Question about two inputs?

Question

I have headphones (Turtlebeaches) that I use when I game. These headphones have standard 3.5mm jacks and output sound based on what the male jack is hooked into. I bought a headphone splitter with 1 female and 2 male sides that I assumed would allow me to listen to the game volume and my ipod at the same time, but apparently that isn't the case.

The female side of the splitter is obviously put on the jack that controls what is heard, and the male jacks are put into my iPod and cord that came with the headphones that allow me to hear the game volume. However, the only thing I hear when I have both hooked up is my iPod, no matter what the volume (if I mute it I hear nothing) or which jack is plugged into it. Is there a reason for this and is there any way to fix it?

Sorry for the long question, but thanks!

Answer 1

First, a "male jack" isn't a jack. It's a plug. The things with the holes are jacks.



But anyway... to do what you're trying to do, you need a mixer. You can't mix two sources (outputs) together with a Y adapter. The reason has to do with impedance.



It is even possible that one of the outputs might damage the other.

Answer 2

There is indeed a reason:

The two outputs have different source impedances, and therefore one dominates.



To eliminate the problem, either disconnect from one source and connect to the other

to change what you hear, or use a switch to select which one you hear.



I don't know of any commercially-made switch box for this purpose;

it would need to be built. If you are not handy with soldering,

have a local electronic repairer or skilled tinkerer build one.

Parts cost should be less than $20; labour may vary.



There are some products that can mix audio as you were trying to do,

and send it to 'phones or speakers, but they are difficult to find,

and are relatively expensive for the purpose they serve.

If you simply must have such a thing, try radio communications dealers

such as Universal Radio and Ham Radio Outlet.

Be certain to specify that you want something that will handle stereo audio.

I don't know whether the ones I've seen info on can do that or not.

Answer 3

Hard to decypher your question since you're inter-using terminology incorrectly.

Male = plug

Female = jack



Usually, jack means output, such as your game as well as your iPod.

Plug is usually what's found on your headphones and is singular.



Even though you have two headphones (a pair), both are supplied by one plug because the plug is stereo (tip, ring, sleeve). Mono plugs consist only of tip and sleeve. Plug a stereo plug into a mono jack, and you'll only hear through one side because the ring (other side) is shorted to the sleeve (ground).



Assuming your game is stereo, and assuming your iPod is stereo, plus assuming your headphones are stereo, yes, 1 male plug would go to your game's output, the other male plug would go to your iPod's output, and the jack would connect to your headphone's plug.



If all devices are stereo (and appropriately using stereo plugs/jacks), then it should work. Crosstalk between the two outputs may or may not cause some interference, but I'd doubt it.



The only reason I can imagine that you'd hear only one, but not the other, is that one device output is wired out of polarity with the output of the other device, effectively shorting out one device. Seems to me, though, that it would affect both.