2.1 Speakers & 5.1 Headset

Mike0409 · Feb 14, 2011

I'm looking for a way to swap between 2.1 Speaker setup and a 5.1 Headset setup without swapping cables all the time.

Speakers - Looking at various 2.1 setups.
Current Headset

Does anyone know of an amplifier or an audio switch that can handle this? I know some speaker sets have the Headphone/Mic jack, but not for 5.1.

CJCerny · Feb 14, 2011

Not gonna be an easy way to switch between 2 analog sets of speakers and just one sound card. You could install a second analog sound card and then just tell the OS which one to use, or buy a USB 2.1 speaker set and then just make that the default sound card when you want to use it.

Mike0409 · Feb 14, 2011

CJCerny said:
Not gonna be an easy way to switch between 2 analog sets of speakers and just one sound card. You could install a second analog sound card and then just tell the OS which one to use, or buy a USB 2.1 speaker set and then just make that the default sound card when you want to use it.

I was hoping to avoid going USB. Any splitters of any type? I remember seeing some sort of amplifier box that came with some headphones back in the day, but unable to locate those.

Maban · Feb 14, 2011

You simply need a Y cable for the front L/R speakers. If the 2.1 has a dedicated sub connector then you need two, a third if you have a separate mic. All you have to do to switch between them is turn one on, turn one off, and set the right speaker setup in Windows. BYTECC 6" 3.5mm Stereo Speaker Extension Cable -1 ...

Or one of these. http://store.turtlebeach.com/cabhpa618to318mst.aspx

cadaveca · Feb 14, 2011

Y-cables are not recommended, as they change the electrical nature of the output link.

A switch would be much more preferred.

Maban · Feb 14, 2011

How so?

Delta6326 · Feb 14, 2011

can you post a pic of the connectors on your sound card, i was going to suggest a Logitech Z623 200 w 2.1 Speaker System, THX-Certif... i have the older model and i just plug my headset in and it works the only thing is i use 2.1 headset and don't have a 5.1 laying around.

Does your computer not have front audio ports? or they don't support 5.1...

de.das.dude · Feb 14, 2011

this wont be easy and will be messy.

go USB as suggested already

cadaveca · Feb 14, 2011

Maban said:
How so?

Basic physics?

Ignoring the basics is like playing Russian roulette with your amplifier: If you're lucky, it'll drive the speakers without incident; if you're not, the amp will fry.

http://www.termpro.com/articles/spkrz.html

hat · Feb 14, 2011

I highly doubt using a Y splitter will fry any equipment.

cadaveca · Feb 14, 2011

hat said:
I highly doubt using a Y splitter will fry any equipment.

You doubt physics? This doesn't involve any tinfoil, does it?

:wtf:

hat · Feb 14, 2011

Yeah, because Y splitters are widely known to fry your shit, right?

cadaveca · Feb 14, 2011

hat said:
Yeah, because Y splitters are widely known to fry your shit, right?

Um...OK, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you didn't read the link?

:wtf:

Kursah · Feb 15, 2011

My Turtle Beach HPA2's came with 5.1 y-splitters. I used my Logitech X-230 2.1's and my 5.1 HPA2's without issues for years with that method. It works really well with an x-fi switching to game for 5.1 and entertainment for 2.1...but even so, there were many times I left it in 5.1 and when I used my speakers missed out on nada as most stuff I watched via Hulu and Netflix was not 5.1.

Link: http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/pc-gaming-headsets/ear-force-hpa2.aspx

Never had a single issue in the years I used the combo, never once fried any thing because of it, and I have used low to high impedance headphones + my X-230's + HPA2 splitters with not a single issue with any sound card I used. Now I know that 5.1 headsets are a joke (no offense to those that still like them...) and that true headphones are the way to go. Which works perfect with my Auzen Forte which has an amplified HP output and plenty of connections for speakers beyond that.

Save some money get some cheap splitters and call it macaroni. Simple as that, unless you wanna ditch the Tritons, get some real headphones and a clip on mic with a real sound card (built in X-Fi's don't stand up to true x-fi's or any dedicated sound card from my findings..even a cheap and old first gen x-fi)...and enjoy some amazing sound for what is suprisingly attainable for what that headset cost ya in the first place or close to it. Just some food for thought in the future! Beyond that, good gaming!

:toast:

Wile E · Feb 15, 2011

Why not use the headphone jack for 2.1 and the regular outputs for the 5.1 headset?

hat · Feb 15, 2011

cadaveca said:
Um...OK, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you didn't read the link?

Nope. There was too much there for me to care to read. I wonder if your intent wasn't to get people to disregard that link because there was too much info there for them to care about regarding your claim that Y splitters fry equipment.

