Headphones on an imac

Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
Ok this is my problem. I like to listen to music while I am doing stuff on my computer but it tends to annoy my wife. So I got some headphones but I have to reach around and unplud them to get the speakers to work when I don't want to use the headphones. I even got an extension thinking maybe if the headphones themselves weren't plugged in that the speakers would work. But even with just the extension plugged in the speakers are disabled. So is there any kind of software workaround to turn the speakers on and off even if headphones are plugged in?



I have the 17" iMac running OS X 10.2.3

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    if the headphones are plugged in, the speakers stop to work. looks like you have to reach around your iMac every-time...
  • Reply 2 of 11
    elricelric Posts: 230member
    Well bugger <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
  • Reply 3 of 11
    squashsquash Posts: 332member
    That's why I think it's one plug that needs to be on the front. Headphones are a pain to plug in and out on the back..i do the same thing on my powermac.
  • Reply 4 of 11
    I have some altec lansig speakers with the powered sub but got stuck using the crumby apple speakers that came with my imac can I still use my altec's even though the plug is different in the back???
  • Reply 5 of 11
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    The iMac has two audio out ports on the back - a 2.5mm digital Pro Speaker jack, and a standard analog 3.5mm stereo jack. I'm guessing your Altec Lansings use the 3.5mm jack, so yes, it'll work. Just unplug the iMac speakers first, I don't know what happens if you have two speakers sets in at once.



    I agree about putting the headphone jack near the front (or at least on a side). Now only the iMac has a hard to reach headphone jack... the PowerMac uses one right above the optical drives, the iBook has one on the left side as does the PowerBook, and the eMac has one on the right side. They need to have one or two on the front like on the CRT iMacs.
  • Reply 6 of 11
    elricelric Posts: 230member
    I wish there was a software switch. Like a little headphone icon up in the bar near the time. You click it and it toggles between the 2 speaker jacks, perhaps someone will make one but most likely its a hardware thing <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
  • Reply 7 of 11
    ryzeryze Posts: 5member
    actually there is no 3.5 plugin for speakers. It only has headphone plug and the apple pro speakers 2.5 plug.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    elricelric Posts: 230member
    You can plug up normal computer speakers to the headphone jack, its the same size.
  • Reply 9 of 11
    ryzeryze Posts: 5member
    saweet i didn't know if that would work or not. I wonder if i could keep the old apple speaks and put in the altec's to. maybe tommorow Thanks
  • Reply 10 of 11
    elricelric Posts: 230member
    No, when you plug anything into the headphone jack the other jack is disabled (sucks huh?)
  • Reply 11 of 11
    costiquecostique Posts: 1,084member
    [quote]Originally posted by Elrik:

    <strong>So is there any kind of software workaround to turn the speakers on and off even if headphones are plugged in?</strong><hr></blockquote>

    I'm afraid it's a hardware feature.

    [quote]Originally posted by SQUÅSH:

    <strong>Headphones are a pain to plug in and out on the back..i do the same thing on my powermac.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    You don't understand! It's an ergonomic solution.
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