Can Audio cable splitters lower the quality of the sound?

[BoomAM]

Hi,
I`m getting a bit fed up with chaging the speaker wire around the back of my PC everytime i want to use my headphones instead of my pc. I was going to get the Platinum upgrade pack for the Audgy, that adds the AudigyDrive, but while looking around a shop today, i noticed that you can buy splitters.

Will buying one lower the quality of the sound?

My sound periphals are;
Creative Labs SB Audigy 1 OEM
Creative Labs Inspire5300 5.1
Philips HC8650 Cordless Headphones.

Thanks in advance.

 

[thorin]

For a couple bucks it's worth a try. I doubt you'd be able to notice the loss in quality.

Thorin

 

[LED]

Quality No...Signal Yes...you'll loose about 1/3 volume when sharing.

 

[BoomAM]

Does it matter that wont be on at the same time?
If i lose 1/3 of the volume, i can just up the volume in windows. Its only set to 75% anyway. Plus i never have the speakers very loud any way. Rarely above 25%.

BTY, should the "hiss" out of my center speaker be louder than my other speakers?

 

[newuser]

Originally posted by: LED
Quality No...Signal Yes...you'll loose about 1/3 volume when sharing.

yup

I notice a quality and signal loss if I am splitting a signal that goes to a large (600W+) stereo reciever or similar. If you are just going to some 50W computer speakers or headphones, I doubt you will even notice a difference.

 

[0roo0roo]

tb santa cruz has a versa jack that can be set as a headphone jack. creative really missed the boat on this one.

i once tried a splitter, it seemed to halve the signal loudness.

 

[LED]

If they aren't on @ the same time there will prolly be no effect. If you are sharing then possibly (although not in all cases) as electronics are designed differently so there's a 50/50 chance...so chancem as thorin stated. Hiss in the Center Channel is prolly coming from the treble so turn it down ... Dunno your set-up.

 

[BoomAM]

Will a better quality splitter make more difference than a cheap one?

The treble didnt do anything. Becides, i always have it set to 50%, the default. Any other ideas on the hiss?
**edit** ive done a bit of testing, and when the center/sub channel isnt plugged into my sound card, then the hiss goes down. But when it is plugged in, it goes up. Can this be caused by a bad sound card? or can it be the new drivers. Ive heard that alot of people have had to adjust their base with the new drivers, as it makes the sound tinny, can this be related?

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: LED
Quality No...Signal Yes...you'll loose about 1/3 volume when sharing.

for me it's 50%. I maxed out my windows volume, speaker volume, and player volume and I'm not getting anywhere near the volumes I used to get.

Get a sound card that can split it for you without the volume loss.

 

[0roo0roo]

hiss ussualyl comes from not muting the line in.

think theres a hotdeal on the santacruz in hotdeals right now. i like it cuzi don't have to unplug and replug headphones constantly.

 

[BoomAM]

Not interested in the Santa Cruz. Plus, it aint a true 5.1 sound card. It cant even do true 4/4.1, which is no good for me.
Can it be the new audigy drivers?