Hey guys. I've got an idea for a testing bay at work which can be dedicated to testing hifi gear (amps, CD players etc) but I can't quite get my head around how to wire it up. Basically, the setup would be; CD PLAYER--------PHONO SOCKETS (w/switch)--------AMP (essentially, the cable running from the CD player to the Amp has a pair of phono sockets spliced into the cable, with some sort of switch). Using this setup would allow one of three things; 1. Audio from the CD player reaches the Amp (bypasses the Phono sockets). 2. The Phono sockets can be used as an OUTPUT (audio from the CD Player) 3. Phono sockets can be used as an INPUT (external CD Player/iPod etc, into the AMP) Question is, how would I set this up? I'm assuming it can't just be as simple as splicing some diodes in between the CD player and Phono sockets? I'm guessing I'll need a switch, but which type and how would I wire it up? Any help greatly appreciated as my little mind can't fathom this one!
What you need is a magic black box! A pair of Front Phono Sockets and two (non momentary) switches on the front. Two pairs of phono sockets on the back. One taking the signal from the CD player, one outputting to the amp. Then magic happens inside the black box... Simplest option is to have the first switch(S1) to control whether the front is in input mode, or output mode - input mode the FPS is connected to the amp, output mode it's not. The second(S2) to switch in or out the CD player, if you wire this in on the FPS side of S1 then the CD player will always output to the FPS and only to the amp when S1 is closed. If S2 is on the amp side of S1 then the CD player will always output to the amp and only to the FPS when S1 is closed. S2 to left of S1 S1 open S2 open = nothing S1 closed S2 open = FPS to amp S1 closed S2 closed = FPS & CD to amp / CD to FPS & amp S1 open S2 closed = CD to FPS S2 to right S1 S1 open S2 open = nothing S1 closed S2 open = FPS to amp S1 closed S2 closed = FPS & CD to amp / CD to FPS & amp S1 open S2 closed = CD to amp Problems: It's very basic, you can have both the FPS and the CD giving a signal to the amp and you can have the CD giving a signal to both the FPS and the amp which isn't ideal. More complex options? Not my thing I'm afraid... I'll maybe have a think, or someone can chime in with something else.
Less than £4 to buy one pre-made (just ignore the yellow plugs) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Port-AV...witch-Hub-Cable-TV-Xbox-360-PS3-/230910144568 Plug the CD player into the output, amp into input-1 and a cable into input-2 for cd player output. Simples.
I see... I was hoping to fit the sockets into a standard 'light switch' sized blanking plate and by the sounds of it this probably won't work. Thanks for the help though. Think I might just have x2 sets of phono plugs instead; one of which spliced into the cable running from the CD player (acting as an audio out) and the other set running straight into another input on the amp. Again, thanks for the suggestion.
