Need help with stereo switch box
 

I'm currently working on a switch box for the aux inputs on my stereo system and need some help figuring out what sort of resistance and other specs i am going to need in the switch. Its a 150 watt sharp system with only one aux input, and because splitting the input it is affecting my sound quality and volume, I'm planning on making an auxiliary input box with which i can switch between either four or five different inputs. The question i have is what sort of resistance am i going to need in the switch, I'm going to be running a turn table with a pre amp, my laptop, my bass guitar(i know I'm going to need to pre amp it first) and hopefully a TV when i go off to college through it and don't trust my local radio shack employees to answer this question for me.

Thanks for your help,
Simon

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

Not sure if i understand Something like this
Have you checked you local guitar supply shop or maybe a pawn shop...i know the pawn shop by my house has a lot of music related stuff like mixers so they might have one of those for cheap.

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

i think he means audio input not speaker output.....

as far as i know you wouldent need any resisors unless you wanted to have a mixer not just a switched input. you just need to double pole 5 position switch 1 set of inputs on the switch for each input (tv, computer, etc), and the output of the switch to the line that goes to the amplifier.
hope that helps a little
/forest

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

OK i figured out what model of switch i need but now I'm wondering if there is any way that i can get away with a two pole switch and keep it stereo if I'm working with phono plugs or do i need a four pole?

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

you should just have to connect the right and left wires to the switch and connect all of the grounds together. by phono plugs do you mean RCA or 1/8th inch? if RCA the part around the center plug(the bigger circle is common and the center gets connected to the switch.

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

cool so if I'm working with RCA i can use the two pole and just connect all the grounds which are the outer connection together?

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

yeah that should work......I've done some custom audio stuff......i would have made a mixer but i didn't have any audio potentiometers so it sounded horrible....
let us know how it goes and if you have any questions just ask....
/forest

Re: Need help with stereo switch box
 

Simon,
Normally a two pole switch will work but you might want to consider double throw switches so that the inputs are switched into 10,000 ohm resistors when they are off line. The resistors will help in charging the output capacitors in each source device you have connected. Without resistors you might experience a slight pop when switching between inputs. Take a look at the MCM catalog http://www.mcmelectronics.com/ A #50-5725 Six input Stereo Line Level Source Selector is likely what you are looking for at $57.70. Less expensive but with top mounted switch is #50-5180 at $16.50. VIDEO SELECTOR 6-INPUT 2-OUT L/R AUDIO S-VIDEO #50-7780 will give you added ability to switch video as well at $37.89.