How to use 5.1 speakers and headphones together on one sound card?

[DrSvengali]

hey

I am looking at getting some surround sound 5.1 speakers for my PC. So obviously i will be getting a sound card that can provide 5.1 surround sound, but i want to simultaneously use a pair of headphones and mic for when i am not using the speakers.

However the green headphone jack will be taken by the front 2 speakers of the surround sound system.

I though can i use a splitter, and connect it to the green headphone jack on the sound card and then connect one end to the speakers and one end to the headphone. I think that should work but i'm afraid that i may loose sound quality because of the splitter. Or is that not going to be a problem?

Yes i could just connect the headphones to the front panel of my pc, but i use the headphones everyday and they need to be powered by a USB port so i would rather have them connected to the sound card and neatly hidden behind the PC.

So i guess my main question is would using a splitter work without effecting the sound quality, and if doesn't work or does effect the sound quality what can i do to to use both the speakers and headphones at the same time?

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[sincreator]

If you use Win Vista/7/8 you should be able to use a USB headset as your default communications device, and set your speakers as the default for sound. All voice will come through your headset, and music or ingame sounds will come through your speakers. Is this what you want to do? I actually use on board sound built into my motherboard with my 5.1 speakers and have a USB headset for all voice communications. Newer versions of windows allow for this easily.

 

[DrSvengali]

If you use Win Vista/7/8 you should be able to use a USB headset as your default communications device, and set your speakers as the default for sound. All voice will come through your headset, and music or ingame sounds will come through your speakers. Is this what you want to do? I actually use on board sound built into my motherboard with my 5.1 speakers and have a USB headset for all voice communications. Newer versions of windows allow for this easily.

I know what you are saying, but i want to use the speakers for listening to music/ watching movies and the headphones for all the sound when gaming (not just communication), or when its just late and i cant make a racket...

But i dont want to keep un-plugging and re plugging stuff behind my pc, i want it all to run simultaneously, so if im using the speakers i can turn the volume down on the headset and leave it on the side, and when i wanna use the headset i can just turn of the speakers and put on the headset. if you know what i mean?

So naturally i presume to use a splitter for the green port, but i'm afraid it wont work or would effect the sound quality.

 

[sincreator]

You wouldn't need to keep unplugging and plugging stuff. You would just change your headset from the default communications device, to the default sound device. You do all of this from the sound/volume control center built into windows. You will find the option to change this in the playback settings and just pick what device is used for what type of playback. If your headset is set as the default sound device(not communication) all sound will come through the headset.

 

[jwk3]

so what connection do the headphones have? Can you explain more why you cant use the front audio jack, as from what I see at the moment having a splitter will mean you have to go to the back of the PC every time (which is what you're trying to avoid), whereas if you used the front port for the headphones you don't have to.

 

[DrSvengali]

You wouldn't need to keep unplugging and plugging stuff. You would just change your headset from the default communications device, to the default sound device. You do all of this from the sound/volume control center built into windows. You will find the option to change this in the playback settings and just pick what device is used for what type of playback. If your headset is set as the default sound device(not communication) all sound will come through the headset.

Ah ok cool, so if i have my 5.1 speakers plugged into the all 3 channels into the sound card, do i then just connect the headset to the normal on board sound outputs on my motherboard?

i just thought those got disabled when you installed new audio drivers for your new soundcard?

 

[sincreator]

You have me confused... Is your headset USB or 3.5mm jacks? If it's USB you do not need to use the sound card for the headset at all.

 

[DrSvengali]

so what connection do the headphones have? Can you explain more why you cant use the front audio jack, as from what I see at the moment having a splitter will mean you have to go to the back of the PC every time (which is what you're trying to avoid), whereas if you used the front port for the headphones you don't have to.

I want the headphone permanently connected to the pc, because i use them everyday, so using the front panel connectors means that i will still have to un-plug the headset each time i want to use the speakers, and it also creates clutter in the front of the PC and it will also use 1 USB port (i only have 2 on front panel) because the headset needs to be powered. I want the wires nicely hidden in the back so you cant see them and so my setup is tidy.

