Playstation 3, Dual-Screen Monitors, Logitech Z-2300 Speakers - HELP!!!

Equipment Available:

Playstation 3
Samsung Monitor + other monitor for dual screen
Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers

What I'm trying to do:

Trying to have my Logitech z-2300 speakers play sound for PS3 and PC. I am playing the PS3 on the samsung monitor via hdmi. That samsung monitor is also connected to my pc via DVI. Other monitor is connected to pc via VGA (not relevant). I've tried plugging the z-2300 audio cable to the audio on the samsung monitor but I only get sound for the PS3 and not my pc when I change source back to DVI. Need help trying to get sound for pc.

If I'm leaving out any information please let me know. As you can see there are many outputs and etc. on this samsung monitor so if there is another way to get sound let me know. Pretty noob at all these connections, components, rca, etc. Also, tried messing with control panel sound but no luck getting it to work.

 

i had the same issue before i got my 32" screen but with a 360.

you have to trick you monitor into making it have 2 inputs on 1 output

ill warn you that youll have to buy a few cables, and some of them are not cheap.

get a VGA cable for the PS3 (HDMI to VGA cable)




then connect the audio cable to a 3.5mm converter like this one



then get a 3.5mm splitter like this



then connect the 3.5mm from the PS3 into the spliter and the PC 3.5mm audio out into it too.

then connect the 3.5mm out to the monitor, you now have 2 inputs.

connect the PS3 via VGA or use and adaptor to connect via DVI (it wont loose quality believe me) and the computer via VGA or DVI (whatever video in you have)

it worked for me, but i was in an ever bigger hole then you cuz i only had 1 VGA in on my monitor so i had to get a manual VGA switch to go from PC to 360 and then connect the switch to the monitor VGA.

thats what i did and it works

 

Hmm. Ok, maybe I'll go look for that hdmi to vga cable this weekend.

 

My solution should work just fine and be cheaper (less than $4.00 shipped)

Basically you have 2 audio sources and only one destination. That destination only supports one input so... you simply need a splitter aka Y-Adapter.

So first of all you have sound with the PS3 because HDMI carries audio and video. DVI is only video that is why you have no sound from the PC.

So to get your audio from the computer you need to use the computers speaker output or headphone jack (1/8" aka 3.5mm connections aka headphone jack).

You then just need to splice this into your speakers with the splitter.

So get a 1/8" male to female extension cable it will cost you less than a dollar: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021808&p_id=648&seq=1&format=2

This is what will go from the PC to your source.

I am assuming your using 1/8" (3.5mm) connections from the monitor to the speakers, you did not say but all pc speakers use this connection type unless its digital/optical.

So then get a Y adapter like this http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=669&seq=1&format=2

The single female side is where the two sources will combine, this is where the speakers will plug into.

One of the male split ends will plug into your monitor to pick up the PS3 sound output from the monitor at this point your exactly where you are right now. The monitor is connected to the speakers but you still have that other side of the Y adapter just sitting there.

The last male side will plug into the cable coming from the computer now you also have the output from the computer going directly to the speakers and not going through the monitor.

All said your out of pocket less than a few $$$ and will have audio from both devices.

You can up the ante at a later time by instead of using a Y-Adapter get an actual toggle box. This way if more than one device is on at the same time, only the device selected on the box will send its signal through. They are cheap (like $10) also but most of them use standard RCA connections instead of 3.5mm so you need to use cables like these that convert from 3.5mm into RCA.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2

This would plug into your computer and then into the switch box. Or in my case I use a real home theater adapter instead of pc speakers so it plugs right into my amp. (one of the reasons I recommend not using pc speakers, more power, more flexibility)

As for that switch box here is what I am talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-VH911-Video-Switch-Box/dp/B00008X5DE

Takes a few inputs in RCA format and only sends one output depending on the button currently pressed.


Anyways I think I explained it well but I took the time to show you visually what you need to do:


You can always use little adapters to change the male/female orientation of the cables but the ones I suggested should all be plug & play for you without any additional adapters so make note the image is showing the more common single male into dual female y splitter, but you need just the opposite a single female into dual male adapter to make it work with no couplings.

Also note you can actually do this with just one cable! If you found a long enough Y-Splitter as they come in cable forms of 6+ feet with a single female end and the two male ends. You can just pull the cable and plug it directly into the monitor and computer without needing the extension cable part that I listed above.

This solution does not make sense to me.

First why buy the expensive HDMI --> VGA cable? no need and you just lose that awesome digital source and get VGA quality again. He already has audio for the PS3 so why mess with it. We just need to get the PC audio working.

The other thing that makes no sense is if your using that cable your not sending sound to the monitor anymore, your using a VGA and a DVI connection both do not carry sound, so all the sounds is now in the 1/8" cables and the splitter so why tell him to plug anything into the monitor for sound anymore since its no longer needed? He can just plug the speakers directly into a y-splitter.

My solution uses the monitor only because its acting as a gateway for the HDMI audio and saving a lot of money. Also looks like the adapter male/female is going to be all wrong with the parts you suggested leading to need more purchases for adapters. The PS3 would plug in just from from the RCA --> 3.5mm cable into the female end of the splitter but then he has a male end to plug into his speakers witch are also male, so he would need a female coupling. You also need to tell him he needs a 3.5mm male to male extension cable to work with your setup as he needs a way to bring the audio into the splitter. Unless you intended to plug the splitter directly into the PC but then it would be female and still need an adapter.

 

Wow, thanks for that detailed explanation Vicious. I hope to get around this by this weekend. Thanks a ton.