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Resolved Question

Headphones won't work

by Nov 18, 2011 11:38AM PST

I have some Plantronic headphones I got for my Dell Inspiron 560 desktop and can't seem to get audio out of any connection in the back of the computer. I do have speakers hooked up and they work fine. I know the headphones work as I plug them into my MP3 player and get signal. There are actually 6 in/out slots in back for audio as follows: rear L/R surround side L/R surround microphone front L/R line out (speakers are connected here) line in center/subwoofer I've tried the headphones in every output connector including the front l/r line out and I get nothing. Am I doing something wrong? Or do I have a hardware problem? What is the proper configuration if one wants to have both speakers and headphones connected to a computer or is that not possible? Thanks for any direction and/or suggestions.

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piste1 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
6 Posts
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Best Answer

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I had to install a speaker to headphone switch.
by Forum moderator Nov 19, 2011 2:22AM PST
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clarification please....
by piste1 Nov 19, 2011 6:32AM PST

Hmmm..thanks. Did you have the same problem in that you could not get the headphones to work using any of the outputs from the computer? I don't understand how a switch could fix that issue as it's just a switch and not really transforming a signal as far as I know. But if you had the same problem in that nothing worked until you got this switch....it's worth the $20 to me....but not if it doesn't fix my problem. Thanks for any clarification/confirmation you can provide.

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specifically...
by piste1 Nov 19, 2011 6:44AM PST

When I plug my headphones into the output jack into which I had the speakers set up and the headphones don't work but the speakers do....is this switch somehow going to make the headphones work? Not saying you are wrong...just want to be clear. thx

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Why I used that switch.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 19, 2011 6:58AM PST

I didn't want to tinker with the machine and see if I could fix it. I added the switch and am "done."

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Answer
Resolved
by Nov 19, 2011 7:22AM PST

Actually I figured out that sometimes when I have media playing through the speakers and unplug them and replace with the headset the headset doesn't pick up the signal..but if I restart the media...all seems to be well.

Only minor issue I have now is that the volume through the headset isn't all that high even when turned all the way up. Guess that's just a function of using the built in Dell sound capabilities vs. a separate sound card?

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No volume issues here.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 19, 2011 7:26AM PST

But then again I took the chicken method with the switch noted above. Good you found a way but your post sounds as if they (dell?) have not perfected this yet.
Bob

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