6.1 Receiver: Kenwood VR-707 $140 @ eCost.com (free shipping)

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: Wedge1
Hi guys, maybe you can help me out.

I have a 4.1 Creative Labs speaker system for my PC. I would like to be able to switch the speakers between two PCs (each using a SBLive card), but I am inexperienced in this area of hardware. Obviously, I'm not talking "audiophile" quality here, but these little cambridge speakers serve me well for gaming and mp3 listening.

I don't know if there is an audio switcher that can perform this (and switch the subwoofer too), or if perhaps a receiver is the thing I'm looking for. Any advice or quick lessons in audio hardware would be appreciated.

Edit: just need to mention that I am staying on topic because the receiver deal posted in this thread has me wondering if it's the thing I need.

Wedge1,

You need a stereo selector - not a receiver.
It's pretty easy DIY - would cost you around $5 for parts (two stereo in jacks, small blank PCB (optional), a DPDT toggle switch).
You said it yourself, it's no audiophile stuff.

 

[Wedge1]

Originally posted by: bigpow
Wedge1,

You need a stereo selector - not a receiver.
It's pretty easy DIY - would cost you around $5 for parts (two stereo in jacks, small blank PCB (optional), a DPDT toggle switch).
You said it yourself, it's no audiophile stuff.

Could you be a bit more descriptive please? As I mentioned, I really don't know a lot about audio hardware.

 

[Wedge1]

_____stereo cable 1_________ PC 1 SBLive card
[
[
Sub===| <----- y adapter
[
[____stereo cable 2_________ PC 2 SBLive card




I also need a cable connecting running from the green port on each soundcard to the sub. But this is where I'm confused. Would something like this be needed?

 

[clarkmo]

A couple of things. On component video switching, for your hd hookup you need 100 mhz bandwidth. While the official spec may be 35 mhz, 50 mhz is considered the minimum and 100 mhz is preferrable. It guarantees the bandwidth. Apparently the ratings, when offered by mfrs, may not be accurate. I had a JVC receiver rated at 35 mhz bandwidth and didn't notice any signal degradation but I didn't use the best components either so there may have been some signal loss. This is usually at the high end of the bandwidth. I read somewhere that the 35 mhz bandwidth on my receiver was actually 35/2 because there are 2 inputs. I don't buy that though. There is a cheap composite switch at ratshack that actually doubles as a hd component switch. You use the video with the "y" cable and either of the the other 2 for pb,pr. This same switch may work for the Cambridge/Soundblaster setup but it does use rca connections so you'd need some adapters, also available there.

 

[FunkierThanU]

I was researchin? this puppy (VR-7070) till you brought up the fact that it only has a 90 day warranty. That?s a major red flag.

You can get the parts and labor extended pretty inexpensively. I bought a refurb receiver and was leery of the 90 day parts & labor too. The extended warranty that came up as an option on the purchase page was expensive, but when I talked to one of the reps at eCost he mentioned a different plan that ended up costing a lot less. Probably YMMV, depending on the item and rep you talk to...