Hooking two separate speaker sets to the same desktop with audio splitter?

[ascendant]

Just wondering if splitting the audio for a desktop to two separate speaker systems is ok to do? Basically, I bought a new 2.1 set for my comptuer, but I got a splitter cord so that I could hook up the new 2.1 speaker set I have as well as the old 2 set I had. It is basically a rigged 4.1 that sounds much better than just using the 2.1 by itself.

They each have their own power cords of course, but not sure if splitting the audio like that between two speaker sets is ok to do? It won't do any damage the speakers, right? Just want to make sure.

 

[ubern00b]

If they both work then I'd say you're good to go, the only thing is depending on the power output of both sets you might have one set louder than the other which might be annoying when playing some content, games, music etc as you'll be able to hear more from the front/rear (or however you have them set up) but you should be able balance them out if they have volume control on the speakers themselves or via the audio control panel with a little bit of tinkering. if both are externally powered then there's no chance of it doing them any physical damage having 2 seperate sets hooked up to your onboard audio/soundcard

 

[ascendant]

Thanks for the info. Both sets have their own volume controls, so while it can be a little tedious when adjusting the volume, I can do it.

 

[ubern00b]

Play around with them, use the external volume control of both speaker sets to find the best sounding where 1 set isn't cancelling out the other/too loud etc with both sets as high as they can go whilst sounding good then only use your software volume control (ie: Windows volume) to turn both sets up and down as and when needed hopefully they will remain in sync regardless of what volume you are playing them at.

 

[mindless1]

Without a buffer circuit in between the two splits, you could effectively double your input impedance which results in lower max volume, but if each has an effective output [till unacceptable distortion] limited by the supply voltage rather than source signal level or potentiometer volume knob, you may not lose enough volume to matter.