SOUND ON SOUND

[Mark6432]

I currently teach A-Level Music Technology with a classroom of 11 old (2012-2015) iMacs. We're now looking to avoid students over-using the headphone jacks, and need a way to co-listen to student's work, so am wondering if there is a cost-effective solution. Ideally it would be a USB to two output device, so avoiding headphone jack and providing the required outs for student/teacher monitoring, but realise this isn't possible because of the power required. A central mixer is also undesirable as teachers would be in close proximity to students when discussing work. Also, even a small interface is going to be costly, given the number of individual machines.

Should I resign myself to audio headphone amps and use the jack out?

Any advice or ideas greatly appreciated!

[James Perrett]

Can you not use a simple Y cable with two pairs of headphones? Keep the Y cable plugged into the computer permanently to avoid additional strain on the computer connector.

[blinddrew]

Or something like a Behringer HA400 permanently plugged into the Mac and students just plug into that? Cheaper than a usb interface (or at least one with multiple headphone sockets) and probably simple enough to be repairable.

[zenguitar]

My thought was a Y cable as well, largely as a sacrificial part to save wear and tear on the MacBook sockets.

Andy :beamup:

[resistorman]

My thought was a Y cable as well, largely as a sacrificial part to save wear and tear on the MacBook sockets.

Andy :beamup:

That's what I do, even for things like USB jacks if I plug/ unplug a particular one often.

[Mark6432]

Thank you all. It looks like using a simple Y cable, which we already have a stash of, might be best.

[ef37a]

Thank you all. It looks like using a simple Y cable, which we already have a stash of, might be best.

In that case look on Amazon for the 'TECKNET SKU:UA110. Thus is a USB device that has headphone out and mic in and I use on exclusively with a headset for Skyping son in France.

Only one headphone jack but I get plenty of level and I am clinically deaf! I am sure it will split two ways. I am sure it was under a tenner.

Yes, H/P jacks are very vulnerable on laptops, the one on my old HP is borked, one reason I bought the TECKNET.

Dave.