Two sound cards - one speaker set???

[smartech]

Hi. I have a self built surroung system (analog inputs).
Sound cards are - AD2000B (onboard of P6T Deluxe) and Creative Live! 24-bit.
I added the Live! card for CMSS and EAX that i wand someimes. But the onboard sometimes in use too.

So can i plug they're outputs to the same speakers set by "uniting" the outputs of cards to common female connector and to the speakers.
This way I'll have them always connected to both, and no crawling behind the case anymore.

The question is - can it damage the sound cards\motherboard by that? Since I kinda short-circuit the outputs (channels from one card will be connected to the channels of other)? Or cause some interference??

 

[corkyg]

Unless you really want to hear both outputs blended together, just connect through a simple A-B switch.

 

[smartech]

well, I don't have such swich now. and i want the speakers to be connected with all front and rear channels (analog jacks), so i'll need a lot of switches for it, very messy.

I'm very pleased with the AD2000B sound quality, but it doesn't have any upmix feature for non-surround sources, neither there is any driver that will do so for it.

I don't think I'll need to hear both simultaneously. I' just don't want the mess of replugging the connectors every time i want to use another card.


I'm just worried if the card can be damaged (or cause sound interference) by having voltage (from an output of other card) developing in it's output jack, because of speaker's simultaneous connection?

 

[corkyg]

It should not hurt your sound card since the signals are both going away from the card. The sound will likely be distorted. onsider this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/35mm_51_Surround_Sound_Switch_Splitter_Box/

 

[lsv]

What about plugging the output of one card into the line in of another and mix it yourself via the last card's mixer.

No splitters needed.

Or... adunno disable onboard if you have some fancy Sound Blaster? heh

 

[gsaldivar]

plug the output of one card into the line in of another and mix it yourself via the last card's mixer.

This.