Headphone/Speaker Splitter

dakaiez · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:04

Well the above really, i have my Logitech z-2300 speakers and my Sen HD595's but don't want to keep having to switch wires to use them both. Is there any specific splitters people use, i don't want one which ruins my sound quality from my X-fi at all.

Mansize_tissue · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:19

Isn't it possible to plug your headphones into the control module for your speakers?

dakaiez · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:23

Mansize_tissue said:
Isn't it possible to plug your headphones into the control module for your speakers?

Well with my 595's i have to use the 3.5mm jack and it doesn't actually fit into the headphone section on the speakers as it's to thick so doesn't go in properly.

It's also the same with the connector on the front of my case, so again that's out the question. It's either unplug either when i need to use them or use as switch or something similar so i can switch between them without changing wires all the time.

squiffy · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:24

The problem is that headphone and line level are different, headphone is amplified, line level isn't. Ideally you want to keep the two seperate

PC Line out-->switcher and headphone amp--->Line Out-->Speakers
********************************\--->H.Phone out->Headphones

That is why I hate PC audio gear, it's really not flexible.

You could buy a second hand stereo pre-amplifier with built-in headphone amp.

dakaiez · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:30

squiffy said:
The problem is that headphone and line level are different, headphone is amplified, line level isn't. Ideally you want to keep the two seperate

PC Line out-->switcher and headphone amp--->Speakers
********************************\--->Headphones

That is why I hate PC audio gear, it's really not flexible.

You could buy a second hand stereo pre-amplifier with built-in headphone amp.

So it's not a good idea to use a switch with both plugged in then i take it?

I'd have to get one but buy a headphone amp or as you stated a pre-amp with built in headphone amp. I'm not to up on all these things, not had to deal with them before so am a little clueless in this department.

squiffy · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:38

ebay item 320138315814?

I'm not sure how your system is wired up

PC line left & right line output into Rotel line level input
Pre-out from Rotel into your speakers
Headphone into the front of the Rotel

Output in Windows mixer set quite high.
Rotel controls volume to the headphones and speakers.

Although I'm not sure if the Rotel mutes pre-out when phones are connected, you'll want that...although you could just switch off the speakers.

My Rotel stereo integrated amp doesn't shut off the speaker outputs when phones are connected, but at least you can easily switch off the speakers. I would need to physically remote speaker cable.

Plus you have facility to use more sources easily, ie MP3, DVD etc.

ps you really do need quality headphone amp with those phones...soundcard output isn't suitable.

dakaiez · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:46

Heh sorry i don't know if it's any different, but i have 555's i was reading a thread before hand and typed 595's for some reason. Would i still need an amp for these?

Well the way my system is set up is how i've always done things, speakers directly into sound card. Sorry im not really up to scratch with all these saying's pretty new to the audio side of pc's originally just had headphones in and no speakers then headphones plugged into speakers so never really had to change.

I've now got some decent speakers and a headset, i would have prefered to stick them in my speakers but alas the cable outer casing is to big hence it doesn't fit.

PS. Just checked the ebay link. I need something relatively small, haven't really got the space or the need for something that big with so many different things. That's cutting things down i know, but haven't got a huge amount of cash to shell out either due to just buying this pc and no payday for a while

.

squiffy · 18 Jul 2007 at 23:52

A QED input switch box is £30, and it really a 2 input, one output box, so really that Rotel (which is a input switcher, pre-amp and headphone amplifier) is a bit of a bargain. You would need a pre-amp to control level on the headphones, you wouldn't want to adjust windows mixer, as the input level on the pre-amp will far below optimal

Sennheiser "HD" line deserve decent amplification, portable music players aren't really up to the job. Used Sennheiser HD-535 and they were lousy with portable units and soundcard, opened up when using decent amp.

dakaiez · 19 Jul 2007 at 20:57

Just really need something cheap and not very big as i only use them when it's late and don't want to wake the family up. Which is maybe a few hours a night max while gaming and listening to music.

humax · 20 Jul 2007 at 04:35

This is what i use

humax · 20 Jul 2007 at 04:36

humax · 20 Jul 2007 at 04:37

.....

humax · 20 Jul 2007 at 04:37

This is what i use

humax · 20 Jul 2007 at 04:44

sorry guys was having a problem getting the picture up . anyway this only cost me about £7 and it works fine .speakers plug in one side headphones on the other side . then just push the little button to click it over to the headphones .

Mansize_tissue · 20 Jul 2007 at 15:20

v1bez said:
Well with my 595's i have to use the 3.5mm jack and it doesn't actually fit into the headphone section on the speakers as it's to thick so doesn't go in properly.

It's also the same with the connector on the front of my case, so again that's out the question. It's either unplug either when i need to use them or use as switch or something similar so i can switch between them without changing wires all the time.

Hold on, so is the jack actually too big for the socket, or is the casing around the jack too big for it to fit?

dakaiez · 21 Jul 2007 at 10:21

Mansize_tissue said:
Hold on, so is the jack actually too big for the socket, or is the casing around the jack too big for it to fit?

Well the casing around the jack is to big for the headphone socket on my z-2300's.

It's a 6.3mm to 3.5mm converter, just the outside casing is way to thick to fit in my case (front) back is fine or my headphone socket on my controller for the z-2300's.

Mansize_tissue · 21 Jul 2007 at 10:52

v1bez said:
Well the casing around the jack is to big for the headphone socket on my z-2300's.

It's a 6.3mm to 3.5mm converter, just the outside casing is way to thick to fit in my case (front) back is fine or my headphone socket on my controller for the z-2300's.

Ah right. You could get a 3.5mm extension cable, which will probably be cheaper, so you can plug your 'phones into your speakers' control module, although i'm not sure how this will effect audio quality.

dakaiez · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:26

Mansize_tissue said:
Ah right. You could get a 3.5mm extension cable, which will probably be cheaper, so you can plug your 'phones into your speakers' control module, although i'm not sure how this will effect audio quality.

Well that could be easier i guess. Do you know which would effect the audio quality less? It's between a splitter and extension cable. I would have thought throught the speakers ie. extension cable. Because it's not going directly through the sound card, so in turn it's coming from the connection on the speakers.

Goose · 21 Jul 2007 at 13:57

humax said:
This is what i use

Im in the exact same position as the OP. I've just got the Creative Fatal1ty Headset and is connects to my sound card using the same two holes as me speakers. That means i have to fanny about every night when i want to swap them over for the sake of not waking up the parents.

Humax, that wee gadget you use looks good except that my headphones have two connections, presumably one for the sound and one for the microphone. Is it possible to get something like what you use that would work for me?

Cheers.

humax · 21 Jul 2007 at 15:44

Hi Goose . no problem mate if u look at the pic theres a mic plugged in to it as well. so it should work fine for you .theres even a little button that you can push and it will mute the mic as well

hope this helps mate