this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2023
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BudgetAudiophile

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Do 5.1 audio switch exist ? (self.budgetaudiophile)
submitted 1 year ago by Kilamaos to c/budgetaudiophile
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Ive been searching for one, but someone, I am entirely unable to find one. I dont understrand WHY its so difficult, i feel like its super straightforward ?

I have a set of 5.1 speakers. logitech z506. It has an in for 3.5 audio, the green / orange / black trio.

My computer and and TV are near each other, so i want to be able to use the speakers for either of them. Not at the same time, but be able to switch from TV input to PC input, without having to plug/unplug cables.

My computer does have the 3 3.5mm cable output, as well as a optical audio output. I believe my TV only has RCA out for stereo, but it does also have an optical audio output port.

So, Im looking for something that has 2 input, either 2 optical or 1 optical + 3x3.5mm(green/orange/black) to 1 output, the green/orange/black 3.5mm

But i absolutely cannot find anything. Closest ive seen are AV reveiver, which is just massively overkill and too expensive to just use it as an audio switch

Anyone know how i can find those ? It cant possibly not exist right?

If you have any solution or products i could buy that be great. ( Especially if its available in Canada )

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[–] weedazz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Doesn't z506 also have red and white rca connectors? I've had my tv connected to those and the PC connected to the 3.5 jacks for years. Both audio streams play on top of each other but I just mute or stop the PC sounds using an IR remote

[–] Kilamaos 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, it does, but I assumed that the red/white rca would only give stereo sound, which would be a shame since I'd like to use it as a the 5.1 it is

[–] weedazz 1 points 1 year ago

Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised! It's not true surround but the z506 will do some sort of "virtual surround" using the red and white cable and splits the stereo into surround channels. ,

[–] parse_error 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The challenge you have is that a device that meets your spec is going to have to decode the optical surround sound signal from the TV which means it is going to need a chip and support for the codecs such as Dolby Digital and DTS. That is going to drive up the price and why what you're seeing are AV receivers. Unfortunately you don't need a switch, you need a surround sound DAC and those are not very common.

[–] Kilamaos 2 points 1 year ago

Aaaah I think you might have solved it. A DAC does seem to be what I need. Dunno why it was so hard to fi d the right term

I've found this one :

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B071HPGZJJ

Which seems to have 2 optical in, and an out that doesn't split the 6 channels but rather combines them into 3 pairs, like I need as an input for my system.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If you dont mind only getting stereo et not 5.1 you could get an analog switch like that:

https://www.amazon.ca/PROZOR-Stereo-Splitter-External-Required/dp/B08HV6YRXR/ref=asc_df_B08HV6YRXR/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=579175157882&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4609866906654902174&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000384&hvtargid=pla-1128826126477&psc=1

[–] Infinitenonblondes 1 points 1 year ago

I don’t think you’re going to find this. You’ve got a surround sound speaker set up for a computer not for home theater, you might be able to find an audio capture device with an optical in you could use to plug your tv audio into the pc and output through the speakers. More than likely you’ll be limited to the rca stereo outs to the pc.