Solved! Headphone/mic connector for 2 devices

[The007baron]

I have a desktop computer that I use a pair of Sennheiser HD558s and a mod mic with. I have just added an Xbox one S to my setup and I am looking for a way to swap between PC and Xbox without have to unplug and replug my headphones/mic.

I was thinking an amplifier or mixer would do the trick but im having an issue with using the right key words.

What i need is a single input for headphones and mic, with a dual output (one of the PC and one for the Xbox one)

I have seen the question asked before, but no one ever seems to answer it

 

[atljsf]

you need a switch for those two

there is some y splitters

https/www.amazon.com/Hosa-YPP-111-inch-Dual-Cable/dp/B000068O53/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486158060&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+splitter

https/www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486158132&sr=8-3&keywords=headphone+splitter

but there is no way on them to switch one input or the other

the amplifier you mention, i haven't seen one that handles mic and headphone that way, and if there is one, it would be expensive and will reduce the audio quality of those senheisers

 

[The007baron]

you need a switch for those two

there is some y splitters

https/www.amazon.com/Hosa-YPP-111-inch-Dual-Cable/dp/B000068O53/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486158060&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+splitter

https/www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486158132&sr=8-3&keywords=headphone+splitter

but there is no way on them to switch one input or the other

the amplifier you mention, i haven't seen one that handles mic and headphone that way, and if there is one, it would be expensive and will reduce the audio quality of those senheisers

Thanks for you answer.

I had a feeling that the headphone/mic would be a bit of a shot in the dark.

Lets say I am willing to switch the mic back and forth, just to eliminate that issue from the equation.

What would be the best solution for 2 inputs (PC and Xbox) and 2 outputs (Headphones and speakers)?

I'm guessing a 2 channel amplifier could handle that?

 

[cryoburner]

If your headphones and mic each use 3.5mm connections, you might first try getting two sets of splitter cables like these, one for the headphones, and the other for the microphone, and seeing if that does the trick...

https/www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=669

I noticed one of the reviews there actually mention someone using this for hooking up a single set of computer speakers to both their Xbox 360 and a PC, and that may work for an Xbox One as well, although someone else mentioned having the volume get reduced for their PC when powering off their PS3 hooked up in a similar manner, probably due to the signal getting grounded. It likely depends on how exactly the equipment is designed, though if it works in your scenario, it would definitely be the simplest and least expensive option. You would need a second splitter for the microphone, and would probably want a pair of 3.5mm male to female extension cables like these as well, unless the ports on the two devices happen to be right next to each other...

https/www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=648

Also, if getting a splitter from somewhere else, make sure it's the same kind, since many of these tend to have the plugs in the opposite direction, with two plugs and one jack, for hooking two sets of speakers/headphones to one device. There are also some that look just like this, but they're for splitting a combined microphone/headphone jack into separate microphone and headphone jacks. Make sure it's one that simply links a stereo signal two ways.

And yeah, if this happened to not work, an amplifier that lets you switch between two input sources might, though I'm not sure what you would need to switch over the microphone input.

(I was writing this post earlier, but had to leave before I could finish it, so there was another reply in the mean time with a similar solution. : ) )

 

[The007baron]

If your headphones and mic each use 3.5mm connections, you might first try getting two sets of splitter cables like these, one for the headphones, and the other for the microphone, and seeing if that does the trick...

https/www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=669

I noticed one of the reviews there actually mention someone using this for hooking up a single set of computer speakers to both their Xbox 360 and a PC, and that may work for an Xbox One as well, although someone else mentioned having the volume get reduced for their PC when powering off their PS3 hooked up in a similar manner, probably due to the signal getting grounded. It likely depends on how exactly the equipment is designed, though if it works in your scenario, it would definitely be the simplest and least expensive option. You would need a second splitter for the microphone, and would probably want a pair of 3.5mm male to female extension cables like these as well, unless the ports on the two devices happen to be right next to each other...

https/www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=648

Also, if getting a splitter from somewhere else, make sure it's the same kind, since many of these tend to have the plugs in the opposite direction, with two plugs and one jack, for hooking two sets of speakers/headphones to one device. There are also some that look just like this, but they're for splitting a combined microphone/headphone jack into separate microphone and headphone jacks. Make sure it's one that simply links a stereo signal two ways.

And yeah, if this happened to not work, an amplifier that lets you switch between two input sources might, though I'm not sure what you would need to switch over the microphone input.

(I was writing this post earlier, but had to leave before I could finish it, so there was another reply in the mean time with a similar solution. : ) )

Thanks for your response.

Excluding the mic integration, would this solution work?

https/www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2QLQTQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=350L4CC3YYUSK&coliid=I3779JUOBOKU0S

It has a coaxial input and a toslink that can be switched between on the front. Does this seem like a worth while?