Soundcard line out to switching box

[Dudster]

The headphone socket on my Logitech Z-640s is pretty much useless and the headphone socket on my Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 card is too weak. So until recently I was connecting the Hercules headphone-out to my hifi amplifier (for headphones); but my amp didn't seem to like this (made a loud buzzing noise after a while). So I need the front speaker line out of my sound card for my amp and 5.1 speakers.

Am I right in thinking that you shouldn't plug/unplug things into the soundcard with the PC switched on? If so, would a switching box plugged into the soundcard front-speaker-out (and either feeding the amp or 5.1 speakers) allow me to switch between the two without shutting the PC down (with the speakers and amp switched off while doing so)?

Thanks

[Redwolf]

You can plug/unplug things into the sound card with the PC on. There's no problem, unless you do this with the gameport.

That buzzing sound you hear though. That means you have the volume on 'line out' up WAY too high. Not on your amp, on the PC. Try turning down your master volume, or find a way to adjust the line-out volume for your card.

While a switch is more convient, you can plug and unplug sound jack devices as needed, even with the computer on.

I have my headphones sharing the front line out with my speakers with a cheap splitter. The headphones have an inline volume control, so I just mute them when not needed.

[woodbutcher]

RobRich [I have my headphones sharing the front line out with my speakers with a cheap splitter]

That is probably your best bet, just keep in mind that you need a Stereo splitter (3 contact points on plug) like this one;

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=274%2D879

WB

[Dudster]

Ah excellent. A splitter was the first thing I thought of but thought that might weaken the signal. No matter though as I quite like the idea of a switch box.

I haven't noticed my amp buzzing at all since using line-out (with volume close to full and using soundcard's graphic equalizer) instead of the headphone-out, though I'll keep an eye on it. Heh, tough old thing this amp - about 20 years old (if not more) and still going strong

Thanks all

[Redwolf]

That makes sense now. A headphone-out is going to amplify the signal, much in the same way as if you had hooked the computer into the amp's 'Phono' plug.

What kind of amp is it? I had a Fischer amp that lasted only 10 years.

[Dudster]

It's a Technics SU-V5. Not sure, but I think it's about 250W at 8ohms. Can also power 4 and 16ohm speakers. Just a little bit of crackling occasionally when adjusting volume, but not much. Still sounds great.

[Redwolf]

Ahh. Technics. I'll have to look closer at those amps next time Im at the local AV store. Thanks.