When you plug in a set of headphones ...

[Shyatic]

Does it cancel out your speakers? Here's the problem I am having... I will tell you how I get around it for now.

I have a computer with a sound card that powers my speakers (obviously). When I want to plug in a headset, I have to have the mike plugged into the sound card, but then I have to unplug my speakers. I suppose I could get a Y adapter so they both can play, but that's dumb. I could turn off the speakers but again, this is a crap solution to something that should work better.

Right now, when I want to use my headset, I plug in a USB headset from Sennheiser. It has an onboard sound card and that disables the sound card on my PC, at least as being the primary. I don't have to touch my speakers or anything, they just stay silent as all the sound comes to my headset. When I'm done, I yank the headset and blam, my speakers come back up.

Is there a way to avoid using the USB so I can just plug the headset in and it would disable my speakers automatically? Do I need one of the SB cards with the 5.25 bay with the ports on it to do this?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Malladine]

I plug my headphones directly into the jack on my speakers...

 

[theMan]

if your mobo has onboard sound doesnt it have a jack in the back for headphones/speakers? just plug them in there.

Originally posted by: Malladine
I plug my headphones directly into the jack on my speakers...

thats also a really good idea. thats what i do too. then you dont have to go around your computer to plug.

 

[Shyatic]

Yea but I have to plug in a microphone as well. :

I'm thinking to get the new XFI sound card with the front I/O drive. Think it's worth it? All I do is play games

 

[bunker]

Leave the mic plugged in, just disable it in the sound volume control when not using it.

Do your speakers not have a headphone jack?

If not, just use the splitter and turn the speakers off when not using them.

 

[Shyatic]

I'd rather spend the $200 and get the XFI card

I know it's pricey but I'm still running off an SB Live! card... probably a good time to upgrade. Next month or so

 

[Ike0069]

I'm not sure if this helps, but here's my setup.
I leave my headset mic connector in the back of my soundcard (headset has an on/off switch for the mic). I have the other (sound) connector from my headset connected to an extender wire I bought at Radio Shack. I then routed the extender jack up to my speaker.
Whenever I need to switch to the headset, I just plug into the speaker, turn on the mic switch, and everything runs thru the headset.