Surround sound, PC and PS3 connected at the same time

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Location
Salford
I have a Sony PS3, a PC with 5.1 surround sound and some "gaming speakers".

The speakers work equally well connected to either PS3 or PC. The connection between each and the speakers is via three colour coded 3.5mm jack plugs which I have to physically swap from one to the other as required.

How can I connect both machines to the speakers permanently so that sound comes from whichever one is switched on? If there was a switch to select between the two, that would be acceptable. Maplin sold me three simple jack splitters but they don't work... When connected via them the PS3 sound does not come through.

thanks
 

crazy580

Senior Member
Could you post up a picture of your setup, im finding this hard to visualise.
 
Speakers use 3 x 3.5mm plugs.
PC can take 3 x 3.5mm plugs.
PS3 can take 3 x 3.5mm plugs.

So 3 x 3.5mm plug splitters should work...if they are all lined up the same, with the speakers plugged into the output of each splitter and the devices plugged into the inputs.

If you try playing all the devices at once, the PS3 cannot be heard... so what if the pc is then disconnected from the splitters? Does the ps3 sound now come through?

ie. are the splitters passing on the ps3 signals to the speakers, or is the pc interfering somehow?

When using splitters, the volume does drop on each channel...
 
OP
OP
MossCommuter
Location
Salford
It's as 2loose says.

From PS3's HDMI is one of these:
31CvR3drnPL._SS400_.jpg

The the white and red plugs go into one of these:

7aff9330dca07a451b1f3010.L.jpg



and that connects via three jacks to the speakers

When using the PC, the three jacks from the speakers connect directly to the soundcard. Both PC and PS3 work fine but I have disconnect one to connect the other.

If I try to use three of these:

fp34m.jpg



to try to keep both systems plugged in together the PS3 sound does not come out.

EDIT:

PS I am not trying to have them both turned on at the same time - just trying to avoid the unplugging / plugging in palaver.
 
OP
OP
MossCommuter
Location
Salford
Where are the splitters connected to? The black box or the pc?

tried both

Do the 3.5mm jacks feed to the speaker kit? If so, is the black box acting as a type of 'crossover' unit (the green feeding the input to the sub and the other two managing L and R speakers)?

The RCA feed is the 'input' from the PS3 or from your pc. If so, then two of these would do it.. http://www.amazon.co...19480019&sr=8-4

the jacks go to the speakers, yes, they can plug directly into the PC but that black box thing is for the PS3 output.
 

2PedalsTez

Über Member
black box thing is for the PS3 output.

Right... This could be a little harder than I thought!

I think you need a switch box that accepts RCA input from your PS3 and either 3.5mm jack or RCA again from your pc (depending on the soundcard) feeding to a 3.5mm jack feed to your speakers!

Not easy to work out without seeing all inputs/outputs and what each cable does..
Sorry that doesn't really answer your question
 
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