My Headphone/5.1 SwitchBox

uberbanzai · 26th December 2003, 7:02 PM

I just bought a pair of the new Zalman 6 channel headphones. I've been listening to them for a while now, and sometimes I just wish I didn't have to get down onto my hands and knees and get down behind my desk, which hasn't seen the dust pan and shovel since .. well, I can't remember. So what I have started getting thinking on is a switch box.

That's for one 3.5mm female in and 2 3.5mm female out's.

So what I'll need is 3 of them, on a "3 input - 6 output" switch. Which I'm having touble finding.

What do you all think of it ?

I'll be starting on it sometime this weekend hopefully. I'll try and get some pictures up, but they will be with my dodgy webcam.

Ryan.

uberbanzai · 26th December 2003, 7:06 PM

L - Left
G - Ground
R - Right

I hope all that makes sense.

But what I was thinking was that the L/R would be shared, but the G would be attached to the switch.

I just don't know if this will work ? Or am I only theoretically right ?

Ryan.

dakiller · 26th December 2003, 8:22 PM

what you have drawn looks right, switching the grounds will be the easiest way

to switch all 3 what you want is a 3pdt switch, thats '3 poles double throw' somthink like this

im not 100% sure but for the 6 seperate channels, that all their grounds could be shared so that you only need a spdt switch which are much more common and more choices out there
like how left and right share the same ground, that they all could share the same ground

just wait for someone to verify on that, but the 3 pole switch will work

neill · 3rd January 2004, 2:01 AM

While in theory I see not reason for this not to work as planed, I just built that circuit and it failed dismally. The L and R without ground still played just at about 1/2 the volume of when the ground line was connected. This may just be due to my amazingly cheap/bad sound card though.

uberbanzai · 3rd January 2004, 2:05 AM

I've ditched the idea of making a box. I'm going to install in into the case. input/output5.1 on back and outputheaphones on front for easy access. As well as the switch.

I'm doing a massive mod soon on the case. So I'll post some pics up of it when it's done.

Ryan

MWP · 3rd January 2004, 1:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by neill
While in theory I see not reason for this not to work as planed, I just built that circuit and it failed dismally. The L and R without ground still played just at about 1/2 the volume of when the ground line was connected. This may just be due to my amazingly cheap/bad sound card though.

Nope... thats what it should do when wired that way.
Just switching ground wont work.

Best was is to use a DPDT (3PDT isnt needed), switch the L&R wires, and connect the grounds.

uberbanzai · 3rd January 2004, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MWP
Nope... thats what it should do when wired that way.
Just switching ground wont work.

Best was is to use a DPDT (3PDT isnt needed), switch the L&R wires, and connect the grounds.

I don't get you. Want to doing a MSpaint pic and show me please ?

Ryan.

neill · 3rd January 2004, 4:42 PM

Thanks for clearing that up. I had already decided to try a DPDT switch next time I tried

I will let you now how it goes.

neill · 4th January 2004, 3:55 PM

uberbanzai what MWP is saying is the ground line to both the headphones and speakers should remain connected and you should just switch Left and Right using a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch. Have a look at the schematic symbol for this type of switch if you are unfamiliar with it and it should answer any question's you have about it. If you are still having trouble I can draw it up for you. But I will be on holiday's tomorrow (Monday) and for the next weak (in Jindabyen bike riding with my best mate! YEH!!).
If you need to ask me anything before I leave you can contact me via MSN IM (alphafaction@iprimus.com.au)

LethalCorpse · 5th January 2004, 5:39 PM

I see no reason why switching the ground wouldn't work, provided they already share grounds. Lots of speaker systems have dedicated grounds for each channel, and if you cross them the signals can interfere with each other. You'll need to work out the wiring in the cable before you start. If they do all share a ground cable, then a single SPDT switch will do it. If each L/R pair shares a ground, then your idea will work with the 3PDT switch. If they have individual grounds, you'll need two 3PDT switches, or a 6PDT switch. The only ones of these I've found in the country are from farnell - about $15ea

MWP · 5th January 2004, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LethalCorpse
I see no reason why switching the ground wouldn't work, provided they already share grounds. Lots of speaker systems have dedicated grounds for each channel, and if you cross them the signals can interfere with each other. You'll need to work out the wiring in the cable before you start. If they do all share a ground cable, then a single SPDT switch will do it. If each L/R pair shares a ground, then your idea will work with the 3PDT switch. If they have individual grounds, you'll need two 3PDT switches, or a 6PDT switch. The only ones of these I've found in the country are from farnell - about $15ea

Ugh... trust me, switching ground WONT work properly.
Itll cause problems.

And your idea of "shared" and "individual" grounds is rather odd also.

Do it the way everyone else does... connect grounds, switch L&R with a DPDT switch.
No need to overcomplicate things.

birdie · 9th January 2004, 1:04 PM

uberbanzai: i drew up a pic of the audio switch.

btw you are an atomician too aren't you?

uberbanzai · 9th January 2004, 2:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by birdie
uberbanzai: i drew up a pic of the audio switch.

btw you are an atomician too aren't you?

Thanks for that.

Yeah I was, but my account got hacked. So I haven't been fucking to get it changed. I might one of these days. But I find OCAU a more suiting home for me ...

