Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Headset, USB or 3.5 mm?

Dec 8, 2009 7:36AM PST

Hi there,

I'm looking to get a (stereo) headset for my mom. I'd be almost purely for VoIP (Skype), maybe used as regular headphones too. The operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium.

Here's the dilemma: I'd like to be able to leave the headset plugged in all the time, but still have Skype "ring" over the ordinary speakers. The problem of course is that plugging in the headset over 3.5 mm jacks (one for headphones, one for mic) will divert all audio output to headphone, including the ringer.

I'm wondering if I use a USB headset instead, if I could set it up as separate audio device so that Skype will redirect the sound in a call through the headset but still ring on the speakers.

Also, is there any way to replicate this behavior (through Windows settings) using a regular 3.5mm jack? They seem cheaper then the USB headsets. I've seen it done in Ubuntu, but not sure about W7.

So if anyone has any experience/advice on this I'd appreciate it! Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
I'd like to be able to leave the headset plugged in all the
Dec 8, 2009 7:46AM PST
- Collapse -
Well...
Dec 8, 2009 8:13AM PST

The second result (http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=55931) is close but not exactly the behavior I want. Ultimately my question is more general, not specifically to Skype, that is:

1. Have all audio output come through both the headset and the normal speakers (unless the speakers or headset are turned off). This is general Windows configuration.

2. Have Skype ring on the ordinary speakers (and maybe on the headset, it doesn't really matter), but then only run the conversation through the headset, which can be configured in Skype's audio settings.

Even if this were possible with multiple audio devices (i.e. speakers and and a usb headset, which so far I'm not having any luck finding info on), ultimately I'd really love to know how to do with an ordinary headset (possibly through some hack) so I can buy a cheaper headset.

- Collapse -
Let me clarify even more...
Dec 8, 2009 8:21AM PST

Let me try to clarify a little better, the tower has two physical sets of 3.5mm jacks for Speakers/Microphone, one in front and one in back. It seems to me there should be someway to trick it into treating those as separate audio devices so that one doesn't immediately over rule the other (i.e. when I plug in a headphone, it cuts off speakers). As I've said, I've seen it done in non-windows OS's, if there's a way to make it behave like that Win7 it'd be great.

- Collapse -
Sorry.
Dec 8, 2009 10:08AM PST

The laptops switch that with the plug so I fear that's a dead end. Let's try another cheap hack approach. I own one of these -> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CL-USCM2&cat=SND so for not much I can have multiple sound channels.

As to other OS's that's your choice but since the laptop I have uses a MECHANICAL SWITCH I find it easier to use the USB solutions.
Bob