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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: lbgspam on December 04, 2006, 12:42:39 AM

Title: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: lbgspam on December 04, 2006, 12:42:39 AM

I have a home theater system that has only 1 coax digital input.

Is it possible to put a splitter on the input to my home theater receiver so I can connect to it two separate digital inputs (one from my DVD player the other from my cable box) ?


Thanks

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: John Willett on December 04, 2006, 09:23:52 AM

I think you are asking to connect two digital outputs to one digital input?

If so, you need to get a digital switcher so you can select which one you want to send to the single input.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: TNJazz on December 04, 2006, 09:34:47 AM

A switch would definitely be the best option, but a coax splitter could actually work. 

Way back when we experimented with "matrixing" 2 DAT sources to a third DAT deck with a coax splitter.  Needless to say the results weren't exactly what we'd hoped for, but it IS possible.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: jlykos on December 04, 2006, 04:49:06 PM

I inquired about this with Paul at ProDigital.  He recommended to get a splitter cable made for this application.  He said that the inputs would be -3db under what you would use if you did not split the signal, but he also said that all you would need to do is raise the volume a bit.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: Chuck on December 05, 2006, 07:42:16 PM

Yeah, passively splitting the signal from one output to two recorders would deliver half the voltage to both. It may work, but it's not a good idea.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: lbgspam on December 06, 2006, 01:11:43 AM

Wow, thanks so much for the great responses guys!

Yes, I have two COAX digital output devices (my cable TV box and my DVD player) that I would love to be able to connect to the single COAX digital input on my home theater system.

Would a splitter work to change my single input on my home theater receiver to two? I realize not to have both feeding the receiver at the same time.  Where would I be able to buy this "Y adapter" ?

Thanks again! :d

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: Brian Skalinder on December 06, 2006, 09:46:06 AM

I once tried using a splitter to send two digital sources through a single digital input.  It did not work.  Not saying it won't in your case, just relating my experience.

I ended up reconfiguring my playback system, anyway, and one of the digital sources went away, so...problem solved in a different fashion.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: Digital Quality on December 06, 2006, 04:40:40 PM

You are looking for an A/B switch I believe. There are all kinds of flavors and special ones for digital etc but I'd try a cheapo from ratshack first.

Title: Re: S/pdif Input Splitter?
Post by: lbgspam on December 12, 2006, 01:10:27 AM

Quote from: Riff Raff on December 06, 2006, 04:40:40 PM

You are looking for an A/B switch I believe. There are all kinds of flavors and special ones for digital etc but I'd try a cheapo from ratshack first.

Thanks!