play music through the speakers, but without the need for the PC to be switched on? Ideally I'm looking for a solution that will mean that also, even if the PC is switched on, I can play sound through the speakers from either the PC or the iPod without having to switch cables about.

This isn't too far fetched is it?!

TIA for your help,

teknodude
 

pyrojunkie

Senior member
Jul 30, 2003
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Actually it would be very difficult to do. No simple solution exists for your exact specification. Nothing is impossible though. I don't know much about the Ipod, but I think when its docked it doesn't stream music over to the sound card and then to the speakers. That being said, it seems a simple splitter on the speaker setup then connected to both the Ipod headphone jack and the audio output jack on the computer would do what you want.

I know the dock charges the Ipod, but without the PC having power, the Ipod would be running off of battery until the machine is turned on again.
 

teknodude

Member
Apr 11, 2002
186
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Thanks, that's given me some ideas.

Will a splitter like you suggest degrade the sound quality from the speakers much, if at all? Just wanting to figure out all my options.

Thanks for your help,

teknodude
 

pyrojunkie

Senior member
Jul 30, 2003
243
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As with any analog connection quality degrades a bit at every connection point. It shouldn't degrade to a point where you would notice though.

Nothing will keep sound from one source or the other to stop playing, so try not to play both at the same time. Doing so could be your worst problem, because it would output more power than it would usually. Since the Ipod isn't high power output though, the problem is minimal.