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Passive inline audio device for adding input to audio channel?

882 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by m. zillch, Aug 12, 2019

omatase

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2019 (Edited)

I'm probably using a lot of the wrong words here, but I'm helping a friend who owns a gym add a wireless mic to their audio system so that when they're giving instructions they can be heard more easily, even while music is playing or while it's not playing.

Here's how the audio system currently works:

1. They control their music on an App from their Samsung tablet
2. The tablet controls their Sonos device. Audio does not stream to the Sonos, it originates on the Sonos.
3. The Sonos device is connected to a self-powered speaker on the wall via a stereo RCA to 3.5mm headphone jack wire.
4. This speaker is in turn daisy-chain connected to a second speaker a short distance away, also self-powered.

The Sonos device has an additional input, and you *can* plug a mic into it, but the Sonos device isn't capable of playing the music and the audio from the mic input simultaneously.

My current, best idea is for a device that I'm not sure exists, but I'm hoping people on this forum could tell me if it does. I'm looking for something that can sit inline between the Sonos and the powered speaker. This device can passively forward all audio it receives from Sonos and, if it receives any audio from an additional input, it could combine that audio. This secondary source of audio would be the input from the mic. Since the speakers are already powered it seems like any kind of miniature powered receiver might not work, not sure. Lastly, the final solution needs to give the user the ability to reduce the music volume, while keeping the mic volume constant, but this might just be something that could be controlled in the Sonos app, lower the volume on the app and that music volume would be reduced, but the mic volume would stay constant.

If it's of use to anyone, the Sonos model is the Sonos Connect and the speaker model is Electro-Voice ZLX-15P

Does anyone know of a device like this exists? I appreciate anyone's willingness to help.

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Wayne A. Pflughaupt

· #2 · Aug 11, 2019

A small mixer like the Yamah MG10XU would do the trick. Other pro audio companies like Mackie, Soundcraft, Presonus, etc. make similar products.

Basically, the both the Sonos outut and the output from the wireless mic receiver would plug into the mixer, and the mixer outputs would plug into the EV speakers.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MG10XU--yamaha-mg10xu-10-channel-mixer-with-usb-and-fx

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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markmon1

· #3 · Aug 11, 2019

Perhaps you can get away using just this cable:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q88N4W

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holl_ands

· #4 · Aug 11, 2019

IF you only need ONE Mixer to adjust Microphone Output Level vs Sonus Output Level, you could Daisy Chain the Output of the Mixer to each of the Powered Speakers. You could construct custom Cables for the Daisy Chain, or use Standard RCA Jack Cables with a "Y" Splitter on the Input of each Powered Speaker, such a: [Or 3.5-mm equivalent if that is what you need]
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-1-Male-2-Female-RCA-Y-Adapter/dp/B01D5H8RE0

Presumably, you could let the users adjust the Volume Control on the individual Powered Speakers....however you might want to insert a separate Volume Control on the Input of the Powered Speaker, where the MAX setting doesn't blow your ears off...and you might want to cover up the controls on the Powered Speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/PAC-LC-1-Remote-Amplifier-Controller/dp/B0002J226O

OTOH, IF (for some reason that escapes me) you want a Mixer for EACH Powered Speaker, then you would Daisy Chain the Output of the Sonus to the vicinity of each Powered Speaker....and a second Daisy Chain the Output of the Microphone to the vicinity of each Powered Speaker. And then use a Mixer on the Input of Each Powered Speaker to adjust individual levels.

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omatase

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 12, 2019

markmon1 said:
Perhaps you can get away using just this cable:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q88N4W

By that token, why wouldn't this work as well? https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Split...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

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markmon1

· #6 · Aug 12, 2019

omatase said:
By that token, why wouldn't this work as well? https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Split...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Yep, give that a try first. You have nothing to lose. What it wont do is dim the music for quick announcements. But you could have the person just turn vol down quickly announce something and turn it back up.

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omatase

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 12, 2019

markmon1 said:
Yep, give that a try first. You have nothing to lose. What it wont do is dim the music for quick announcements. But you could have the person just turn vol down quickly announce something and turn it back up.

Yeah, that sounds good to me, OK, thank you!

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markmon1

· #8 · Aug 12, 2019

omatase said:
Yeah, that sounds good to me, OK, thank you!

Have you guys looked for an app to do this? I would expect an iOS / Android app might exist for one device to play music then you can speak into it to make announcements. Didn’t you say you’re already using one of these devices for music playback ?

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m. zillch

· #9 · Aug 12, 2019 (Edited)

Y-cables can safely split an output however using them in reverse, to split an input, means effectively you are sending the output of Source A into the output of Source B , before then sending it all to the input port of the receiving device. On older gear this could even be destructive however in modern times it is unlikely to break but it may distort or have frequency response consequences, depending on the gear. The second post by Wayne was the correct approach:use a mixer [or a proper summing network with resistors].

This white paper by Rane explains Why to not wye.

"A wye-connector used to split a signal into two lines is being used properly; a wye-connector used to mix two signals into one is being abused and may even damage the equipment involved."