Does This Headset Adapter Exist?

[matthew858]

I'm looking for an adapter that allows 2 different steams of audio to be combined into one stream, then into a set of headphones ie. 2 iPods into 1 set of headphones. Like the following adapter:



But all ports 3.5mm and going the opposite ways.

Any help or similar products appreciated.

[decryption]

You need a mixer. The Behringer MX400 MicroMix would be perfect for just plugging in a couple of iPods and mixing away. Should be able to grab one for $50 or so.





You do need a power outlet or some sort of 12V DC battery adaptor though.

Out of interest, why would you want to combine the sounds of multiple iPods together?

[matthew858]

Originally Posted by decryption

Out of interest, why would you want to combine the sounds of multiple iPods together?

It was just an example. I have other things in mind.

[Lachie]

of course its possible. I dont imagine it would be good for either "iPod".
You need this basically. except a stereo version. It would be a piece of cake to make the required adapter.

[geektechnu]

I;ve never seen one, but the should exist somewhere due to the relatively simple construction.
You could build one from scratch from a few dollars worth of parts.

Or you could try the following route:

- 1 x headphone splitter adaptor
- 1 x 3.5mm stereo socket gender changer
- 2 x 3.5mm stereo plug to plug cable

Edit: Updated with links to appropriate parts on Jaycar

- The splitter turns 1 input/output in to 2
- The gender changer allows your headphones to be plugged in
- The 3.5mm plug cables change the gender of the 2 sockets and give you the extra wire to reach each audio device.

[petecario]

Originally Posted by decryption

You need a mixer. The Behringer MX400 MicroMix would be perfect for just plugging in a couple of iPods and mixing away. Should be able to grab one for $50 or so.





You do need a power outlet or some sort of 12V DC battery adaptor though.

Out of interest, why would you want to combine the sounds of multiple iPods together?

Does that just use standard 3.5 mm jacks or something else?

Edit: By the looks of the picture, they are 6.5mm ?
In that case, would a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter work?

[Lachie]

Originally Posted by petecario

Does that just use standard 3.5 mm jacks or something else?

Edit: By the looks of the picture, they are 6.5mm ?
In that case, would a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter work?

The are indeed 6.5mm TRS ports. Monophonic however, NOT stereo.
to combine two stereo sources you would need a 3.5mm stereo TRS jack to a 6.5mm mono TRS jack

[klif]

I think decryption's suggest of a cheap analogue mixer is the best solution for merging two sources, regardless of what connectors or converters you may or may not need.

However it mixes sources, where each source appears to be mono?

[Brains]

Originally Posted by matthew858

... I have other things in mind.

Then tell us exactly what you are wanting to do, or trying to achieve, then we can recommend the right solution. I hate trying to give half-arsed solutions for half-baked questions.

Anyway ...

Originally Posted by matthew858

... an adapter that allows 2 different streams of audio to be combined into one stream, then into a set of headphones ... all ports 3.5mm.

My guess is that you have two computers (or other audio outputs) and you want to combine the outputs because your amplifier or headphones only has one input, and you want to be able to hear both without having to switch betwen them, yes?

If so, then your simplest solution is to run the output of the first device into the input of the second, and from the second to your amp / phones. This is the solution I use at my own desk, I have the output from my G4 going to the line-input on the soundcard in my Windows machine, and then a cable from the line output jack on the soundcard to the auxilliary input on my amplifier.

If you are lacking suitable line-level inputs on one or both devices, then you are going to need a self-powered mixer. Whilst it is possible to build a simple two-into-one adaptor, electronically this should not be used to mix two sources into one output as this could cause damage to one or both output circuits, and if both outputs are going at once, could overload your amplifier's input and cause damage there.

A suitable stereo mixer will set you back $50-$150 new, plus another few dollars each for suitable cables to go from the 3.5mm stereo (TRS) output jacks to the inputs of the mixer. Most mixers use dual RCA connectors for inputs, so stereo 3.5mm to dual RCA cables can be had from just about anywhere.

The simplest (and smallest) solution is the Behringer MON800 Stereo Monitor Matrix Mixer which can be had for about $80.

This little unit can correctly merge up to four stereo inputs, has its own headphone amp, and can send the mixed signals out to one, two or three outputs simultaneously.

You could always scout eBay and Gumtree for people selling old stereo-capable mixers, such as this Genexxa unit currently on eBay for $35. It'll do what you need, it just takes up a power point and a fair bit of space.

[petecario]

Originally Posted by Brains

The simplest (and smallest) solution is the Behringer MON800 Stereo Monitor Matrix Mixer which can be had for about $80.

This little unit can correctly merge up to four stereo inputs, has its own headphone amp, and can send the mixed signals out to one, two or three outputs simultaneously.
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Can you see any problems if I use the dual RCA output on this mixer and input that into the RCA input in my stereo system and playing it through that?

[Brains]

None whatsoever -- it's one of the things it was designed to do. Instead of a bunch of knobs or sliders like a traditional mixer, it does the signal-summing under digital control, letting you quickly enable or disable specific inputs and/or outputs. That's why they call it a "matrix mixer".

[Lachie]

hey i found the perfect solution for you, i assume you don't want to get a big mixxer and all that junk.
anyway check this out

You can connect either 5 sets of headphones to on input, or if you want to get silly, 5 inputs to one output

Anyway, it basically lets you connect a bunch of different configuration.

[Brains]

You mis-read the OP's question -- he is after a simple way to get two outputs into one set of headphones. The adaptor you showed above won't do that, because it's not just jacks wired directly together, each jack has an impedance matching circuit on its signal lines.

[~Coxy]

FWIW if quality doesn't matter at all then you can do it for really cheap with one of those headphone splitters. I used it to plug in a single pair of headphones to a computer running WoW and another computer running Vent, so I didn't care about being able to hear both sources at full quality mixed together.

All you need is one 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male patch cord, and one headphone double adaptor. Plug the headphones into one socket of the double adaptor, and one of the jacks of the patch cord into the other adaptor socket. Plug the adaptor into one output source and the other jack of the patch cord into the other output source. Cheap and lo-fi.

[Donnie Darko]

The solution - I has it.

mix tape is really a portable dj mixer on [technabob]

"On the surface, this shiny box looks like an old school cassette tape that’s been 24-karat gold plated. But take another look, and you’ll see that it’s actually a pocket-sized audio mixer for combining sounds from a pair of audio devices.



The Mix Tape Portable DJ Mixer lets you mash up tracks from any two iPods or other portable music devices. A pair of 3.5mm stereo inputs and a single stereo output let you gently fade between two sources just like a full-size DJ mixer.



There’s also a monitor jack that lets you cue up your tracks in the privacy of your own headphones. Just connect your media players, pop in a couple of AAA batteries, and you’ll be cranking out your own party mix in seconds.

The Mix Tape Portable DJ Mixer is available exclusively from Urban Outfitters website for $30 bucks."

[Brains]

Folks, we have a winner! Nice find, Donnie

Evven with the crap exchange rate and shipping, this would be cheaper than my Behringer suggestion. One hopes it has an input for a mains plugpack, though.

[iPirate]

You know you could just use two of the adapters the OP posted... and two male to male audio cables...
The config would be like this:

=>--=>-|
<---/

(It's how I've been doing it for years)

[Brains]

... except that doing it with just adaptors causes impedance mismatch, distorting the signal and inevitably damaging the headphones and both audio outputs. It's why I strongly recommend using a simple mixer.