PC Headphone Suggestions

[RSLancastr]

Okay, I'm tired of plugging headphones into the headphone jack of my PC speakers when I want to listen without disturbing others at home. For one thing, it's awkward to reach, and for another, you have to unplug them later to listen via the speakers.

The current solution I'm considering is to buy a "Y" audio connector, plug the male end into my sound card, and then plug my speakers into one of the female ends, and my headphones into the other.

I would imagine it would be best if the headphones had their own volume control.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

[thrombus29]

You can get a set of USB headphones, and switch them on and off in the device manager.

[NickW]

You can get a set of USB headphones, and switch them on and off in the device manager.
I recently bought a USB Headset for a low price that works well. If you have a Fry's Electronics near you, that's where I got it. You can also order from their Outpost site.
http://shop2.outpost.com/search?search_type=regular&sqxts=1&query_string=usb+headset&cat=

You can switch back and forth between the headset and speakers in Sounds and Audio Devices (Control Panel).

[Bikewer]

I've been using the Plantronics headset for gaming for a couple of years now. Thing has a built-in in-line "sound card" that reads as it's own audio device.
There are a number of pre-sets for gaming, music, voice, etc, or you can tweak your own settings.
It's excellent for gaming because even though it's "only stereo", it's very directional; you can hear which way the enemy is coming.
Mic quality is excellent as well; just plugs into a USB port.

[EricGu]

Okay, I'm tired of plugging headphones into the headphone jack of my PC speakers when I want to listen without disturbing others at home. For one thing, it's awkward to reach, and for another, you have to unplug them later to listen via the speakers.

The current solution I'm considering is to buy a "Y" audio connector, plug the male end into my sound card, and then plug my speakers into one of the female ends, and my headphones into the other.

I would imagine it would be best if the headphones had their own volume control.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

It's generally a bad idea to try to connect two audio devices to one output without some sort of buffering. Even if bad things don't happen, you may get poor sound.

I solve this issue by running a stereo extension cord from my soundcard output onto my desk, where I can either plug in my headphones or my computer speakers. By setting the volume on the computer speakers I can come up with something that works well for both.

It would be possible to build a switchbox to do this fairly cheaply - you'd just need a few jacks and switches, but plugging and unplugging is pretty easy.

[Mongrel]

Or go the other way and get a set of speakers with a headphone socket, my old set of Yamahas had it as does my shiny new Creative set

[RSLancastr]

You can get a set of USB headphones, and switch them on and off in the device manager.Thanks, I was not aware such an animal existed. Offhand, it seems like it would take up extra cycles (I assume some driver needs to be running, to feed data to them).

I recently bought a USB Headset for a low price that works well. If you have a Fry's Electronics near you, that's where I got it.Thanks, Nick. Yes, I have a Fry's just a couple of offramps from my home, and another just a mile or so from my work. Nice to know I can get them there, if that's the solution I choose.

I've been using the Plantronics headset for gaming for a couple of years now. Thing has a built-in in-line "sound card" that reads as it's own audio device.Thanks!

It's generally a bad idea to try to connect two audio devices to one output without some sort of buffering. Even if bad things don't happen, you may get poor sound.That's sort of what I figured. :(

It would be possible to build a switchbox to do this fairly cheaply - you'd just need a few jacks and switches, but plugging and unplugging is pretty easy.Hmmm. Desk space is at a premium, so I'd rather not go with the plug/unplug. I'll look into the A/B switch - sounds like someone should make one. Thanks.

Or go the other way and get a set of speakers with a headphone socket, my old set of Yamahas had it as does my shiny new Creative setWell, that's what I'm trying to avoid, as I mentioned in the OP. :)

[brodski]

Can I suggest a set of fair trade headphones hand crafted from all natural, traditional, renewable materials by an African womyns' collective. You can't get more PC than that ;)

[thrombus29]

Thanks, I was not aware such an animal existed. Offhand, it seems like it would take up extra cycles (I assume some driver needs to be running, to feed data to them

The drivers are already in XP, so at least there is no software bloat.

Checking the Task Manager, Radiohead's "Paronoid Android" playing in WINAMP uses between 4-6% of my P4 2.6 when going through my sound card and 6-9% when running through a set of Logitec USB phones.

So you are using extra cycles with the USB, but I have never noticed any slowdown in BF2 or other games.

[Mongrel]

Well, that's what I'm trying to avoid, as I mentioned in the OP. :)

I'll never learn to post when I'm tired, sorry :(

BTW - do you have a seperate sound card on your PC? Since many motherboards have onboard sound and since most music software should give you the option to specify the output source, it's entirely possible to (for example) have gaming sound coming from the speakers and music through the headphones

[RSLancastr]

BTW - do you have a seperate sound card on your PC?Sad to say, I don't recall...

Since many motherboards have onboard sound and since most music software should give you the option to specify the output source, it's entirely possible to (for example) have gaming sound coming from the speakers and music through the headphonesGood to know, but that's not the problem.

This is a home PC, with several users, who use it for a variety of things.

Frequently, one person will want to use it with the sound on, but there are others in the room (watching TV, etc) who would rather the PC sound be off. That's where the headphones come in. So I don't offhand see a situation ocurring where we would need one type of sound through the headphones, but other types of sound through the speakers. But it's nice to know that's an option.

Here's the new question...

Someone pointed out to me that the sound card (or motherboard, if it is that) typically has both a Line Out jack and a Headphone jack.

If this is the case, I'll leave the speakers hooked up to the Line Out jack, buy a regular (though wireless) set of headphones and attach the charger/base to the Headphone jack.

How does this sound? So to speak...

[a_unique_person]

If you have children, the cord will break after four weeks, so buy several pairs at once.

[RSLancastr]

If you have children, the cord will break after four weeks, so buy several pairs at once.Well, A) My children are all in their 20s, and B) I'm getting a wireless, so that shopuldn't be an issue.

However, I would not be surprised if the headphones end up under one of their beds, or in the refrigerator.