DIY audio switcher

[pico_uk]

Wasn't quite sure if this was best suited for the Home entertainment forum or this but since this is to do with computer audio I'll stick it in here unless mods think otherwise.

Anyway I've been trying to find a audio switcher with 3 3.5mm inputs where each one can be turned on and off with a switch of some sort, this would the lead to a single 3.5mm output. Now I don't know if it is even possible but I don't see any reason why not but if two or more switches are on both signals will be mixed at the output. I've searched long and hard but haven't found anyhting that suits my needs so was wondering if I could bodge one together and if there is gonna be any major loss of sound quality if I did it myself with cheapo components?

What I'm suggesting is picking up a few 3.5mm female connectors and switches drills some holes in a plastic box and wire it all up with all connectors attached to the single output via its own individual switch. Now in theory I believe this will work as it is basically the same as a wire attaching the two but with a switch inbetween but as there are more than one signal would this actually work as I hope and would I be able to attach this amount of wire to one connector?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[KennyVader]

Yes it'll work, the signals that are "switched on" will just add together and appear to mix. You could even use a potentiometer or variable resister on each input to give basic control over the level of each input. You just have to be careful that none of the sources you plug in will be mono as (depending on how you wire it) the mono source might cause all the other sources to common out to mono too.

I'm pretty sure that Maplin would have something ready-made for what you describe, although whether they have one that can select multiple sources at once, I'm not sure.