Squeezebox output connections

[Mario]

Hi,

I'm interested in Squeezebox, but need additional info before buy it.
I need to stream the same music onto two boxes:
1) an old HI-FI system using the VIDEO inputs (I think they're RCA...)
2) a couple of active speakers using a mini jack input

The boxes are located near in the room; actually the first feeds the second, but I want to change this in order to have them independent (decide to have only one turned on, or both).

The question is: can Squeezebox feed both the systems connecting the first on the RCA outputs and the second on the headphone output at the same time ?
Please don't suggest to buy two Squeezabox...

Thanks In Advance !

[Mark Lanctot]

I need to stream the same music onto two boxes:
1) an old HI-FI system using the VIDEO inputs (I think they're RCA...)

OK, as long as it's an AUDIO connection to a VIDEO input (i.e. "VCR", "TV", etc.) Don't connect the audio jacks to a true video input, usually coloured yellow. :-)

The question is: can Squeezebox feed both the systems connecting the first on the RCA outputs and the second on the headphone output at the same time ?

Yes and no. Yes, this is possible, but no, it wouldn't be a good idea. The headphone output uses a small amplifier. If you amplify this signal a second time, the audio will be noticeably degraded and fairly noisy.

You can choose to live with this, or you can instead use splitters to split the signal coming out of the analog jacks of the SB. You then send the split signal to the hi-fi and to the active speakers using an RCA - minijack stereo adapter cable.

I'm not sure if audiophiles will approve of the splitter, but it's probably better than amplifying the headphone output and will only cost a few dollars more.

[Mario]

Thank you Mark for answering !
Excuse me if I misunderstood something, because I'm italian.

You have suggested a splitter; have you any example links about that (eg images) just to know how to ask for it in an italian shop ;-)

So, I get the splitter, and connect it to analog jacks of SB; then, for the other side:
- one splitted output will go thru RCA-minijack adapter and finally to the powered speakes
- the other can be connected to VIDEO input of HI-FI ?

[Mark Lanctot]

You have suggested a splitter; have you any example links about that (eg images) just to know how to ask for it in an italian shop ;-)

Sure. They can look like a cable like this:

http://217.205.137.242/images/Belkin...0000053724.jpg

or they can be in a plastic housing like this:

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/blisstrade/IMGP1186.jpg

(I have ones like this one I'm not using. The ones in the image are gaudy but nice because they're colour-coded.) What you need is an RCA male plug that splits into two RCA female plugs.

You'll now have 4 female plugs available, 2 left and 2 right ones. Send one left one and one right one to the hi-fi using ordinary RCA-to-RCA cables. Send the other left one and the other right one to the speakers using an RCA stereo to 3.5 mm miniplug cable like this:

http://eshop.macsales.com/images/Ite...DCONNECTOR.jpg

You could even use another plastic adapter like this:

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/blisstrade/IMGP1432.jpg

directly in the speaker input and use ordinary RCA-to-RCA cables in between it and the splitter.

So, I get the splitter, and connect it to analog jacks of SB; then, for the other side:
- one splitted output will go thru RCA-minijack adapter and finally to the powered speakes
- the other can be connected to VIDEO input of HI-FI ?

Yes, you've got it. What you want to do is split the signal in two and send the signal to each device.

[Mario]

Thank you very much again !

[tommypeters]

...but not VIDEO input...

[Mario]

Tommy, could you be more explicit please ?

On the user guide of my old HI-FI I read that the VIDEO input is provided to connect external audio sources like VIDEO-recorder or stuff like that.
Do you mean that I cannot link it to the (splitted) RCA ouputs of SB ?

[tommypeters]

OK, they have labeled it VIDEO but it's really audio input - no problem then.

It's just that usually, when one sees an RCA contact labeled VIDEO it's a composite video input. But since you seem to have "an old HI-FI" and not "a Home Theater Reciever" there's of course only audio inputs.

[Mark Lanctot]

Tommy, could you be more explicit please ?

On the user guide of my old HI-FI I read that the VIDEO input is provided to connect external audio sources like VIDEO-recorder or stuff like that.
Do you mean that I cannot link it to the (splitted) RCA ouputs of SB ?

Often these are colour-coded to help you.

Red = audio right

White = audio left

Yellow = composite video

You want to connect to red & white, never yellow. However your old hi-fi may predate colour-coding. The plugs may be all black or they may be all one colour.

[Mario]

Yeah, unfortunately there're not colours.
But I found the user guide under the dust and it states that VIDEO stands for audio output of VCR.

Thank you all for the support.
Now it's time for another thread ;-)