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--- blog:garage_pc [2021/01/01 09:23] – [Mouse, Keyboard etc] john
+++ blog:garage_pc [2021/06/14 13:10] (current) – [Speakers] john
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+//Obligatory LED fan night shot....//
+{{:blog:img20201231170211.jpg?400|}}
 ===== Monitor =====
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-===== Mouse, Keyboard etc =====
+===== Mouse, Keyboard, Audio etc =====
 As I wanted to use the opportunity to set up and use some of my older computer equipment that had been stored in the loft for some time, I needed the ability to have multiple video and keyboard/mouse signals (and audio!) output at the same time. This meant a KVM.
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-... I tested this out and it works //really// well. Everything works as it should in Linux, one small annoyance is the the mouse only moves vertically in the BIOS, but the keyboard is a perfectly good alternative in that environment, so it's not an issue.
+... I tested this out and it works //really// well. Everything works as it should in Linux, one small annoyance is that prior to booting the the mouse only moves vertically in the BIOS, but the keyboard is a perfectly good alternative in that environment, so it's not an issue.
+I found a Belkin F1DA104T KVM along with a complete set of PS2+VGA cables, power supply and the optional rack mounting kit on Ebay for a bargain £20:
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+==== Audio Mixing ====
+As all of the computers will have audio out they would need to be merged prior to output to speakers. I had a really old rackmount mixer panel that a friend gave me several years ago, I was going to use it in my office prior to picking up a dirt cheap Extron controller, and that would do the job nicely.
+A 2U rackmount bracket was screwed to the bottom shelf of my computer/electronics storage area and the mixer and KVM switch installed:
+{{:blog:img20201228180305.jpg?400|}}
+===== Audio Output =====
+I had a choice of 3 audio amplifiers in my spares collection to use; a relatively (<10 years old) Sony STRD820 7.1 surround sound AV receiver, an old (~25 years) Sherwood R125RDS pro-logic AV receiver and an middle-aged (~20 years) Sony stereo amplifier.
+{{:blog:63416.jpg?400|}}
+The newer Sony would have been a waste and a bit of overkill (plus, it's a spare in case our main TV/cinema setup fails), so I went with the decision to install the Sherwood. The LCD display won out over the boring red LED of the Sony :)
+{{:blog:img20210102154939.jpg?400|}}
+==== Speakers ====
+As of now (Jan 1st, 2021), I haven't yet installed any speakers, though they will likely be wall mounted either side of the computer/audio shelving when I do so.
+Likely will pick up a used set of bookshelf speakers from a decent brand like Tannoy (Mercury M1), Mission (760), Denon (SC-M50/SC-M101) or similar.
+**[Update Jan 2nd 2021] -**  Put a silly low bid on a pair of Denon/Mission M10K-2 bookshelf speakers and had it accepted. So I have a pair of these on the way:
+{{:blog:mission-for-denon-sc-m10k-50w-6-ohm-bookshelf.jpg?400|}}
+When they arrive they'll get wall mounted either side of the computer/stereo shelves.
+**[Update 10/01/2021]** - Brackets fitted and speakers now mounted:
+{{:blog:img20210110145217.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:img20210110145236.jpg?225|}}
 ===== Other Equipment =====