 

[DrSvengali]

You have me confused... Is your headset USB or 3.5mm jacks? If it's USB you do not need to use the sound card for the headset at all.

My headset have one 3.5mm headphone jack, and one 3.5mm mic jack, and one USB cable that it used for power, it needs to USB for power for the intergrated amplifier.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turtle-Beach-Force-Headset-Xbox/dp/B003A7HHKG

 

[jwk3]

Ah ok cool, so if i have my 5.1 speakers plugged into the all 3 channels into the sound card, do i then just connect the headset to the normal on board sound outputs on my motherboard?

i just thought those got disabled when you installed new audio drivers for your new soundcard?

when you physically install the soundcard you will need to move the front panel audio wires from being plugged into the motherboard port to the port on the soundcard. this means that the soundcard picks up and recognises the front panel headphone/microphone jacks. if nothing is plugged into the front panel audio jacks on the outside of the case the soundcard will play the audio through the back ports on the soundcard, which in your case will have the 5.1 speakers plugged into. when you plug in your headphones to the front the software/soundcard will stop playing sound through the speakers and play the sound through the headphones.

In short, when headphones are unplugged the speakers will be automatically used. when the headphones are plugged into the front the speaker sound is automatically stopped and the headphones are `enabled'.

 

[DrSvengali]

/

 

[sincreator]

I'm glad you have experience with the 3.5mm jack headphones jwk3, because I stopped messing with them a long time ago. USB headsets are so much easier to work with. lol. Might not be quite as good sound quality as the 3.5mm headphones, but they are a lot easier to set up.

 

[DrSvengali]

Ah ok cool, so if i have my 5.1 speakers plugged into the all 3 channels into the sound card, do i then just connect the headset to the normal on board sound outputs on my motherboard?

i just thought those got disabled when you installed new audio drivers for your new soundcard?

when you physically install the soundcard you will need to move the front panel audio wires from being plugged into the motherboard port to the port on the soundcard. this means that the soundcard picks up and recognises the front panel headphone/microphone jacks. if nothing is plugged into the front panel audio jacks on the outside of the case the soundcard will play the audio through the back ports on the soundcard, which in your case will have the 5.1 speakers plugged into. when you plug in your headphones to the front the software/soundcard will stop playing sound through the speakers and play the sound through the headphones.

In short, when headphones are unplugged the speakers will be automatically used. when the headphones are plugged into the front the speaker sound is automatically stopped and the headphones are `enabled'.

Yes i am aware of that, but i do not want to connect the headphone to the front panel like i said because it would mean i would have to physically stand up and walk to my pc to either plug them in or unplug them. But that is not the main problem. The problem is that i do not want to use the front panel connectors at all. i think if front panel connectors as a temporary use of headphone whether as i want to have them permanently attached to the pc so i can use them when i like without having to un plug or plug anything.

 

[jwk3]

I'm glad you have experience with the 3.5mm jack headphones jwk3, because I stopped messing with them a long time ago. USB headsets are so much easier to work with. lol. Might not be quite as good sound quality as the 3.5mm headphones, but they are a lot easier to set up.

Hehe, I don't think USB would work very well when it came to plugging them into my phones and non-PCs 😛
I've never used USB headsets/headphones before as they seem more complicated that an analogue jack, with a jack you can either plug it in or you cant, it's basic electricity! USB however simple they try and make them it still requires thought on the software/coding front, because like USB memory sticks which are meant to be UPnP they can still fail and not be recognised by the OS.

Anyway, back to the question in hand!

I've just done a test on my PC by plugging my headphones into the onboard sound and it worked when I changed the output in the Windows sound panel, but of course this can depend on what soundcard/motherboard/OS you have. the reason I was thinking about using the front jacks is because I find unplugging or re-plugging an audio cable easier than going through the settings to change my output device, especially when I'm in a fullscreen app. this of course assumes you have the computer within arms reach like most people will have. but of course if you prefer changing the software then I understand. the option of a splitter is also open, however bear in mind that when you use your speakers you'll want to turn the software volume up to 100% and use the physical control on the speaker unit to change the actual loudness, and the headphones wont like to be used at 100% long term!

