what to do for front audio?

[carlivar]

I think I'm going to get the Kingwin 424 case for my new PC... love the removable motherboard tray in particular. Only complaint is no front audio?! I go about 50/50 with speakers/headphones so I really like the front audio ports. Any other solutions? Maybe an audio A/B switch or something, or does anyone make front audio ports that can be put in a drive bay?

Thanks
Carl

 

[akira34]

When I was using headphones with my system I found an easy (and cheap) solution... Get a headphone extension line and connect that to the speaker port on the mobo. Simply plug in your speakers when you want to use them, or the headphones and you're all set. The extension lines can be had for very cheap money (less than a bay item) and take up 0 bays. Plus, if you ever go to a case that does have front audio, you won't have to worry about what to do with the bay item.

Keep in mind something else. Many mobo's that offer front audio headers make you disable the read feed in order to use them. This is not an auto-sensing item but one done with jumpers. That can make the extension line even better, since you don't have to do jack to the mobo.

 

[carlivar]

Actually I've done that sort of thing with a headphone extension cable in the past. Problem is that I'm trying to get rid of wiring hassle, not create more.

Also I expect to keep the case a while so I don't care if the solution is not very "transferrable".

 

[carlivar]

Ah found a cheap headphone/speaker switch available at Radio Shack:

part 26-204

I'll probably just use that. Though I suppose I could also upgrade my ancient speakers to some with a headphone jack too!

 

[akira34]

From the look of that item, it's going to create just as much, if not more, 'wiring hassle' for you.

It would be very cool/good if someone made an item that could be controlled by software on your system so that you could just use a hot key combo to switch between the speakers and headphones... Sort of how many KVM boxes work...

 

[Zepper]

http://www.frontx.com (use their panel or do it yourself with their large variety of cables - mount the openings wherever you want) or get the Silverstone (3.5" drive bay mounted) front connector panel (about $13. at newegg) or similar.
.bh.

:moon:

 

[CJP]

I use a stereo mini-jack splitter to split my line-out signal between my computer speakers and my T.V./receiver. You could do the same for your speakers and headphones with no wiring mess. I got the splitter at the Sony store but Radio Shack carries them too.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: akira34
Keep in mind something else. Many mobo's that offer front audio headers make you disable the read feed in order to use them. This is not an auto-sensing item but one done with jumpers. That can make the extension line even better, since you don't have to do jack to the mobo.

I believe that the front ports are auto sensing. The jumpers are just to make continuity. With front audio there is the signal line for R-L and there are the "return" lines. Those make the front ports act like jumpers if you don't have headphones plugged in. Once headphones are plugged in the rear port automatically disables (probably motherboard detects impedance difference). It works this way with my Antec Super LAN Boy case and MSI PT880 motherboard. If speakers are hooked up and audio is playing, if I plug in headphones the speakers immediately cut off and I get sound from the headphones.