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We just got an Airport Express to use AirPlay on our stereos. Now our most 'advanced' stereo system we want to connect has a single analog RCA input for audio. This is of course bullshit.

The stereo is also connected to the television through analog RCA connectors, so it's already 'filled up'.

I know of the existence of aux-splitters, so are there also Analog RCA-splitters of some sort, preferrably without the loss of quality? Since it's for input to the stereo and not output, I'm hoping the quality remains.

I've searched around, but haven't found anything that seems to have the connections I need.

So in short - does something exist to go from 1 Analog RCA to 2 Analog RCA's? So I have one connection (which consists of 2 ports - the right audio & left audio), yet I need to connect 4 cables (2 right & 2 left)

Edit: Just an idea - to avoid having multiple mixers. Let the two audio outputs go to a male auxiliary. Then, use something like this to get it to a single auxiliary, and finally a female-aux to Analog RCA like this and this goes into the input of the stereo.

Would this work, or are these way too many connections? The output from the Airport Express is already AUX, and the one from the television can be auxiliary or Analog RCA depending on whatever delivers better performance.

jdepypere
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3 Answers3

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Just buy (2) "2F to 1M RCA splitter" (google it). You don't NEED a switch. A switch is nice if you want to be able to not have to turn the sound down on the TV when you want to listen to the Air Play.

As to sound quality, unless your have system that you have cost you 2K$ or more and you have a listening environment to support it, you probably cannot tell the difference from 4$ connectors and 40$ connectors. Possibly on really bad ones you could tell, but unlikely you would get connectors that bad. Connectors that bad aren't cheap, there defective.

The mixers allow you to adjust the volume of each input relative to each other while they are being played at the same time. You don't NEED that either unless you want it.

Damon
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I think the name of the thing you are looking for is "distribution amp"

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N0CRT4 is an example but it does video as well as audio.

EDIT: Noticed you want to "combine" two inputs (not outputs) into one. You need a mixer. Something like this: http://www.fullcompass.com/product/297476.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=CPy1-cnS5rgCFevm7AodOHYANA

If you know someone who plays music in live settings they could probably be a good source of information.

LawrenceC
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Assuming that you're saying there is only one RCA phono stereo input on your system, and you want to be able to connect two different sources (TV and Airport Express)...

You'll need a an audio switching unit such as here. I can't recommend one device from another. There will be some loss of audio quality and depending on your equipment, you may or may not notice this.

If there is a digital input on your stereo system, you might consider using this.

EDIT: After reading conflicting opinions on the option of combining two different sources using x2 RCA Y-splitters (or 3.5mm jack equivalents), I found a lengthy discussion on it here. It does seem that a lot of people do it though Y spitters are typically used for splitting the signal, not combining/merging and it is not safe practice.

EDIT: There's a discussion on using an in-line resistor to negate the potential risk of overloading the outputs here and here if you fancied a DIY project.

archery1234
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