Want to split headphone output in left/right channel

[zEBBiE]

Hi, I'm looking for a way to get two separate audio streams out of a single 3,5mm headphone output on my MacBook computer. One is going to speakers and one is going to headphones (yeah, you guessed right, I want to DJ).

I've been thinking about this and I think it should be possible to do this with various cheap cables, by going via RCA. See example below:

First one of these in the headphone jack:

(standard 3,5 mm to 2xRCA)

And then one of these in the red and one in the black, obviously connected with the lone end of this one.

then one of these in each end now (4 total):

and last one of these in each end:

Should work right?

p.s. I am aware that I will only get mono sound.

 

[Johnd]

You forget the RG6, RG59, and 10 gauge speaker wire. Sheeesh, could you have made it more convoluted?

How about this:
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-3-5-Headphone-Splitter-Cable/dp/B000AM2Z92

 

[zEBBiE]

You forget the RG6, RG59, and 10 gauge speaker wire. Sheeesh, could you have made it more convoluted?

How about this:
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-3-5-Headphone-Splitter-Cable/dp/B000AM2Z92

Sorry, doesn't do what I want. Remember I want to separate two channels from a stereo output, not duplicate them.

 

[TLS Guy]

First one of these.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103710&cp=&pg=1&sr=1&origkw=Y+connectors&kw=y+connectors&parentPage=search

Then two of these.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104065&cp=&pg=4&sr=1&origkw=Y+connectors&kw=y+connectors&parentPage=search

However the headphone will likely load the circuit, so you won't have sufficient clean output to drive your amps. I strongly recommend you use a headphone amp, instead. You can use one connection. You can use 2channels for your phones and the other two channels out to your amp. With all the connectors and cabling, cost will be about a wash, and technically this is afar superior solution for your purposes. An amp like this.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHHA400

 

[zEBBiE]

Hmm, not sure I followed that completely. You're saying that the sound volume will be very low if I set it up as I intended, and this headphone amplifier would be able to up it if I plugged it in somewhere in between the computer and cables? Or could it actually replace my intended setup?

 

[MDS]

The original idea with multiple cables, Johnd's adapter plus two 3.5mm to RCA cables, and TLS Guy's adapters are all the same thing.

Whichever cable and adapter combination you choose, the headphone amp is probably a good idea.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hmm, not sure I followed that completely. You're saying that the sound volume will be very low if I set it up as I intended, and this headphone amplifier would be able to up it if I plugged it in somewhere in between the computer and cables? Or could it actually replace my intended setup?

OK lets make it simple. Unless the impedance of your headphones are unusually high, your plan will work poorly.

Connect you phones out the headphone preamp input. Now you have four buffered stereo outputs each with its own volume control. You will need to use two of those stereo outputs. Plug your phones into one set and you amp into one of the others. You will have two sets of stereo outputs spare.

If you can't understand this, you are not ready to DJ, at least for money.

 

[zEBBiE]

Alright thanks, that made it clear. Still not sure whether this will actually help me achieve what I want. Using only this will give me same (stereo) sound in headphones and in speakers with independent volume control. However what I really want is to split the stereo output in two channels and make each channel send through two channels (same sound in left/right channels of course). The preamp will obviously not help in that regard, but do I combine it somehow with my various cables named earlier?

 

[TLS Guy]

Alright thanks, that made it clear. Still not sure whether this will actually help me achieve what I want. Using only this will give me same (stereo) sound in headphones and in speakers with independent volume control. However what I really want is to split the stereo output in two channels and make each channel send through two channels (same sound in left/right channels of course). The preamp will obviously not help in that regard, but do I combine it somehow with my various cables named earlier?

Of course this will do what you want, exactly. Buddy you're NOT ready for prime time!

 

[zEBBiE]

Of course this will do what you want, exactly. Buddy you're NOT ready for prime time!

Jeez, are you serious? Would be really really great if you could explain how that works, since I can't figure it out no matter how much I think or google. If I think about it it seems like the only logical way would be that it has some kind of channel splitter built in but I can't see anything about that on any site.

On a side note, I'm not going to DJ for money, just for fun.

 

[TLS Guy]

Jeez, are you serious? Would be really really great if you could explain how that works, since I can't figure it out no matter how much I think or google. If I think about it it seems like the only logical way would be that it has some kind of channel splitter built in but I can't see anything about that on any site.

On a side note, I'm not going to DJ for money, just for fun.

Take headphone left input, it is connected to an op amp with enough drive to drive four outputs. Then those outputs each have a volume control, they output to a left outs. Same on the right. A small buffer amp and four outs. The right and left volume controls for each of the four stereo output sets are on the same shaft.

Each left and right channel circuit is technically known as a line splitter/distribution amp, one in four out. One for the left and one for the right.

Here is a circuit of a one in three out splitter/distribution amp. There are no volume controls on the out, but just imagine this circuit with volume controls on each of the three outputs. No do this for the left and the right and you have it. This is three out, the Behringer is four out, but you must get the idea!

http://www.newcircuits.com/circuit.php?id=aum005

This is so simple, I just fail to see how you are making it complicated, or can't get the idea.