40 years ago, Sony's Walkman TPS - L2 put two headphone jacks on a single device to enable music sharing. Seeing this, the idea of sharing music from a portable, personal device became popular. Once music became portable, it gave birth to many industries, one of which is the audio cable splitter. It is one of those gadgets that add convenience to an already convenient experience.

The idea behind it is simple. It's an accessory to headphones and music players that routes sound to two headphones simultaneously. This tiny little device has the ability to maintain the audio quality for two listeners at the same time. It is the go-to device when you want to plug in more than one headphones, mics or speakers to a single device.

There are multiple formats available for audio cable splitters. You can have 3.5mm ports and cables and you can have 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable if your headphones have a 2.5mm jack and your device a 3.5mm port.

Let's look at the different types of audio cable splitters:

Microphone Splitter and Headphone Splitter

As the names suggest, headphone splitters are for splitting sound output and microphone splitters are for splitting input sound. The former is a passive splitter, which means that it does not require a power source, but is 'plug and play'; whereas the latter is an active splitter and therefore requires a power source.

1. Dual Splitter VS Multi Splitter

There are audio cable splitters that split the sound into more than two ports. You can use this for multiple people when the source device is only one. Whether you choose a dual splitter or a multi splitter, the quality of sound is the same across all devices.

2. Headphones or Headsets?

If your requirement is just audio out, then you need a headphone splitter for which you can choose the one with the 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable, so you can plug in two headphones to it. But if you need a microphone and headphones, then you will have to opt for one that allows this configuration.

There are plenty of audio cable splitters available in the market. Here's a comprehensive look at some of them:

Conclusion

An audio cable splitter is an important gadget for anyone who likes to share audio. Since movies like Begin Again have made them popular and special, they are even more in demand. They are great for when you want to dance with a partner but only have your portable music player to share music from, or even for a walk in the city on a first date. You are sure to score some brownie points for such a neat little device that enhances an experience like this.

The 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable is the most common one out of the ones listed here and is available almost anywhere. Always keep a pair handy because you never know when you might need it!

The Walkman TPS - L2 changed the private music listening experience on top of the cultural impact of taking our music wherever we go.

Originally Posted here; https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/guide-choosing-right-audio-cable-splitter-1751115.html

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Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you know the whole controversy about phone companies doing away with the headphone jack and replacing it with a USB-C or Lightning port (in case of Apple devices). Apple was the first one to do it, and as usual, the industry followed. While phones are usually used to consume music on the go, and therefore, consumers have almost come to accept it, and are living the dongle life.

But the world is not yet ready for completely doing away with the headphone jack. People still consider audio cables are best suited for clear audio delivery. And they are not wrong to think that. RCA cables have established themselves in the music industry to deliver top of the line experience. They are now also compatible with other kinds of audio connectors.

RCA cables deliver stereo sound via two cables that have connectors that are usually red and white colored, red of the right and white of the left stereo sound. Sometimes these cables have the same connectors on the other end as well. If not, they merge into a single 3.5mm jack.

RCA ports are generally on televisions that need to route audio to a speaker or headphones. This pair of devices, TV, and speaker connect via male to male 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable (RCA connectors are 2.5mm connectors). A 2.5mm or 3.5mm audio cable combines the functionality of these two channels into one.

Similarly, a gaming setup also needs an audio output. Gaming consoles don’t have very powerful speakers, so for a more immersive experience, you have to connect external speakers or headphones. If you prefer analog connectors because it delivers better audio, gaming consoles have RCA ports which support them. So, you can connect your speakers via the same male-to-male 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable.

Some headphones have microphones to connect to your computer for internet enabled voice calling, or for recording audio. In this case, headphones often have 3.5mm connector that splits into two, one for audio input through the microphone and one for audio output from the computer to the headphones.

Another use case, of this particular cable, is when you have to connect your portable device, like a phone or an mp3 player; you can easily do that with a 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. It gives you personal listening experience.

Slightly bigger equipment that gives a high-quality audio output has a 3.5mm female port on them. Therefore, if you want to connect a smaller, portable, audio device to it, in most cases, it will have a 3.5mm a female port. This makes a male-to-male connector cable of this specification perfect for it.

With the invention of newer, faster, more versatile ports, the use of this cable and port has become limited and more niche. Consumer gadgets have almost entirely upgraded to the digital transmission of audio-video via HDMI or even USB-C cables and ports. Audio output equipment comes with USB-C ports now, while premium devices have switched to Bluetooth and Wireless technologies for audio output and input.

