# A headphone question

Category: accessible Devices

## Post 1 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 22-Apr-2008 13:24:10

Hi All. I use a pair of headphones with the computer and they work great. There is one problem. Even with the headphones plugged in, everyone in other rooms can hear what I'm doing. For example. I was listening to an audio file, and mom could hear what I was listening to all the way in the living room. Could these headphones be defective? Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks.

## Post 2 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Tuesday, 22-Apr-2008 13:56:51

How loud are you listening and how far is the living room?

## Post 3 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Tuesday, 22-Apr-2008 14:21:12

Yeah, you might want to turn down your computer's volume, or turn off the speakers if you have them on. Even with headphones plugged in, if your speakers are also on people in the other room will still be able to hear stuff.

## Post 4 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 22-Apr-2008 20:15:31

To me, the headphones don't sound loud at all. The living room is just a few steps away.

## Post 5 by soaring eagle (flying high again!) on Wednesday, 23-Apr-2008 8:34:34

can you close the door? I personally use the sony mdr34 head phones that go into the ear and it takes a lot of sound for them to be heard, plus they have excellent lows. Just my opinion

## Post 6 by Angel with Attitude (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 23-Apr-2008 8:52:23

If you're plugging the headphones directly into the computer, as someone said, switch your speakers off if you can. Some speakers have a headphone jack actually on the speaker itself. If you have, use this, as it will cut the speakers out.
Try plugging your headphones in then taking them off your head and listening. You will be able to find out where the sound that others can hear is coming from.

## Post 7 by battle star queen (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 25-Apr-2008 20:57:19

I use head phones all the time and i don't have this problem.

## Post 8 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 6:56:04

Going back to what Brian said, depending on the type of headphones, this becomes an issue. While I'm not a fan of ear buds, they do provide a greater degree of privacy, and they can be relatively inexpensive for an adequate pair. You're not going to get earthshaking bass or highs that will make a dog howell, but they'll be adequate.
Lou

## Post 9 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 15:35:54

Or, try headphones like I'm wearing right now, with a rotary volume control and they came with a USB audio jack thing. I ordered them when my built-in audio jack and speaker contact died and yeah, you might wanna check your speakers're switched off or the volume's turned right down before use. My headphones're Plantronics neckband ones which hook over your ear as well and they're a very snug fit with an integral microphone and inline volume rotary volume control, microphone mute switch and the afore-mentioned USB audio jack.
Jen.

## Post 10 by soaring eagle (flying high again!) on Monday, 28-Apr-2008 8:54:31

The headphones I use are more like a plastic speaker. they go in only one way and the sound is incredible they can cost about $18 to $25 depending where you get them.

## Post 11 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 12-Jun-2008 2:19:41

Well, I switched off the speaker, and it sure helps. Thanks everyone.

## Post 12 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Monday, 27-Apr-2009 21:43:45

i use headphones all the time, and i don't have that problem

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 28-Apr-2009 1:58:02

Depending on your sound card you have a section inside the control panel, it may be called Audio cansel under sounds and audio devices, or separate. Anyway Windows has a setting that alows your computer to either automaticaly turn off the speaker output when headphones are plugged in or it will allow you to have the headphones plugged in and the speakers on at the same time, so yours is set to the last option, so when you plugged in headphones the speakers are still on even though you can't hear them with the headset on, so people hear your computing. As you have learned from the great people here simply turn them off, or set the control panel to do it for you when your headphones are plugged directly into the headphone jack on your box. *smile*
Peace.

## Post 14 by jawsgirl87 (Account disabled) on Thursday, 07-May-2009 20:40:20

Yeah, I don't have this issue either since I am using a laptop.

## Post 15 by Feathered Serpent (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Saturday, 09-May-2009 0:36:28

I use skull candy headphones and they are just grate. As they use the bones in your ears too mostly provide the sound. This might not sound derikly related too the question but someone said that they have good headphones. Thees also provide good noisy canceling. Just thought I would Mention it.

## Post 16 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Sunday, 11-Oct-2009 10:41:39

That's a great lesson to learn. Just because you are wearing headphones, doesn't mean all others are incapable of hearing or logic. You always want to check your surroundings logically, take whatever measures to solve your problem before asking stupid questions.