Surround Speakers/Headset Switch

[DFFS]

Not sure where this thread should be. Pls move if not supposed to be here!

K, now I know this has been brought up before but I need to know if there is a device I could use to switch between speakers and headsets.

I have surround sound speakers and headphones which use three cables(L, R and C) and it's a mission to keep swopping between them.

Pls help :thumbsup:

[Karnaugh]

your surround sound doesn't have a headphone/monitor output? :( Mine does.

[DFFS]

No man..

I have :

a: Logitech 5.1 speakers
b: Zalman 5.1 Headphones

I want to be able to plug both in and switch between them..

[J1nX]

got me stumped...

I presume you've already extensively tried google.com :P

[Macera]

Well
i suppose you can make them both play at once, or else making a switch by yourself wont be hard.

[[N]Haja]

Eish, just checked on the net and some local electronic websites, cannot seem to see anything DFFS.

Can you solder at all? If so, you can make your own very easily, with some over the counter parts. I am more than willing to give you a breakdown of what you need to do if you are unsure :)

[Karnaugh]

No man..

I have :

a: Logitech 5.1 speakers

"No man"... *which* Logitech 5.1 speakers? Pretty much every one I've seen has a amplified stereo headphone output. You can plug into that and it should disable the speakers automatically, or there should be another way to disable them.

[[N]Haja]

ye, i think he wants to plug both headphones AND his speakers in at the same time, then switch between them (ie, not have to unplug his headphones from the socket).

Thinking about it, it would not really be possible, as most switches will have a single inputs and a switch.
The 5.1's have multiple inputs (rear, centre, front and sub) so you could not plug those into a switch (as they generally have single inputs, unless you make a special switch from scratch).
Another possibility is to open the Mic output from the logitech's and put the switch there, so you switch between the headphones and speakers like that, but it will void the gaurantee :(

[Macera]

ye ull also havta cut cables which cud b dodgy

[Karnaugh]

ye ull also havta cut cables which cud b dodgy

For the love of Steve man, write English.

You don't have to cut cables, just buy female jacks and don't be an abo.

[DFFS]

LMAO

What difference does it make what Logitech speakers?

The point is that both the speakers and the headphones have three cables. Front + Rear + Center

No worries then. I'll hafta make my own.

[DFFS]

Haja;61827']Eish, just checked on the net and some local electronic websites, cannot seem to see anything DFFS.

Can you solder at all? If so, you can make your own very easily, with some over the counter parts. I am more than willing to give you a breakdown of what you need to do if you are unsure :)

I have made one for stereo speakers which was easy enuff. Now with using 3 jacks per output is a little more complex. Like what kind of switch could handle that? That would be 9 wires on either side of the switch..or sumfing like that =)

[J1nX]

Ok, I could see you were getting know where so I decided to try and help.

Well first google search I do with the search key 'headphones to speaker switcher' and well well well what do you know.. there were loads of matches to my search.. here are the top 2 sites that popped up..

I found the following.

Is this what you're looking for?

"Our Model MK-5 Computer Audio Switch Box is a great solution for conveniently connecting and using your computer's audio input and output capabilities. It simply ends the hassle and inconvenience associated with using both speakers and headphones on your computer audio system. With the MK-5 Switch Box, switching between speakers and headphones is now very EASY, FAST, and EFFORTLESS!"

See link --> http://electronicsusa.com/mk5.html

And the other link I clicked I got this:

Technical Details


Easily switch between speakers and headset at the touch of a button
Small, streamlined design helps eliminate desktop clutter
Installs in seconds, just plug it in to your sound card
Compatible with any PC or Macintosh computer with a sound cardSee link for more --> http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-PC-Headset-Speaker-Switch/dp/B000069E1V#moreAboutThisProduct


PS: Remember people, google is your friend.
PPS: If you do the same search for the key words I did, you'll get more products.

Peace out
Terrorno0b :D

(http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-PC-Headset-Speaker-Switch/dp/tech-data/B000069E1V/ref=de_a_smtd/102-2626906-4973757)

[Karnaugh]

LMAO

What difference does it make what Logitech speakers?