Bluetooth and wireless technology, while very convenient, do have their own flaws. Sometimes the battery is not charged, or they have difficulty pairing with a device, or the chip malfunctions. Audio also tends to lag with these. The lag is insignificant if you are a casual consumer who uses these things for entertainment. But if you regularly have to mix audio, or edit audio video, a cabled connection will give you a more accurate audio output.

If you are looking for a pure audio experience, it is better to have as much cabled connection as possible and RCA cables are the best cables to use. The 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable is classic and as long as devices have these analog ports, you can use them.

RCA connectors are old, but there is a reason why manufacturers are not doing away with ports on their devices. This article walks you through various setups where they are convenient to use. Read on to know more.

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How to Choose the Correct Audio Cable Splitter for Headphones?

Why are RCA Cables Necessary in The Wireless Age?

Audio cable splitters are saviors when more than one people want to see the same movie from a phone or want to listen to the same song. With the advancements in the technological world, there was a high demand for devices that can help people share music with their friends, headphones connected to the same phone or iPod or laptop. This way the audio cable splitters came to existence.

As the name indicates, it is a small accessory that let you route sounds into different headphones simultaneously. The main aim of this accessory is to route the audio coming from a singular device without sacrificing the sound quality. Also known as dual headphone adapters, they make it easy to connect two or more headphones, speakers, or microphones to a single audio jack.

If you are wondering how is it possible to connect more than one headphone to a 3.5mm cable? Then the audio cable is your answer. And that’s not it. You can even connect 2.5mm audio jack to 3.5mm audio jack using 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. But let’s get back to audio cable splitters.

An audio cable splitter contains a singular plug with multiple audio jacks. With the help of it, you can connect multiple headphones or microphones. When it comes to choosing them, it is important to choose the right one for better sound quality.

First, let’s check out the difference between Microphone Splitter & Headphone splitter.

When it comes to the functions of these splitters, it can be confusing for beginners. Their basic function is common. To split sounds. But when it comes to input/outputs, the headphone splitter splits the output sound. That types of splitters help to project the available sound in a phone, laptop, PC or iPod.

On the other hand, microphone splitter, having the features of an amplifier, splits the input sound as well. There is a resistance that affects the output and input of a microphone and headphone.

The headphone splitter can work without an amplifier, but the microphone splitter cannot function without an amplifier.

The headphone splitter is a “passive splitter’ since it does not demand a power source. On the contrary, microphone splitter is an “active splitter” as it requires a power source.

As we all are aware, headphones are gaining popularity with each passing day in the market. You can choose a suitable splitter for your device based on the following things:

Dual Splitter VS Multi Splitter

When you choose the splitter, it is important to determine the type of splitter you want. There are dual as well as multi splitters available in the market. Based on the usage and number of persons using the device finalize the type of splitter.

Consider Audio Mixing

With some audio splitters, the users can manage the mixing and fade-ins. So, before considering the audio splitter with mixing features, make sure you have the right partner to share it with. It will be a nightmare if you shared such splitter with the wrong kind of people. Also, you can consider earphones splitters instead of headphones as they could be a good option for everyday use with good sound quality.

Headphones or Headsets?

The choice should be clear. Do you want a splitter that allows headphones only or one that permits a headphone and microphone? Though there are no specifications available for headsets splitters. The audio splitter for headsets just requires the right plug size which is 3.5mm to work effectively.

6-Way Snowflake Shaped Headset Hub:

It’s a splitter with six ports for you. One of the ports has an audio source plugged into it. You can share five ports with your friends and family.

Dual Headphone Jack:

This dual headphone jack splitter has a Y shape with a 3.55mm male jack that can connect to any port.

Suggestion: 3.5mm Audio Cable Splitter

5 Jack Audio Splitter:

With the 5 Jack audio, you get to share it with multiple people without any sacrifices on sound quality.

3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Adapter:

It consists of a male plug connected by a 7 inches long cable to a 3.55mm female port.

3.5mm Y-Splitter Cable Adapter:

It does not support microphone usage but can be great for headphones. They comprise of a 3.55mm male plug that supports any smartphone or computer which is then split in Y shape into two female ports.

Based upon the product usage, you can easily finalize an audio splitter which helps you share content with your colleagues or friends.

This Article is Originally Posted here; https://www.sfcable.com/blog/how-choose-correct-audio-cable-splitter-headphones/

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