Headphone Splitter
Defining a Headphone Splitter
Some people call headphone splitters as Y-jacks. In reality, this device is a type of Y-jack or Y-cable. These cables are sometimes just simply called splitters. The name comes from the shape that the wires make by immediate inspection. One end of the cable is shared by the other two ends. This type of cable basically allows more connections to a specific electronic device.
Splitters are pretty common cables that are used in many devices. There are splitters for your phone cables, computer cables, USB devices, video cables, power adapter cables, and even for your vacuum cleaner. If you want to see more of these cables, just head out to the nearest electronics store and ask for a Y-jack or Y-cable.
In the case of a splitter for your headphones, this jack allows you to plug more than one headphone to a single music player. This gives you a chance to share your favorite music with someone else without having to share one headphone or ear bud. The idea or concept behind this tool is pretty easy to understand. The following are useful information regarding splitters and their usage.
Male or Female?
When you walk up to the desk where the electronics store clerk is stationed and ask for a headphone splitter or any type of Y-jack, they may ask you whether you want a male one or a female one. The guy from the store is basically talking about the end of the jack that has been split into two.
The way to distinguish which is which is pretty simple, really. A male jack will have the metal ends sticking out while female jacks will have there are holes on the ends. Most devices you’ll use will require a female headphone splitter. On rare occasions, you’ll come across devices or headsets that will require otherwise or some other type of connector. This basically depends on the manufacturer of the electronic device you’re using.
Uses and Benefits
As mentioned earlier, Y-jacks allow you to split or add multiple devices into one outlet. Depending on the cable you’re using you can expand the input options for a certain device, like connecting two game consoles into one input plug in your TV for instance. In the case of a headphone splitter, you double the number of output devices since you can now plug more than one pair of headphones or headsets.
Tips for Buyers and Users
You can actually make multiple extensions and have more than two headsets connect to a single electronic device. All you need to do is to use multiple Y-splitters attached in a chain. Another option is to use headphone splitters that have more than two output ends. This eliminates the need to plug in more Y-cables thus reducing the spaghetti-like tangle of wires you’ll have to deal with.
The Y-jack and the headphones or headsets you plug in will consume a bit of power. Take note that the more headsets you plug in the more power will be consumed. If you’re using a Y-cable with a portable music player, you better make sure that the electronic device is fully charged or else you’ll run out of power a lot sooner than you expect.
You can get Y-cables in the many electronics stores out there or even online. You’ll notice that some cables will be sold for lower prices, some even cheaper than $5. However, do take note of the quality of the cable and the price shouldn’t be much of a concern since these cables are generally cheaper than most electronic devices.
The issue is with the quality of the sound you get out of a splitter. The store clerk should allow you to test the sound you get from the jack before laying down your money. Poorly made jacks will produce noise, some static, or poor sound quality. Always get the cable that gives none or at least very minimal sound deterioration. Compare the sound you get with the Y-jack on and without it.