!@#$J!KL@#J$KL!@J#KL$J!@KL#J$LK!JKLGJAKLSJDKL!J@KL #$J!LK@#JRL!JWLKFJKL!@J#$K!:@#K$KL!@#

BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ALREADY HAVE THAT @#$!@#$!@#$!@#$ FEATURE IN THEM ALREADY

OH
MY
LORD

HOW !@#$ LONG DOES IT TAKE TO JUST SAY WHAT THEY ARE SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BLOODY HELP YOU??????????????

[J1nX]

Ok no need to have an ass collapse Karnaugh, play nice now :D

[[N]Haja]

those are pretty nifty products there Jinx.

The problem is, surround sound has 3 outputs from the sound card. There are 3 cables. 1 for rear, 1 for front, 1 for centre (sometimes the sub leeches from the front or rear and makes it mono).

Now, normally, if you have stereo speakers, you are sorted. Put a switch inline, and plug in your speakers and headphones, and switch between them. However, with 3 outputs for surround, you would have to switch ALL of them off in order to use the headphones, then ALL of them on again, to bypass the headphones and go through your headphones.

I tried last night just putting a jack into my Creative Inspire's headphone output, thinking that if there are no headphones, just a blank headphone jac, it may still play through the speakers. However, it cut the speakers, meaning that once a (headphone)jack is put into the socket, it switches form the speakers to the headphone jack.

So IMHO there are 2 solutions.

1. You can make a box with 3 inputs, one for each channel of the surround, and another input for your headphones. Then you can make a switch that toggles between the headphones and the speakers (by switching ALL 3 inputs from your suround speakers). This is not particularly difficult, and would just require a bit more time and components, but is perfectly feasable, and would leave your speakers 100% original.

2. If you do not mind opening your speakers / remote volume units, then this is the easier option. You would open where your headphones plug in, and just wire a switch into the + (or -) of the headphone jack. This would allow you to plug your headphones in, and if you open the switch, it would play through your speakers, and if you close the switch it would play through your headphones. This is by far the easier method, and would be alot neater (you could even wire a tiny micro switch into the side of the unit to look stock). However, this mod would void the warranty (if it has one).

There are prob many other options, but these are the 2 most feasable I can think of.

[J1nX]

Ahh I see 3 inputs, and those devices only cater for one...

Mmm, /goes back to google again this time with new keyword search :D

Edit: Found this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=9325&C=SEO

Is that it?

[[N]Haja]

nope, still not the device needed.

DFFS - After actually READING your original post, I think I have been on the complete wrong track. Am I to understand that your headphones are ALSO surround? So each time you want to use them, you have to physically unplug your speakers, THEN put in your headphones? ie, remove the L, R & C of your speakers and plug in your L, R & C of your headphones?

If so, I reacon you will have to make a box yourself that switches between the 2 devices as I doubt there would be something out there (and if there were, it would more than likely be a special import and expensive).

Please can you just clarify this :)

Edit - after readong your posts above,I see you ineed have 5.1 headphones. You wil lhave to build a switch, just gimme a buzz if you need some help designing it :)

cya

[J1nX]

Well, can't say I didn't try lol...

GL dude, hope you come right eventually :D

[DFFS]

!@#$J!KL@#J$KL!@J#KL$J!@KL#J$LK!JKLGJAKLSJDKL!J@KL #$J!LK@#JRL!JWLKFJKL!@J#$K!:@#K$KL!@#

BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ALREADY HAVE THAT @#$!@#$!@#$!@#$ FEATURE IN THEM ALREADY

OH
MY
LORD

HOW !@#$ LONG DOES IT TAKE TO JUST SAY WHAT THEY ARE SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BLOODY HELP YOU??????????????

Fuck off.

If they fucking had 3 outputs from the speakers would I be asking?

Please do tell, what speakers do you have that have this built into them already?

[DFFS]

Haja;61931']

Edit - after readong your posts above,I see you ineed have 5.1 headphones. You wil lhave to build a switch, just gimme a buzz if you need some help designing it :)

cya

Yeh, 5.1 headphones. I'll msn you..

Ta

[J1nX]

I feel another flame war arising - YAY ::D jk

One week into the New year, the place was born to be a flame fest hehehehehe

[DFFS]

No flames here. Was a simple outburst!

[J1nX]

Don't blame you.