Radio Shack Computer Headphone Switch

There are times that the smallest problem with a computer are very annoying.

My computer "lab" is in the corner of our living room in a small apartment. This somewhat limits the use of the computers, specifically with regard to playing games. It's most satisfying to get a killing spree while playing Unreal Tournament, but not if your SO is intent on murder because of the sounds of mayhem and death emanating from your speakers.

Of course, using headphones will save the domestic strife. But what if your speakers of choice don't have a headphone jack? You could reach behind the back of the computer to unplug your speakers and replace them with the headphones, but what if you're lazy. Fortunately, Radio Shack have come to the aid of the terminally lazy.

You are looking at RS part number 26-204, the computer headphone speaker switch. As always, it's so simple, it's amazing no-one's come up with it before. This is basically an A/B switch in a small plastic case, with various headphone, microphone and headset sockets, with two 6' cords running from the back. The plugs are color coded pink and green, in accordance with most current sound cards to make hook-up easy. The headphone and microphone sockets on the switch are also color coded, although the speaker and headset outputs are plain black. This is no real problem, as all sockets are labelled, as it the switch.

Operation is about as simple as it gets. Once everything is hooked up, the top mounted push switch toggles between the speakers and headphones. When up the speakers are connected, and when depressed the headphones. Sound quality through the speakers is unchanged, and there is no additional hiss or other interference I could detect. Pressing the switch to activate the headphones did not make the speakers pop, which could damage the speaker cones. Audio through the headphones is a little low, which is due to the unamplified line output, but the quality is very good.

Is it worth the $14.99 cost? Yes, purely and simply from the ease of use factor. If your speakers have a headphone jack, then the switch is unnecessary. But if you have to grovel round the back of your tower to switch from speakers to heaphones, then this is well worth it.

Radio Shack