I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect my Switch 2 and my gaming PC to an old Logitech 5.1 speaker system. Right now, I have the PC connected to my LG 27GR95QE-B monitor via DisplayPort and the Switch connected through HDMI. The speakers only connect to the PC with 3.5mm jacks, so they work great for the PC, but I can't get audio from the Switch, which only has a headphone jack, USB-C, and USB-A outputs.
Currently, I'm using the monitor's headphone jack plugged into the Line-in on my PC to get audio from the Switch, but this limits me to stereo sound without using the subwoofer. I ideally want to use 5.1 surround sound for the Switch. I'd prefer not to turn on my PC every time I use my Switch just to get audio, and I'm looking for a solution that doesn't require replacing my speakers, as that would be quite costly.
I've heard of using an HDMI audio extractor, but I'm not sure how well that would work for both devices, and I've also seen suggestions for a capture card on my PC, which seems expensive and might clash with the GPU I already have installed. Any guidance on this would be much appreciated!
2 Answers
Your best bet might be using an audio mixer or audio switch device. These allow you to connect multiple audio sources and switch between them easily without the hassle of plugging and unplugging cables. I know it doesn't solve the PC needing to be on, but it gives you the flexibility to manage different inputs without that headache. Many of them handle 5.1 surround sound too, which would be perfect for your setup!
I faced a similar issue. What ended up working for me was using a capture card with audio passthrough. It lets you send the Switch audio through to your speakers while allowing your PC to manage sound from both sources. Just a heads up though, you might want to look for a high-quality capture card to avoid audio delay during gaming. Just make sure it’s compatible with the Switch for 5.1!
That’s interesting! Did you run into any bandwidth issues using a capture card with your GPU?
That sounds like a good idea! Do you have any specific mixer models in mind that support surround sound?