Okay to use Y-Adapter??

[sawdin]

I am purchasing an iFi iDAC, which has one set of RCA outs. However, sometimes I will go from the iDAC to a headphone amp and other times I will go from the iDAC to an AVR. I have two choices:

1. Use two pairs of RCA cables:
A. Have one end of a pair of RCA cables hooked up to my AVR and leave them connected, and have the other end near the iDAC. When I want to go from DAC to AVR, I plug in the RCA cables that are already connected to the AVR.
B. Have one end of another pair of RCA cables hooked up to the inputs of the Headphone Amp and leave them connected, and have the other end near the iDAC. When I want to go from DAC to Headphone Amp, I plug in the RCA cables that are already connected to the Headphone Amp.
Question:
Is it okay to leave one end of the pair of RCA cables from the AVR unconnected while I am playing CD’s on my DVD player that is connected to the AVR? Will this somehow cause noise and/or other type of interference or problems?

OR

2. Use a Y-Cable:
Connect a pair of “RCA Male to Two RCA Female Audio Y-Cables” to the iDAC RCA outs and run one set of RCA cables to my AVR and another set to my Headphone Amp. Benefit is that I will not be plugging and unplugging cables all the time, which might loosen the connectors or the outs on the iDAC.
Question:
Will I degrade the sound by using a Y –Audio cable, or degrade the sound enough so that I could hear the difference? I would use a decent quality Y Cable (Cable 2 Go 6in SonicWave).

Any suggestions on which option is better, or suggestions for other options, will be greatly appreciated.

TIA!

 

[Adam]

Using a y-splitter will be just fine. As to whether you'll hear a difference, the best way to determine that is to try your system with and without them.

I doubt that there's anything wrong with those $18 splitters to which you linked, but I'd suggest less expensive ones. For less money than those, you could get an RCA switch box (this and this are examples of unpowered manual switches, but there are several out there...you can even get them with remote controls like this.) In theory, a switch box will provide a better signal than a y-splitter, but it'll depend on the construction and implementation. The ones that I linked to have mostly good reviews.

 

[sawdin]

Adam,

Thanks...I'll take a look at those switch boxes...

 

[ImcLoud]

I agree with adam, I would either buy less expensive quality y's or if you are going to spend that much just get a switcher... Monoprice units work well..

 

[markw]

I'll add a little more confusion.

Not really, just some simple rules about these "Y" connectors, more for others reading this tread but knowledge never hoits.

1) You CAN use them to split one output to two different inputs. That's what they are made for, and what you're doing. Like Adam said, unless you hear detrimental effects, you're good to go. I did this when I split my NAD preamp to two power amps driving separate speakers in two different rooms. along with a subwoofer with no ill effects.

2) You SHOULD NOT use them the other way, to combine two outputs into one input, such as combining a right and left channel into a into channel. It may or may not work, but the possible consequences are a mono signal all the way throughout the entire signal chain or, even worse, it could possibly damage the equipment.

Now, back to your regularly sceduled programming.

 

[sawdin]

I should have noted that Amazon has that Y-Cable for only $6.34, w/ free shipping.

Adam wrote:
In theory, a switch box will provide a better signal than a y-splitter, but it'll depend on the construction and implementation. The ones that I linked to have mostly good reviews.

Regarding the switch boxes, this may be a very stupid question, but how do they actually work, and why would they, in theory, provide a better signal? Please note that I am not doubting what you say, I would like to understand the process/reasoning.

Thanks, I really appreciate all of the helpful replies.

 

[Adam]

Regarding the switch boxes, this may be a very stupid question...

Or maybe I just made a stupid remark.

I was just thinking that a y-splitter always splits the signal, so the signal amplitude to both sides of the split is lower than the original. I think if a switch box is designed well, then the output signal should very close to that of the input signal.

I don't know if (or think that) a y-splitter is actually modifying the frequencies. Rather, it's just reducing the amplitude. That might not matter to you at all. Given that y-splitters don't require any action on your part, they are probably the best solution.

 

[sawdin]

Adam,

Thanks....BTW, I used to have the NHT Super Zero's w/ sub...great sound for the price, especially if not using them in a large room.