(Solved) Using Headphones without hearing the speakers. HP with PCLOS

[The_Dadu]

My wife and I are trying to listen to the same live broadcast on two computers near each other.  We are getting timing differences in the audio. I tried to plug in headphones and turn off the speakers on my HP/PCLOS machine. Plugging in my headphones doesn't turn off the speakers (yes, correct jack).  Using the software controls mutes both the speakers and the headphones. Suggestions would be appreciated. I expect there will be a time when I need to listen on headphones when the other people in the room don't want the audio.

[Just17]

My suggestion would be to install task-pulseaudio and enable it in PCC - Hardware - Sound and then reboot.

Also install pavucontrol and use this GUI to determine if you can send audio to the headphones only.

If your hardware/driver combination can do it then this will allow you to select between headphones and speakers.

Of course if you are both listening to the same thing then you only need one set of speakers on so you can both hear   

[The_Dadu]

Of course if you are both listening to the same thing then you only need one set of speakers on so you can both hear

Exactly what we did for this concert, but I will check on your other suggestions for the more normal situation; like a work webinar when my wife has friends in the same room.

[The_Dadu]

I now have two speaker icons in my system tray; the one on the right is the master volume control and the one on the left controls the speaker output, independent of the headphones.  This is a workable solution.

[horusfalcon]

Hi, Gang,

Hmm... looks as though, while I was typing you arrived at a solution?  That's good.  I'll go ahead and post this info strictly for reference, then.

Begin Reference Data.

The reason that headphone use is supposed to cut off the speakers is that most manufacturers (and this usually includes HP) use a headphone jack in circuit with the speakers such that plugging in headphones physically opens the circuit to the speakers.  There is the possibility there is something physically wrong with the jack.

More than most folks would ever want to know about these connectors (and more similar connectors in the same family) can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

The stuff most relevant in your case is in the sections on Switch Contacts and, further, in Usage - Computer Sound.

That aside, a lot of newer laptops have a sensing contact in the jack that communicates with software to accomplish switching, so a combination of hardware and software is used (I never liked this setup, personally.  As a certain Scottish starship engineer once remarked, the more complicated the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.)  Do as suggested previously to check out your software setup, but don't be surprised if this turns out to be the jack.

If it does turn out to be a hardware problem, it's going to be dicey getting the right jack to be able to replace it because you'll first have to locate a supplier savvy enough to sell you the right one, and then do some de-soldering to remove the old one, and solder the new on in its place.  This is work best done by a professional.  If you're lucky, depending on your particular model, you might be able to replace a small daughter board that has the audio jacks on it, but this is not commonly done even though the audio jacks are a common point of failure.

Some models (very rarely) have a hardware or (more commonly) software "mute" that interrupts signal to the speakers, too.  A stroll through the laptop's users guide might be illuminating there.

End of reference data.

Later On,
D