[Ferrstein]

Hello!  I'm looking at adding a second Chime to my collection, but I want to feed both units with one transport.

Right now, I come out of my transport with an SPDIF cable and to into a Counterpoint DA-10 DAC.  I then use the digital output of that DAC to run an SPDIF cable for about 20' to my Chime that is used in my computer system.  That works great because with the Chime I can switch between my USB computer input or my transport on the rare occasion that I want to hear a CD through that system.

Anyway, I want to replace my DA-10 with a second chime, but as we all know the Chime does not have a digital output, which means I need to feed both Chimes with one transport.

Can I simply use a Y connector on the SPDIF output of my transport and feed two Chimes?  Of course the transport would then see only half of it's expected 75 ohm load. 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

[hagtech]

No should use Y connector.  You'll need some sort of an active buffer.  An RF power splitter (75 ohm F connector) will come close, but then the signal amplitude might drop too much.  Theoretically this could work, but I haven't tried it.  What do they call it, a Wilkinson divider?

That might be a nice DIY project, 1:2 SPDIF buffer.  I wonder if there is something like that from the HDTV world.  They do RCA connector signals at 75 ohms with good bandwidth and pulse fidelity. 

jh

[Ferrstein]

Thanks, Jim!  I'll do some more research.  I figured the Y cable wouldn't cut it.  I may also either simply switch the digital cable, manually plug and unplug things as needed, or possibly even run some cables and switching in the analog domain.

I agree, this could be a fun DIY build... even better in a Hagerman Kit!