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    noob usb headset question

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by shenker10, Apr 17, 2011.

  1. shenker10

    shenker10 Notebook Consultant

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    i just ordered a usb headset from newegg and i was thinking if the headset stops the speakers from working... like if i plug in the headset and turn volume up to half, because the mic/headphone port is empty, will the speaker still be putting out sound?


    i feel dumb but ive never owned a usb headset and have no idea about them other then i bought one lol
     
    shenker10, Apr 17, 2011
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  2. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Not sure if Windows allows getting audio out from 2 different sources (USB and integrated audio circuitry)

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Apr 18, 2011
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  3. Evanescent

    Evanescent Notebook Deity

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    From what I know, the speakers of the laptop should not be outputting sound. I have regular analog headphones with a USB sound adapter on it so I just plug it into the USB. No sound from the speakers while this is plugged in.
     
    Evanescent, Apr 20, 2011
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  4. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    When you plug in the USB headset it installs a new sound device in your system. This new device will become the default windows device. Most programs output only the the default windows device but some let you change the device so that you could run one program with the headset an another with the speakers.
    Some programs also let you out put to more than one device. The one I can think of is Skype that has an option 'Ring on all devices' this means it will ring both on the headset and speakers.

    Normal headsets are different. They use the same device as the speakers on your notebook, the build in sound card. When you plug in a headset it disables the speakers but the sound device is unchanged. This switch over is something physical as far as I know not software. The headset plugedin is like pressing a button that reroots the electronic signals.
     
    wave, Apr 20, 2011
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