Is it possible to install a headphone jack?

[Ruahrc]

I'm wondering if it's possible for someone to wire in a headphone jack onto a set of speakers that doesn't have them.

I'm fairly proficient in electronics and circuts, and am fairly handy with a soldering iron. I'm just curious as to how a headphone jack is acutally wired into a speaker system.

My speakers are also a 4.1 system, 4 satellites and a sub. Would installing the headphones be able to completely cut out sound output to all 4 speakers and the sub if installed correctly?

Ruahrc

[medo]

Hello,

Yes, you can cut off sound completely if you do that correctly but it is still an issue; usually with different ohms for the loudspeaker and for the headphones it might cause a problem on the long run.

Medo

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[wahrez]

Not as a comprehensive solution, but I ran a phono extension lead from the computer to the front of the desk and glued it into the corner of the desk along with the speaker wire...now I can plug the speaker into the extension or I can plug my headphones into it!

You can now get speakers with headphone sockets on the front...I've got some at work they are Philips MMS110 Speakers...not brilliant but they have a jack on the front!

[Graham]

Ruahrc,
You should have no problems, the impedance of 'phones is generally higher than speakers, so you should do no harm there.
The actual wiring would depend on what you have exactly, most stereo 3.5mm jack socket have only one changeover contact, so if you used one you would have to break the common line.

Ihave drawn a diagram,HTTP://WWW.HOLLIES.ORG/PHONES.GIF apologies if I am teaching you to suck eggs.

G

Edited for stupid error.

[This message has been edited by Graham (edited 05-04-2001).]

[Roy]

Graham is correct, impedance really is a non-issue these days.

Assuming you can use a place in the circuit that is 2-channel, then "if installed correctly" it can work.

I tried to open Graham's diagram but it timed out. I suspect it shows a non-standard way of wiring, using a single-break type of jack. I would expect there to exist the type of jack that would break both tip and ring circuits to let you do what you want. Maybe Radio Shack, perhaps Switchcraft.

[Bsdboy]

I did something simmilar a couple years ago.
I took a 3.5mm stereo extention cable,cut it
in half and wired them to a switching jack in
a small project box that I mounted under my
desk,one end plugged into my sound card I
plugged my speakers into the other end and
when I plugged the 'phones into the box under
my desk it cut out the speakers I hope this
makes some sense to you.

Bsdboy

[DanU]

I did just what you want to do. Just drilled a hole in the labtec speakers, put a panel-mount stereo jack in the hole, and soldered the wires to the appropriate places. Works great.