Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: splitting line out connections
References:  <[email protected]>
[email protected] (CLSNOWYOWL) writes:

> If he uses a Y-adapter for splitting two stereo channels, then he is likely to
> have a problem with the cables or the way the signal is processed because of
> the stereo seperation. Remember that stereo has a 3 dimensional effect by
> having one signal blend over into the other dpending on the mix (usually,
> prerecorded signals can be sent from right to left and left to right, by the
> way it is reproduced, recorded, etc...). Therefore, stereo is a bit more
> difficult to split without having some sort of signal loss that is very
> noticable, when using a Y-adapter method. 

You are right that stereo is more prone to the signal losses then
mono signal. If the attenuation is different on those channels,
then stereo image will be distorted. If if the attenuation is exactly
the same, then it does noe matter how much is this. In Y splitting
case when you split the signal to two inputs, you get some attenuation
because of this, but the attenuation will be the same for the
both audio channels -> does not matter. If you split both stereo
channels, connect them to the same equipments using similar cables,
this arrangement does nothing to change the balance of the stereo
signal. 

You you just split one of the channels and do not another,
you get different attenuation, which meas you are asking for problems
in your stereo sound image.

> It works great for mono though. 

It work great for mono, that's right. And it works great for stereo
if done like I described above.

> He may experience a significant amount of signal loss running the same 
> output to two inputs at the same time this way.

I have done this numerous times without any significant signal loss.
I have splitted both left and right channels and no problems. My
current home audio system at the moment have few such splits in use.


>     I have tried using a Y-adapter myself, running one channel at a time and
> running the output channel to two inputs (one for left and one for right). It
> seems as though the y adapter gives a full signal strength from one side and
> much less from the other because of splitting the signal at either the fixed
> stereo output to two ste4reo inputs or from a variable stereo output to two

This arrangement really shows the difference and is arrangement which should
not be used. You have proven that splitting one channel only is not a good
idea. I have tested this one side splitted case also myself and I have
noticed the problems.

The fact is that when bot channels are splitted and fed to same
equipments, they are attenuated exactly the same amounts.
So this does not affect the left-right signal strength balance
at all.

> In that sense, mono and stereo are really two different animals.

They have their similaritied and differences. 

> He will not get a stereo reproduction from two mono channels split from one
> mono channel. 

Not. But was that what he was asking ? It did not look like that
in original posting.

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/

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From: David Shorter 
Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: splitting line out connections
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 17:49:14 +1300
Organization: DazzReal Sound Labs
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Message-ID: <[email protected]>
References:  <[email protected]>
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CLSNOWYOWL wrote:

> If he uses a Y-adapter for splitting two stereo channels, then he is likely to
> have a problem with the cables or the way the signal is processed because of
> the stereo seperation. Remember that stereo has a 3 dimensional effect by
> having one signal blend over into the other dpending on the mix (usually,
> prerecorded signals can be sent from right to left and left to right, by the
> way it is reproduced, recorded, etc...). Therefore, stereo is a bit more
> difficult to split without having some sort of signal loss that is very
> noticable, when using a Y-adapter method. It works great for mono though. He
> may experience a significant amount of signal loss running the same output to
> two inputs at the same time this way.

 < snipped lots more gibberish>



                                  +----------+
                                  |          |
                        .-------->|LEFT IN   |
                       /          |          |
                      /           |          |
                     /            | DEVICE 1 |
---------+          /             |          |
         |         /              |          |
         |        /    .--------->|RIGHT IN  |
 LEFT OUT|<------<    /           |          |
         |        \  /            +----------+
         |         \/
         |         /\
         |        /  \            +----------+
RIGHT OUT|<------<    \           |          |
         |        \    `--------->|LEFT IN   |
         |         \              |          |
---------+          \             |          |
                     \            | DEVICE 2 |
                      \           |          |
                       \          |          |
                        `-------->|RIGHT IN  |
                                  |          |
                                  +----------+


What's so difficult with the above?
Left stays left and right stays right!

View with a fixed width font.

--

Regards,
David Shorter

DazzReal Sound Labs
Auckland, New Zealand

Any errors in tact, fact or spelling
are entirely due to transmission error.



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From: Tomi Holger Engdahl 
Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: splitting line out connections
Date: 09 Oct 2000 13:31:09 +0300
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Lines: 69
Message-ID: 
References:  <[email protected]>
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Xref: nntp.hut.fi rec.audio.tech:136269

[email protected] (CLSNOWYOWL) writes:

> If he uses a Y-adapter for splitting two stereo channels, then he is likely to
> have a problem with the cables or the way the signal is processed because of
> the stereo seperation. Remember that stereo has a 3 dimensional effect by
> having one signal blend over into the other dpending on the mix (usually,
> prerecorded signals can be sent from right to left and left to right, by the
> way it is reproduced, recorded, etc...). Therefore, stereo is a bit more
> difficult to split without having some sort of signal loss that is very
> noticable, when using a Y-adapter method. 

You are right that stereo is more prone to the signal losses then
mono signal. If the attenuation is different on those channels,
then stereo image will be distorted. If if the attenuation is exactly
the same, then it does noe matter how much is this. In Y splitting
case when you split the signal to two inputs, you get some attenuation
because of this, but the attenuation will be the same for the
both audio channels -> does not matter. If you split both stereo
channels, connect them to the same equipments using similar cables,
this arrangement does nothing to change the balance of the stereo
signal. 

You you just split one of the channels and do not another,
you get different attenuation, which meas you are asking for problems
in your stereo sound image.

> It works great for mono though. 

It work great for mono, that's right. And it works great for stereo
if done like I described above.

> He may experience a significant amount of signal loss running the same 
> output to two inputs at the same time this way.

I have done this numerous times without any significant signal loss.
I have splitted both left and right channels and no problems. My
current home audio system at the moment have few such splits in use.


>     I have tried using a Y-adapter myself, running one channel at a time and
> running the output channel to two inputs (one for left and one for right). It
> seems as though the y adapter gives a full signal strength from one side and
> much less from the other because of splitting the signal at either the fixed
> stereo output to two ste4reo inputs or from a variable stereo output to two

This arrangement really shows the difference and is arrangement which should
not be used. You have proven that splitting one channel only is not a good
idea. I have tested this one side splitted case also myself and I have
noticed the problems.

The fact is that when bot channels are splitted and fed to same
equipments, they are attenuated exactly the same amounts.
So this does not affect the left-right signal strength balance
at all.

> In that sense, mono and stereo are really two different animals.

They have their similaritied and differences. 

> He will not get a stereo reproduction from two mono channels split from one
> mono channel. 

Not. But was that what he was asking ? It did not look like that
in original posting.

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/