Y-cables... “split audio cable”

There’s an old audio saying, “When you find yourself in a situation where you figure a y-cable will get you out of it, get yourself out of that situation!”

This doesn’t mean there are not legitimate uses for them, but mostly, not.

Yogi Berra, said “At the fork in the road, take it!” When you audio signal reaches your Y there is nothing to direct it so it goes everywhere even where it is not meant to go... including up the down staircase, loading back on the Outputs... not good.

Seems you need an intelligent connection where you have the “split audio cable”... I’m not really sure I understand how that is setup but my guess is the problem is that y-cable.

Is this the recommended setup for the M-audio (hard to believe they would recommend this setup) or is this your own innovation?

this is my own innovation. I have no other solution for using one computer as a music studio and also for listening to music and watching movies with sound coming not from the homerecording monitors but the large hifi loudspeakers....

I don´t mind hearing the Montage on the stereo, I just wonder how it is even possible when it´s not even connected...there´s an audio ghost in this machine!

Beyond that - I'm not sure how the Hifi amp fits in. Is this a stereo with its own set of speakers? How are the connections exactly? It seems there are two sets of inputs wired up to the HS7. I know the HS7 has one XLR input and one balanced 1/4" input (which you can use as TR only if you want). Are you using both of these inputs on the HS7? Because these are essentially bridged I am thinking which is another form of "Y" cable.

Does the diagram below represent a correct diagram?

If it is, then the 1/4" and XLR connections on the HS7 are not isolated and the Montage output is going through one cable to the other (even when the speakers are turned off) which is back-feeding into the Hifi system's inputs.

If the M-Audio device has a headphone jack - you may consider wiring that to the Hifi amp and trim the volume to meet the line level requirements of the hifi equipment to prevent distortion. At least that would (probably) isolate the Hifi amp from Montage.

I'm not sure what all of goals are - other than inference from what I think your setup is. I would, personally, give up wanting the HS7s to be connected to M-Audio at all and just leave those for Montage only. When Montage is not connected to the system - I would have the PC output using the Hifi Amp (with its own speakers - I'm assuming - could be wrong) which would ditch the "Y" cable.

I'm no audio engineer, but as far as I know, you can never connect two sources to a single set of speakers (unless you have an in-line DPDT switch). Plus, I think the impedance is also affected even if the second source isn't powered-up.

I made a very artistic drawing of the whole situation 😀 it´s like your much nicer drawing except that it is the M-audio card that is connected to XLR, not the Monty.
So it has to do with the fact that the HS7 are sending the signal back somehow, how weird. And why only when I turn them off? mhhh... If I hear sound from the PC output, I can have both the Hifi and the HS7 at the same time. With the Monty, I only hear it thru Hifi when the HS7 are turned off. bizarre isn´t it?

Right - my diagram I wasn't sure which you used for XLR or 1/4" but the topology used is identical.

Not too bizarre. The two inputs of the speakers do not serve a mixer function. They are choices (one or the other) and it's not too surprising that a signal would carry over to the other branch. They are different connectors which have the same signals connected to each.

Here's what the manual says (HS series speakers):

Note: The XLR and phone jack input connectors can not be used simultaneously. Use only one input connector at a time.

$40 can get you out of this mess.

http://www.fullcompass.com/prod/092034-Behringer-XENYX-502?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImMvX642S2gIVjLXACh1R4gR5EAQYAyABEgKTKfD_BwE

You may want to shop around or get a mixer with more capabilities so you're not stuck with the configuration you have today.

The linked one I would run the CD/Tape output to the hifi system and main L/R outputs (1/4") to the HS7s. They're not balanced (I'm assuming, haven't found the manual yet) so using short runs would be best or step up to a more full featured mixer.

This mixer states balanced outputs for $5 more:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/harbinger-l502-5-channel-mixer-with-xlr-mic-preamp/j11555000000000?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6d_i5I-S2gIVirrACh17KAvQEAQYCiABEgJKIvD_BwE&kwid=productads-adid^221957295827-device^c-plaid^323968835663-sku^J11555000000000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA

Again, though, you may want to "channel up" and spend around $100 at least to buy twice (at least) the channels to support more options.

You can still get basically what you want out of this system, without adding a mixer, if you reconfigure the system depending on if you have the Montage there or not. You can wire the M-Audio out to Montage's A/D inputs so you can hear the computer out your HS7s instead of using the "Y" cable. If you still want your hifi to be included - you can augment the HS7s by sending AUX out of the keyboard to the hifi system. This will generate a "dry" signal passing along your M-Audio original signal assuming you do not add effects to A/D in. This should be fine to have Main L&R cover the effects and the hifi system mostly for passing along your A/D input.

Then when Montage is removed - you'll have to patch-panel reconnect things back and forth. You may not want to do this - but I'm not sure how much you want to buy more equipment for the studio either. You have options. I think eventually your time/effort would be worth the 40-100+ bucks to avoid having to do much reconfiguration when using/not using the Montage within the studio environment.