Ryan

birdie · 9th January 2004, 3:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by uberbanzai
Thanks for that.

Yeah I was, but my account got hacked. So I haven't been fucking to get it changed. I might one of these days. But I find OCAU a more suiting home for me ...

Ryan

No Problem

I am an atomician (as you probably can tell from my avatar) but i have started using OCAU more simply because there seems to be a lot more users hence more people to answer your questions etc.
That is one problem i have found with the atomic forums is there that there are limited people with a good knowledge of computers, too many people how are just using it for the social side :S (ie DonnaGem and many others (the reason i said DonnaGem is she is a "hero" yet she very rarely posts outside the General Chat forum)

The Magazine is still great though

pitty OCAU doesn't have a mag :P

-Rift- · 9th January 2004, 4:39 PM

So true. The magazine is cool but OCAU is a better forum.

26th December 2003, 7:02 PM	#1
uberbanzai Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,447	My Headphone/5.1 SwitchBox I just bought a pair of the new Zalman 6 channel headphones. I've been listening to them for a while now, and sometimes I just wish I didn't have to get down onto my hands and knees and get down behind my desk, which hasn't seen the dust pan and shovel since .. well, I can't remember. So what I have started getting thinking on is a switch box. That's for one 3.5mm female in and 2 3.5mm female out's. So what I'll need is 3 of them, on a "3 input - 6 output" switch. Which I'm having touble finding. What do you all think of it ? I'll be starting on it sometime this weekend hopefully. I'll try and get some pictures up, but they will be with my dodgy webcam. Ryan.

26th December 2003, 8:22 PM	#3
dakiller (Oscillating & Impeding) Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SE Melb Posts: 6,210	what you have drawn looks right, switching the grounds will be the easiest way to switch all 3 what you want is a 3pdt switch, thats '3 poles double throw' somthink like this im not 100% sure but for the 6 seperate channels, that all their grounds could be shared so that you only need a spdt switch which are much more common and more choices out there like how left and right share the same ground, that they all could share the same ground just wait for someone to verify on that, but the 3 pole switch will work __________________ In memory of Cheers Z

5th January 2004, 5:39 PM	#10
LethalCorpse Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Harris Park, NSW Posts: 3,799	I see no reason why switching the ground wouldn't work, provided they already share grounds. Lots of speaker systems have dedicated grounds for each channel, and if you cross them the signals can interfere with each other. You'll need to work out the wiring in the cable before you start. If they do all share a ground cable, then a single SPDT switch will do it. If each L/R pair shares a ground, then your idea will work with the 3PDT switch. If they have individual grounds, you'll need two 3PDT switches, or a 6PDT switch. The only ones of these I've found in the country are from farnell - about $15ea __________________ Sig Of Shame removed.

9th January 2004, 1:04 PM	#12
birdie Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland Posts: 2,245	uberbanzai: i drew up a pic of the audio switch. btw you are an atomician too aren't you? __________________ My Laptop: 2012 Macbook Pro 15" i7 2.6, 8Gb RAM, 120Gb Vertex 2 SSD + 750GB HDD in OptiBay, and Dell U2711 27" LCD Camera Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mk II with Canon BG-E6, Canon 24-105mm F/4L IS, Canon 50mm F/1.8 II, Canon 85mm F/1.8 USM, Canon 100mm F/2.8L IS Macro USM, Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L, Canon 580EX II, Elinchrom BXRi 500/500 Kit

9th January 2004, 4:39 PM	#15
-Rift- Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: WA Posts: 4,338	So true. The magazine is cool but OCAU is a better forum. __________________ Kev \| OCAU Night Owl #123 \| OCAU MetaL Club Member #123 \| OCAU Guitar Players Club \|

26th December 2003, 7:06 PM	#2
uberbanzai Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,447	L - Left G - Ground R - Right I hope all that makes sense. But what I was thinking was that the L/R would be shared, but the G would be attached to the switch. I just don't know if this will work ? Or am I only theoretically right ? Ryan.

3rd January 2004, 2:01 AM	#4
neill Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: sydney Posts: 658	While in theory I see not reason for this not to work as planed, I just built that circuit and it failed dismally. The L and R without ground still played just at about 1/2 the volume of when the ground line was connected. This may just be due to my amazingly cheap/bad sound card though.

3rd January 2004, 2:05 AM	#5
uberbanzai Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,447	I've ditched the idea of making a box. I'm going to install in into the case. input/output5.1 on back and outputheaphones on front for easy access. As well as the switch. I'm doing a massive mod soon on the case. So I'll post some pics up of it when it's done. Ryan

3rd January 2004, 4:42 PM	#8
neill Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: sydney Posts: 658	Thanks for clearing that up. I had already decided to try a DPDT switch next time I tried I will let you now how it goes.

4th January 2004, 3:55 PM	#9
neill Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: sydney Posts: 658	uberbanzai what MWP is saying is the ground line to both the headphones and speakers should remain connected and you should just switch Left and Right using a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch. Have a look at the schematic symbol for this type of switch if you are unfamiliar with it and it should answer any question's you have about it. If you are still having trouble I can draw it up for you. But I will be on holiday's tomorrow (Monday) and for the next weak (in Jindabyen bike riding with my best mate! YEH!!). If you need to ask me anything before I leave you can contact me via MSN IM (alphafaction@iprimus.com.au)