speaker lines ISO a speaker setup with a headphone jack

[alexjb]

hey all,

I'm new to the forum, so be gentle

I have a cambridge DTT2500 5.1 setup. I'm fine with that, but due to some new issues, I need to be able to switch to headphone-only mode sometimes. Currently, since the DTT amp doesn't provide a headphone jack, the I've gotta switch the jacks on the back of the PC which is a real drag.

what 5.1 speaker setups provide a headphone jack? From the anadtech review of the DTT2500, I suspect that most 5.1s (lacking the separate amp unit) have a headphone jack accessible; is that true? are there any that have both the separate amp and the jack?

as you can see, I'm kinda all over the place on this one so all suggestions are welcome...

..AlexJB

 

[Noriaki]

If you are happy with your current speakers, don't get new ones.

Go to radio shack and ask for a 3.5mm (1/8&quot stereo mini-jack Y splitter (1 male to 2 female), and about a 3 foot 3.5mm (1/8&quot stereo mini-jack extension cable (male to female).

Plug the Y-splitter into the front output on your sound card, plug that extension into one side and the front input for your speakers into the other.

Run the extension up to your desk.

You now have a headphone plug on your desk, need to swap to headphones turn off your speakers and plug in the head phones.

No need to swap cables around behind the rig, and no need to buy new speakers.

This setup will cost you ~$5.

BTW, Welcome to the forums


Edit: Note, I'm assuming that having your headphones plugged into your sound card directly is making them loud enough for your liking.

If not you might want to look into the above setup with a Boostereo (sp?). It's a little amp meant specifically for headphones.

There are an unfortunate lack of speakers w/ integrated headphone jacks

 

[alexjb]

thanks for the quick reply

I had been considering the splitter as a fall back plan, since I would like to have a hardware volume control (rather than rely on the software one). The headphone amp is an interesting option- the only ones I've heard of were tied to sennheiser headphones and were therefore pretty pricey, but I'll look into it some more.

..AlexJB

 

[Maverick]

They actually sell media switchers that let you hook speakers and headphones to one little thing. Then on the end of it you have something that plugs into a sound card. When you want to switch between them you just press down on the top button. Its pretty convenient. It costs like $10. I've seen them at CompUSA. Cyber Guys sells it too.

I had one that I sold with my Acoustic Edge. Now I have a GXTP that has a headphone jack in its breakout box.

 

[Noriaki]

www.3dss.com has a review of the boostareo (sp)? Just go to their review sections and do a search or so.

I think it's about $20, that in conjunction with a $2 Y splitter would give you hardware volume control, as well as (I believe) some amplification if you want the headphones louder than a line-out alllows.