I made a very artistic drawing of the whole situation 😀 it´s like your much nicer drawing except that it is the M-audio card that is connected to XLR, not the Monty.

You maybe contacted by the publishers of the audio blooper blog - “what not to do with audio!” 🙂
They may want that diagram for the cover story!

Audio signal, much like water, goes where it find the least resistance. And when not properly directed will spill out and get all over the place.

A “y-cable” is mostly always wrong... you are in a situation where you figured a y-cable would solve the issue (big buzzer sound).... you need to get out of that situation.

I don’t want to panic you, but it’s part of the service we supply.... signal is spilling on the floor, it’s going up the down staircase or down the up staircase, either way signal is loading back on something because you need a mixer at that critical point where you went “cheap” and purchased a “y-cable”

Any time you find yourself adapting an RCA cable to an XLR... DON’T. Walk away, just walk away...

Alright back to scaring you straight, the computer is being feedback on... I’m not an electrician but it’s not a healthy situation when signal is finding it’s way back to the source (when you power down the HS7 the signal that normally drew that signal is gone... signal being like water, backs up and starts spilling on the floor... in this case the output of your m-audio soundcard... (can’t you hear it metaphorically screaming) that signal loading back on the soundcard is finding its way all the way to your hifi... it backs up to that Y-fork and goes both back on the output of the soundcard and up the route to your hifi... there is no “intelligence” to direct it. The mixer will act as a traffic cop, directing signal where you want it go.

Worse case you’ll damage some gear, slowly, slowly - (it cannot sound normal) I’m going to guess that if you had to pick one of these interconnected devices to have go to the shop for repair it would probably be... the y-cable, but unfortunately it’s gonna be fine through all of this... MONTAGE, COMPUTER, HIFI hmm... you pick. I don’t think your HS are in trouble - I’m sure you don’t send signal into them using both inputs (don’t do that) there are two different type of inputs but there should only be one active at a time. (Again, the gear screams when you don’t treat it right.)

This may sound silly, but your local music store can help. The problem is common enough and if you can explain what you want to accomplish they’ll be able to help you get it done properly or tell you “that’s not gonna happen”.

But Y-cables? Get rid of them... the gear you are connecting are not toys, well they are expensive toys, treat them right they’ll last a long time.
Ok, I’m trying to get you to laugh, but I’m also trying to save you from your setup... please remove the y-cables. ASAP. On that I’m being serious.

mhhh, this sounds toubling...
I really didn´t want y cables, what I wanted was an audio switchbox so I can switch between putting computer sound out to amp1 (the HS7 powered speakers) or amp 2 (the hifi amp). but there are no such audio switches. at least I did not find any. all switches I found on amazon are only going the other way around, 2 inputs to 1 output, and I need 1 output to 2 inputs...does such a switch exist?

I don´t have space for a mixer in my microscopic studio but...

update: looking at that little Behringer XENYX-502, so small and it really has several outputs? well, this is what I need! thank you Jason!

I will get rid of the y cable!!! that stuff is spooky. and if it can even ruin my gear...thanks for the warning!

mhh, one more thing thow Bad Mister, as for sending signals from two sources to the HS7 at the same time, I was hoping this could not happen, because when the Montage is turned on then the sound from the computer comes thru the Montage and no longer from the computer soundcard. The computer immediately switches to "Montage" as being the audio device. Therefore it should be impossible to have 2 signals going into the HS7 at once because there can only be one audio interface at once, I hope...

There are very small mixers. The switch or switches are going to take up about the same amount of space, offer less flexibility, and possibly end up costing more.

http://hosatech.com/product/slw-333/

or several of these

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MHJV9K/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B007MHJV9K&pd_rd_wg=18PrV&pd_rd_r=6S8FQ0YWW76WMZNM7DNM&pd_rd_w=BvR4z

or ...

(lots of products out there).

Your setup currently has two sets of stereo "Y" cables. Your HS7 with, incorrectly, using both inputs at the same time forms a "Y" cable - then you have the "Y" cable you recognize already in your setup -- the "true Y cable".

Note that when you turn an electronic device OFF - what it does is often undefined on its inputs and outputs. The assumption is usually (except for equipment designed to be off while other components are ON) that when the device is OFF - all related/connected components are OFF too. Having the HS7 OFF and still "in circuit" to a live audio path creates its own mess - not to mention violating the manual instructions not to use both inputs simultaneously.

well I´m glad I asked this question, even thow I thought it was a silly one. I had no idea my setup was this malignant.... thank you, I will remove the y cable and also the RCA to XLR into the HS7!

feedback: yes you were right, it was the y cables. I don´t have a little mixer yet but y cables are gone and only the montage goes into the HS7. I forgot the computer monitor also has sound, which might be good enough for watching youtube and co.... so I might not need a mixer. Montage no longer leaks into the hifi amp. thank you!