Switch to switch between PC speakers and headphones?

£15

£15

£15

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I'm utilising the onboard audio of a MSI Tomohawk Max motherboard but it can only provide audio to either headphones or speakers at any one time. So my kids are having to go behind the PC to swap cables. This isn't ideal as eventually something will break. So, I'm thinking a switch I can mount on the desk to toggle between the two.

I've found a '2 PORT 3.5mm STEREO Manual Switch Box AUX Audio Speaker selector(Wall Mount Hole Built-in, wall or table available)' and reviews seem favourable, but thought I'd check here for any recommendations first.

Thanks.
 
Are you not using an audio port on your case also? Surely just headphones in the front port and speakers in the back? I might be missing something.
 
There is only one line out on the motherboard, hence not being able to switch via the OS. There is no audio port on the case. I tried an extension cable that I had lying at the back of a drawer, but it was faulty, so have been left in my current predicament. But would prefer a dedicated switch over just pulling plugs in and out all the time.
 
The motherboard in question has Realtek audio and if the software for Realtek audio manager is working, then you can reassign any of the audio sockets.

For example; if you plug in, lets say headphones into the 'line-in' socket, a pop up on screen will ask what you just plugged in. Rather than selecting 'line-in', you can choose 'headphones', and have the line-in socket work as a headphone output. That would give you speaker output from the green/line-out socket (if you have speakers plugged in there) and headphone output from the line-in socket, with both working simultaneously.

That would be a simplest way of doing what you want, if the Realtek software were installed and working.

Micro$ updates often have a habit of breaking audio though and the Realtek software isn't accessible often in Windows 10. Upon installing Realtek drivers for my motherboard audio with Windows 10, I get no access to the Realtek software. I did with W7, but not W10. Friend of mine with a different motherboard gets the same. Audio works, but no control options other that what Windows sound properties offer. Installing older drivers is usually the work around. I haven't tried that, as I don't need access to the Reaktek software features.

Might be worth trying to see if installing older drivers can get around the Realtek software not being accessible. That is assuming it isn't already working on your system.

If you can't get access to the Realtek software, then you could just buy one of these speaker/headset switch boxes. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Konig-Co...867815&hash=item4cf9f87bc7:g:30QAAOxypNtSe74q
 
I wasn't aware of the Realtek 'work around' - I'll give it a go and let you know...


...worked a treat! Got both working now, so no need to fiddle with cables. Just have to turn speakers off/on as required. Thanks again!
 
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