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- Joined
- 13 Nov 2020
- Posts
- 6
I'm keen to pick your brains on how best to approach a dual PC setup.
My setup
I've got a PC running Linux (Ubuntu), it's got the usual separated audio + mic jacks (plus optical), plus USB (obvs). I've also got a work laptop (a Mac) which I plug into a Brydge Stone Pro, https://www.brydge.co.uk/products/stone-pro (which also has audio + mic (mixed) jack, USB etc). I've got a 'meh' set of speakers Logitech Z120 (they are ok, but I'm thinking of upgrading) and a decent set of cans (beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro which) which are 250 Ohm with a ModMic on it?
I need to switch back and forth between the computers a couple of times a day, I've got a couple of 4k 28" monitors, so I just plug in a DP+HDMI from each computer into each of the monitors (i.e. DP + HDMI from Mac -> the monitors, and DP + HDMI from the PC to the monitors), then I just change input source on monitors to flick between machines. I also have a USB switch (2 in 4 out) (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N6GD9JO) to toggle keyboard / mouse / webcam input between the machines. (I don't switch often enough that I can justify a proper KVM, this manual 'poor mans KVM approach' is fine for me).
I just plug the speakers into the audio out of one of the monitors so whatever machine I'm out I get the audio via the Computer -> HDMI/DP -> Monitor -> Speakers. The headphones + mic I have to unplug manually when I want to switch.
The whole thing is a mess of wires all over the place and I don't really get to benefit from the headphones much, plus for some reason I only get sound out of one of the speakers.
What I'm doing/ what I want
I'm cleaning up, I'm making sit/stand desk and I'm going to go on a cable tidy mission. What I'd love to do as part of that is to seriously improve the ease of plugging in my headphones so I can listen to music while I work.
What I was wondering initially thing, given I've got the USB switch, could I do something like
Mac & PC --> USB Switch --> Amp/DC (e.g. Fiio K3) --> Front output = Headphones + Line Out = Speakers
I could then mount the FiiO (if that's what's recommended) under the desk at the front so I can just plug in the headphones when I want some quality undisturbed music while I work time (+ turn off the speakers). I was thinking of running the speaker wire out the back, under the desk to the speakers at the back of the desk. I'd then unplug and turn on the speakers when I'm on calls / other reasons to use speakers.
This, of course, means I can't use the mod-mic, but tbh the webcam mic is ok, I'm not using it for gaming or anything. I'm happy to buy a bit of kit, but I don't really want to spend much more than £100, maybe £200 if I was also buying some new speakers.
Does anyone else use a dual computer/speaker+headphone setup, how do you deal with it?
Would the FiiO be ok for this, are there better alternatives?
Is there a decent-ish set of speakers that I could introduce to help solve the problem (e.g. including a headphone/mic jack?)
Is that an alternative that would allow me to use the ModMic on the headphones too?
All help+feedback much appreciated as I'm a complete noob when it comes to the audio setup.
Cheers
My setup
I've got a PC running Linux (Ubuntu), it's got the usual separated audio + mic jacks (plus optical), plus USB (obvs). I've also got a work laptop (a Mac) which I plug into a Brydge Stone Pro, https://www.brydge.co.uk/products/stone-pro (which also has audio + mic (mixed) jack, USB etc). I've got a 'meh' set of speakers Logitech Z120 (they are ok, but I'm thinking of upgrading) and a decent set of cans (beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro which) which are 250 Ohm with a ModMic on it?
I need to switch back and forth between the computers a couple of times a day, I've got a couple of 4k 28" monitors, so I just plug in a DP+HDMI from each computer into each of the monitors (i.e. DP + HDMI from Mac -> the monitors, and DP + HDMI from the PC to the monitors), then I just change input source on monitors to flick between machines. I also have a USB switch (2 in 4 out) (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N6GD9JO) to toggle keyboard / mouse / webcam input between the machines. (I don't switch often enough that I can justify a proper KVM, this manual 'poor mans KVM approach' is fine for me).
I just plug the speakers into the audio out of one of the monitors so whatever machine I'm out I get the audio via the Computer -> HDMI/DP -> Monitor -> Speakers. The headphones + mic I have to unplug manually when I want to switch.
The whole thing is a mess of wires all over the place and I don't really get to benefit from the headphones much, plus for some reason I only get sound out of one of the speakers.
What I'm doing/ what I want
I'm cleaning up, I'm making sit/stand desk and I'm going to go on a cable tidy mission. What I'd love to do as part of that is to seriously improve the ease of plugging in my headphones so I can listen to music while I work.
What I was wondering initially thing, given I've got the USB switch, could I do something like
Mac & PC --> USB Switch --> Amp/DC (e.g. Fiio K3) --> Front output = Headphones + Line Out = Speakers
I could then mount the FiiO (if that's what's recommended) under the desk at the front so I can just plug in the headphones when I want some quality undisturbed music while I work time (+ turn off the speakers). I was thinking of running the speaker wire out the back, under the desk to the speakers at the back of the desk. I'd then unplug and turn on the speakers when I'm on calls / other reasons to use speakers.
This, of course, means I can't use the mod-mic, but tbh the webcam mic is ok, I'm not using it for gaming or anything. I'm happy to buy a bit of kit, but I don't really want to spend much more than £100, maybe £200 if I was also buying some new speakers.
Does anyone else use a dual computer/speaker+headphone setup, how do you deal with it?
Would the FiiO be ok for this, are there better alternatives?
Is there a decent-ish set of speakers that I could introduce to help solve the problem (e.g. including a headphone/mic jack?)
Is that an alternative that would allow me to use the ModMic on the headphones too?
All help+feedback much appreciated as I'm a complete noob when it comes to the audio setup.
Cheers
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