 

[DrSvengali]

I'm glad you have experience with the 3.5mm jack headphones jwk3, because I stopped messing with them a long time ago. USB headsets are so much easier to work with. lol. Might not be quite as good sound quality as the 3.5mm headphones, but they are a lot easier to set up.

I'm glad you have experience with the 3.5mm jack headphones jwk3, because I stopped messing with them a long time ago. USB headsets are so much easier to work with. lol. Might not be quite as good sound quality as the 3.5mm headphones, but they are a lot easier to set up.

Hehe, I don't think USB would work very well when it came to plugging them into my phones and non-PCs 😛
I've never used USB headsets/headphones before as they seem more complicated that an analogue jack, with a jack you can either plug it in or you cant, it's basic electricity! USB however simple they try and make them it still requires thought on the software/coding front, because like USB memory sticks which are meant to be UPnP they can still fail and not be recognised by the OS.

Anyway, back to the question in hand!

I've just done a test on my PC by plugging my headphones into the onboard sound and it worked when I changed the output in the Windows sound panel, but of course this can depend on what soundcard/motherboard/OS you have. the reason I was thinking about using the front jacks is because I find unplugging or re-plugging an audio cable easier than going through the settings to change my output device, especially when I'm in a fullscreen app. this of course assumes you have the computer within arms reach like most people will have. but of course if you prefer changing the software then I understand. the option of a splitter is also open, however bear in mind that when you use your speakers you'll want to turn the software volume up to 100% and use the physical control on the speaker unit to change the actual loudness, and the headphones wont like to be used at 100% long term!

Ok great, the changing option in sound control sounds good, and i will try the splitter just as a matter of experiment when i do end up getting the speakers. As goes for the headphones they have sound controls on the integrated amplifier so i can turn the sound off on the headphones themselves.

Thanks alot for all the advice.

 

[rottentreats]

I came here with a related question but these answers were ridiculous. It was such a simple question. See the image below.

Yes I understand there are many many "unaccounted for"scenarios. Maybe headphones that are maybe ONLY USB. If that is the case you do not need a splitter, learn how to switch your audio Playback Default device. However if your headphones are USB AND 3.5mm you may need a splitter. I did with my Razer Carcharias) Regardless this is the basic setup and should get most people going. To answer the question why someone would want this, I personally love having chest pounding BASS while being able to use my headphones to hear light footsteps. Or having just the headphones off and turning off the speakers, or vice versa. (I personally turn down my headphones all the way when not using them with the in-line volume control)

Blue = Line-In (stereo)
Orange = Center Speaker and Subwoofer
Grey = Mid Surround Speakers (7.1 systems)
Blank/Gray (non-round) = Toslink/Optical Audio (digital)

You're welcome internet.

 

[DCheck]

If you use Win Vista/7/8 you should be able to use a USB headset as your default communications device, and set your speakers as the default for sound. All voice will come through your headset, and music or ingame sounds will come through your speakers. Is this what you want to do? I actually use on board sound built into my motherboard with my 5.1 speakers and have a USB headset for all voice communications. Newer versions of windows allow for this easily.

I know what you are saying, but i want to use the speakers for listening to music/ watching movies and the headphones for all the sound when gaming (not just communication), or when its just late and i cant make a racket...

But i dont want to keep un-plugging and re plugging stuff behind my pc, i want it all to run simultaneously, so if im using the speakers i can turn the volume down on the headset and leave it on the side, and when i wanna use the headset i can just turn of the speakers and put on the headset. if you know what i mean?

So naturally i presume to use a splitter for the green port, but i'm afraid it wont work or would effect the sound quality.

I would really like to see this solved, I have a monster gaming headset with boom mic and usb inline amplifier. My computer (Windows 7) only plays across the chat channel therefore making the amplifer useless and the sound quality horrible