Your quote "Ignoring the basics is like playing Russian roulette with your amplifier: If you're lucky, it'll drive the speakers without incident; if you're not, the amp will fry." is very vauge and doesn't really support your claim that Y splitters fry stuff. "Ignoring the basics" could mean anything. If the fact that Y splitters fry stuff is so basic, I don't think they would be made, or in use without incident. I've never had a failure as a result of using Y splitters, and I don't know anyone who has.

Frizz · Feb 15, 2011

Wile E said:
Why not use the headphone jack for 2.1 and the regular outputs for the 5.1 headset?

This. I currently do what wile mentioned xfi forte has connection for headphones and one for the standard green output for 2/2.1 speakers so a sound card can definitely fix your problem I hardly have any cords lying around thanks to the card and can use them at the same time or simultaneously without it effecting sound output.

Wile E · Feb 15, 2011

hat said:
Nope. There was too much there for me to care to read. I wonder if your intent wasn't to get people to disregard that link because there was too much info there for them to care about regarding your claim that Y splitters fry equipment.

Your quote "Ignoring the basics is like playing Russian roulette with your amplifier: If you're lucky, it'll drive the speakers without incident; if you're not, the amp will fry." is very vauge and doesn't really support your claim that Y splitters fry stuff. "Ignoring the basics" could mean anything. If the fact that Y splitters fry stuff is so basic, I don't think they would be made, or in use without incident. I've never had a failure as a result of using Y splitters, and I don't know anyone who has.

It won't hurt anything on a line out level, but it will hurt stuff at a speaker out level.

cadaveca · Feb 15, 2011

hat said:
Nope. There was too much there for me to care to read. I wonder if your intent wasn't to get people to disregard that link because there was too much info there for them to care about regarding your claim that Y splitters fry equipment.

Your quote "Ignoring the basics is like playing Russian roulette with your amplifier: If you're lucky, it'll drive the speakers without incident; if you're not, the amp will fry." is very vauge and doesn't really support your claim that Y splitters fry stuff. "Ignoring the basics" could mean anything. If the fact that Y splitters fry stuff is so basic, I don't think they would be made, or in use without incident. I've never had a failure as a result of using Y splitters, and I don't know anyone who has.

I provided the needed info, so while you may refute it, you admit you didn't read it, so I'll not waste my time trying to educate those that aren't interested, or too lazy, to possibly learning something new. I know science can be scary, but really, give it a chance.

However, let me say, that many times, taking the cheap and easy solution to a problem seldom proves long-lasting.

AsRock · Feb 15, 2011

hat said:
I highly doubt using a Y splitter will fry any equipment.

Same here but better safe than sorry right ?.

Hehe a custom Y splitter with on \ off switches. Just need to find some one make ya one

.

Maban · Feb 15, 2011

I think you are all seriously over thinking this. A Y splitter would be just fine. I use one myself.

cadaveca · Feb 15, 2011

AsRock said:
Just need to find some one make ya one .

3 jacks, a switch, some breadboard, and a project box would probably cost less than buying a splitter.

AsRock · Feb 15, 2011

cadaveca said:
3 jacks, a switch, some breadboard, and a project box would probably cost less than buying a splitter.

Yeah you can even get that stuff at RS.

Was thinking some thing like this but i guess it be even more expensive due to the headphone 3.5mm connections.
http://electronicsusa.com/mk5.html

EDIT: This one comes up a lot but still fails as he needs multi inpput fromt he headphones

..
http://www.geek24.com/g/speaker-headset-switching-hub-easily-switch-between-speakers-and-headset

hat · Feb 15, 2011

cadaveca said:
I provided the needed info, so while you may refute it, you admit you didn't read it, so I'll not waste my time trying to educate those that aren't interested, or too lazy, to possibly learning something new. I know science can be scary, but really, give it a chance.

However, let me say, that many times, taking the cheap and easy solution to a problem seldom proves long-lasting.

I had a feeling you would play the ingorance/laziness card, with a bit of trolling mixed in. It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I know better (that Y splitters do not cause hardware failure) and need not concern myself with a huge article of irrelevant info.

Mike0409 · Feb 15, 2011

AsRock said:
Yeah you can even get that stuff at RS.

Was thinking some thing like this but i guess it be even more expensive due to the headphone 3.5mm connections.
http://electronicsusa.com/mk5.html

EDIT: This one comes up a lot but still fails as he needs multi inpput fromt he headphones ..
http://www.geek24.com/g/speaker-headset-switching-hub-easily-switch-between-speakers-and-headset

Problem is I need it to switch via A/B. Not output at the same time. There is nothing cheap or worthwhile...USB speakers might end up being the easiest...I'd hate to use up a USB port for speakers tho.

Anyone know of a set of 5.1 speakers that have a audio switch built in? I know some have a Mic/Headphone jack for simple switching, but I am unaware of any others that do a 5.1.

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2.1 Speakers & 5.1 Headset

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