Looking for some good speakers

[I Mosh to Mates of State]

Hi, I've been a long time lurker and I've finally felt I should join because somethings been bugging me and I couldn't turn up a solution on my own. I may just be a bad searcher, but I'll describe what I need as best as possible.

I recently got the Dell 2005WFP and I love it, I use the composite input to hook up my PS2 to it and switch between sources for when I'm using my computer and the PS2. That works great. However, the awful, non name brand generic set of speakers I have no has no input to take the sound cables from the PS2 thus resulting in absolutely no sound-and the PS2 doesn't have a headphone jack or anything similiar. I can't play Guitar Hero with no sound!

So basically, I'm looking for a set of speakers that would allow me to have them plugged into my computer and have sound there, while also allowing me to hear sound from my PS2. Ideally, I wouldn't have to constantly be flip flopping cables but I can settle if thats what it takes. Now the real kicker is, I don't want to spend too much. I'd like to stay sub 100 dollars if possible, but I can kick it up to around 150 if I must. I am not an audiophile, but I do think sound in general is a necessity. Thanks in advance!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

If your soundcard has a line-in, you can get away with just an adapter.

Plug that into your line-in and you can mute / un-mute the input when you want to use the PS2.

You can then proceed to get whatever set of speakers you want (or continue to use your current ones)

 

[Zepper]

Yes, welcome to the AT forums.

added at Noon EST on Sat. - a Radio Shack two in/one out A/V switch box is on eBay and ends in a bit over 1 hr. The bid is still fairly low - but the switcher at Computergate will still be cheaper. The RS looks nicer though...

Or if you want to be able to use the PS/2 without turning your PC on, you could use an audio switch box. Most of those use the RCA type plugs for input and output so you would need a 1/8" (aka 3.5mm) stereo male to L/R RCA male cable or adapter to run from the PC's Line Out to one of the Inputs on the switch box. You would connect your PS/2 to another Input (I assume the PS/2 comes with RCA cables for the sound output, if not then another appropriate adapter would be needed) and your powered speakers to the Output of the switch box. If your speakers use a normal 1/8" mini plug to connect to your PC, then you will also need a 1/8" female to L/R stereo RCA male plugs so you can plug those into the switch box. Then you just switch to the source you want to hear. Some switch boxes may offer both RCA and 1/9" jacks for input and output now that lots of devices use them.
. Unless the switch box is a very nice one that has taken care of switching noise, you will need to remember to turn down the volume on your speakers when switching to avoid pulses that might blow out a speaker.

I don't know of any powered speakers that have internal switching for several audio sources. So you have a choice of unplugging from one and plugging in the other or using the audio switch box mentioned above. Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. carry audio switch boxes, but often at excessive prices as the big box stores make a big part of their bottom line from overpriced accy. sales. You should be able to save considerably buying such from places like www.Computergate.com or possibly J & R Music and Computer World (www.jr.com)

Something like this is about as inexpensive as you'll find: http://www.computergate.com/products/item.cfm?prodcd=WSBAS104

they also have a 4 IN to 2 Out A/V switch box for just a bit more that is all RCA jacks. Not pretty but gets 'er done... And they have all the audio cables/adapters you might need at far less than local prices.

.bh.