Desktop 5.1 Audio Port Hub. Does this exist?

bignev72

bignev72

bignev72

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I have a 2.1 speaker setup for my PC which I use normally.

However sometimes I use my 5.1 gaming headset for online gaming, gaming late at night etc

To change from my normal speakers to 5.1 requires me to pull my PC forwards and fiddle around plugging in my headset into the back of my PC. There must be an easier way!

Does anything exist where I can have a hub/box that sits on my desk that I can plug my audio cables into that feeds back to the back of my PC?
 
AFAIK there aren't any 5.1 audio boxes, but you could use a standard stereo one.

Link

Two inputs and one output. You will probably need a 3.5mm extension cable to extend the green jack connector from the headset so it will reach more comfortably, and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm lead to connect output on the switch to the PC.

If you are using Realtek onboard audio. Another way you could do it, without buying anything would be to re-assign one of the ports to output to stereo speakers. Just plug the speakers into an unused port and when the box pops up, change the selection to 'front speakers' or whatever it displays for stereo speakers.

If you are using a sound card, then the switch box is the best way (short of using front case audio to connect the speakers), as sounds cards don't have connection re-assigning.
 
bignev72 said:
I'm not sure how that would help me:confused:
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Presumably you currently are using the 3 jacks on the back for the surround sound? In the Realtek software you should be able to plug your speakers into, say, the blue line-in jack, and then in the software it will let you reassign this to basically work as a standard stereo out.
 
Monkeynut said:
Presumably you currently are using the 3 jacks on the back for the surround sound? In the Realtek software you should be able to plug your speakers into, say, the blue line-in jack, and then in the software it will let you reassign this to basically work as a standard stereo out.
Click to expand...

But I would still have my initial issue of having to go behind the PC to change the normal stereo cable from my speakers to my headset one?

Unless i'm being thick here?
 
I shall attempt to explain it.

I assume the headset uses 3x 3.5mm jacks: Green, orange and black, the same as it is for 5.1 speakers. As the green socket is already being used by 5.1, any stereo or 2.1 speakers need to be connected to one of the other outputs.

When you connect a jack, a pop up box should appear asking you what you just connected. The purpose for this box is that you can select whatever function you want. As an example: Rather than use pink for microphone (which is default), you could connect microphone to any of the sockets. As long as you select microphone from the pop up box, it will work in whatever socket.

Same applies to stereo/2.1 speakers. Plug them into any unused socket, and select 'headphone', because the 'front speaker out' will be used for 5.1. Front speaker out and headphone are both are stereo. They both output left and right channels, which is what you want. Whether it is stereo/2.1 speakers or headphones connected doesn't make any difference.
 
Monkeynut said:
Did you try the idea of retasking output jacks on the onboard audio?
Click to expand...

Yeah it works. I'm looking in the route of getting a better soundcard now anyway.

So either might go for the U5 or get an internal soundcard and a stereo splitter cable (I didn't know these existed!) and do it that way.
 
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