Question About Hooking Up Speakers to All My Equipment

**Fendulon** · #1 23rd Feb 2009, 08:56

I have a set of Z-5300 logitech speakers, and the only way to connect them to anything is through the three 3.5mm headphone jack type connectors. I currently just use this to plug in to my sound card. Now my question is.... is it possible to somehow run these to a receiver allowing me to use these speakers for everything that is connected to the receiver? I am thinking I could connect the speakers to the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829271001 sound card and then using either the optical in or out (this is where I need help) connect to the receiver.

Basically, is it possible to connect speakers to a sound card, and then use that sound cards optical in or out (if so which) to run to a receiver and use the speakers through the receiver.

Thank you for any help you give. I just don't want to upgrade my speakers right now to something with optical or coaxial so I'm going the receiver rought because I need one no matter what.

**mctw** · #2 23rd Feb 2009, 12:30

so in a word, you want to be able to plug multiple things into your speakers at once, and switch between them without having to unplug and swap over the connections? or is the problem that you want to be able to run a optical input into the speakers?

**Fendulon** · #3 23rd Feb 2009, 13:01

Correct, I want to be able to plug multiple things in to my speakers without switching cables around. And my speakers only have the 3 3.5mm jacks to give me 5.1 surround sound. I don't know of a receiver that will take that as an input, so I was wondering If my soundcard/receiver method with optical will work, and if so how.

**mctw** · #4 23rd Feb 2009, 14:21

any soundcard with an available line in would work, and your computer might split the audio out into surround sound instead of stereo. however, you would only be able to have 1 line in, so it depends how much you want to connect up!! the sound card you put in ur above post would also be fine, but prehaps slightly overkill for what you want.

as for a unit that switches the signal from different devices, i found this after a quick look, i realise your in the US however, but this sort of thing will work fine. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33162 i realise that this unit is also a video/component splitter, but just the audio will work fine.

MCTW

**Fendulon** · #5 23rd Feb 2009, 14:23

Ok so.... If i wanted to go from an outside source (let's say the receiver) I would go in to the line in optical correct? and that would output to my speakers? So couldn't I hook up everything to my receiver and then that would output to my speakers through that sound card?

**mctw** · #6 23rd Feb 2009, 14:28

ive never used a optical line input if im honest. but id imagine it works in exactly the same way as the standard line in, so there will be a volume control with in your master volume settings on your computer. then yes, you can use the 'receiver' as a switch as such to change the input into your pc. then yes, providing that the computers volume and the line volume is turned up, itll play our of your speakers.

its strange tho, that a top end speaker system like that onli has 1 set of inputs.

**Fendulon** · #7 23rd Feb 2009, 14:31

I know. The on step up speakers Z-5500, have the seperate outputs and optical etc... but I didn't have those kind of funds at the time. So I figure I can basically as you said use a receiver as a switch. Just so we are 100% clear here

Speakers plug in to the 3 proper jacks on my sound card and then my receiver will go to line in optical or however I'd like to do it? Hmmm this seems strange but right and wrong at the same time haha.

**mctw** · #8 23rd Feb 2009, 14:36

sorry, i got on a bit of a ramble then.

yup as you just said. speakers connect by 3x 3.5mm jacks to PC soundcard. your receiver connects to your pc, either via optical in on a compatible sound card, or cable line in. optical is preferable thought, 'cos i believe it works in surround sound. your other sound kit plugs into your receiver.

and yes, it does sound a bit odd! if your draw it out (sounds stupid i know) it makes more sense ;)

MCTW

**Fendulon** · #9 23rd Feb 2009, 14:38

Wow, thank you a ton. You didn't ramble I was just making sure we were both on the same page that I was plugging the speakers in to the sound card not the receiver. When I think about it it does make sense, the line in would bring all the signals in and then out to my speaker outputs. Thanks a ton.

**mctw** · #10 23rd Feb 2009, 14:43

yup, the line in will bring in what ever signal that it is set to, letting you change between different bits i guess.

no problem ;-)

MCTW