Headphones

[MrsLadyBug]

My PC is a Dell tower about 14 yrs old. The speakers are plugged into back of tower. Just wondering about using headphones what options would be available. I presume wireless ones won't work. I don't know enough about Bluetooth to understand. So if i get the plug in options does that mean I have to unplug speakers to use the 'phones?

[JimF]

Does it have USB ports, or 3.25" jack ports?

[Lie-in King]

If you're happy with wired ones, does your primary speaker have a headphone socket next to the on/off/volume knob as in the picture here? - https://tinyurl.com/3zjh43td

[Buenchico]

As things stand, you'd need to unplug your speakers to use conventional headphones (with a 3.5mm jack). To avoid doing so, your easiest option would be to use a splitter, so that the sound output could be fed to both the (conventional) headphones and to the speakers. e.g. this: https://tinyurl.com/b9jxap2p
If you were to follow such a route, I'd suggest ensuring that you purchased headphones with a built-in volume control. Otherwise you'd need to control the volume directly from the computer, which would also affect the speaker volume.

An alternative solution might be to add Bluetooth functionality to your computer by plugging an adapter into a spare USB port. e.g. https://tinyurl.com/22thvb9h . You could then use Bluetooth headphones.

Irrespective of how you use speakers or headphones though, I'd suggest that a 14-year-old PC is almost certainly in need of replacing. It needn't cost much; I recently sourced a refurbished Windows 10 desktop PC for a friend (from an approved charity seller on eBay, with excellent customer reviews), with a fast processor, loads of RAM and a solid state drive for just £85 including carriage. I'd be prepared to bet that it works a great deal better than your current PC does!

[MrsLadyBug]

JimF. .It had 4 usb ports at front. Use them for memory sticks .
Lie in King... No speaker doesn't have any such socket.
Buenchico... Glad you are around , From what you say I can get the bluetooth adaptor and use wireless ones. This sounds good. I don't fancy the hassle of messing around with plugs at back of tower everytime.
PC is old but doing ok at the moment. Had grandson clean it out and install windows 10 a little while ago so am happy that it is suitable for what I need it for at present.
Will look into the suggestions.
Thanks for the help.

[JimF]

"It had 4 usb ports at front"

Presuming it still does, why not just get a set of USB headphones? Do you really need to walk about with the headphones on?

[MrsLadyBug]

oops, sausage fingers at it again.
Yes have interest in Beunchico's suggestion.
Am looking into the options as we speak.
Thanks again